Four Go off to Dartmoor #7

And just to prove we made it...here we are at the top. This walk was followed by a great pub lunch at the Castle Arms, a very dog friendly 16th century inn in the nearby village of Lydford(www.thecastlearmslydford.co.uk). Whilst we ate in the cosy bar the dogs snoozed at our feet. Highly recommended.

Four Go off to Dartmoor #6

Bo having a wonderful time (still on the way up).

Four Go off to Dartmoor #5

Daddy with Robbie and Bo on the way up.

Four Go off to Dartmoor #4

One day we took ourselves off to the west of Dartmoor, and set off to climb Brat Tor and Widgery Cross (http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/widg_crss.htm).

A beautiful hike, with stepping stones across the river, before a steep climb to the top. Here is a shot a Robbie, having a great time...

Four Go off to Dartmoor #3

Bo found this particular spot very interesting, not least as we believed this was the point where the resident fox would enter the garden. We found the evidence in the barbed tines of the wire fencing - red fox fur.

I also think he rather liked the view down the leat. Or maybe it was the element of surprise he thought it would give him should Mr Fox wander up...

Four Go off to Dartmoor #2

Bo in a very rare pose for the camera. Maybe he is getting the hang of it after all.

Hound Tor is in the distance.

Four Go off to Dartmoor #1

So off we all went for a week in a cottage in deepest Dartmoor. The cottage turned out to be a farm with 45 acres to wander, so the dogs were in heaven. With the scents of badgers, foxes, deer, and rabbits to follow, the end of each day would find them curled up in front of the woodburner snoring gently, dreaming of the adventures tomorrow might bring.

This enchanting place was indeed a piece of England's green and pleasant land, and it didn't rain once.

Folly Hill

Bo is easily bored when asked to pose, as you can tell here, where he has completely lost all interest...

Folly Hill

Bo's turn for a shot in the winter sunshine.

Folly Hill

Another great shot of Robbie with obligatory small tree/large stick. I know he shouldn't carry sticks, but a walk isn't a walk without a stick.

Folly Hill

One lovely Sunday afternoon in January we all took off for a walk around Folly Hill with our lovely friends David, Jen and Finlay. It would be no show without the boys, and David took some great shots of the boys with his rather fabulous camera. Here's Robbie enjoying the winter sunshine and rabbit smells. (Check out David's blog at www.khaosproductions.com, he is a rather seasoned blogger, unlike me!)

A jolly Boys Outing #5 - with Mummy

This is a great shot of Mummy and the boys with Exmoor behind stretching out to the west. Robbie's expression is due to the close proximity of a golden retriever off the lead, with feckless owners in tow, which to Rob is fair game on any day of the week. (the dog, not the owners). Robbie absolutely detests golden retrievers and all labradors, whatever shade or hue. Haven't a clue why, but you can see he means business from that intense expression!

A Jolly Boy's Outing #4 with Daddy

Daddy with his boys at the summit cairn

A Jolly Boys Outing to Exmoor #3

Robbie in the heather on Dunkery Beacon.

A Jolly Boys Outing to Exmoor #2

Now Bo being a farm dog, prefers the high moor and the spring of heather under his feet. In this shot he is on Dunkery Beacon, the highest hill on Exmoor. Its a great walk with the most fantastic views in all directions.

A Jolly Boys Outing to Exmoor #1

Last Autumn we took the boys to Exmoor for a few days. Robbie loves the beach - when he was growing up as a puppy we lived in northern Scotland, so a lot of time was spent walking along the most fantastic empty beaches. You only have to say 'beach' and he gets excited. In this photo we are on the beach at Porlock Weir and he is very proud of his latest trophy from the high water mark.

Grandma and Robbie

Now Grandma loves her doggies and there is nothing Robbie likes more than getting a cuddle from his Grandma when she comes to stay.

Growing Up

Time passed and Bo started to grow into a very handsome dog with strong features. As a pup, his coat was black and white, but as he matured tricolour appeared in his muzzle and his legs. His temperament was pure farm dog - ballsy.

The balls had to go so the deed was done.

This didn't change him one bit. Bo still remains the ballsiest dog I ever had.

And yet more of Puppy Bo

Too good not to share.

More of Puppy Bo

Is this a happy puppy or what?

Bo's Biography

Now we come to Bo. Mr Bojangles is as fancy as it gets, mainly due to the fact he isn't KC registered. Bo started life as one of five pups born to working parents up a welsh valley near Aberystwyth in January 2004. To cut a long story short, Bo came to live with us not long after as a cute eight week old puppy. Robbie was NOT impressed, but of course we fell for him instantly. Not hard to see why, is it!

Robbie's Biography

Robbie (or Madeley's Dapper Dan to give him his Sunday name) is ten years old, with classic black and white markings.
He is a very regal dog, not given to much fuss, unless of course there is a ball or two involved and a car ride. Sadly Robbie is diabetic, which means lots of trips to the vet and daily injections, which mummy and daddy have to administer. He is very brave and never complains. He is also very handsome, as you can see from this photo.

Welcome...

Welcome to the blog that is devoted to the life and times of our two beautiful Border Collies.

The Biographies of Robbie and Bo follow, together with images of them too good not to share with other border collie lovers, wherever you may be.

Rob is the regal doggie on the right, whilst the cheeky chappie on the left is Bo.