Despite owning land and keeping a wide variety of animals, we are not a farm. My husband will gladly point out the difference to you, - farms make money ;)
I sometimes think we should change the name of our house to "Nota Farm" because then, ironically, we would be a farm !
We've got goats, ponies, horses, chickens, sheep, and two huge mad pointer dogs. I have my eye on some 'other varieties of animals' but I can't possibly comment as the husband might object. {see first point}
Originally I began this new blog to showcase the photographs of the gorgeous views and surroundings around us, but I figure you might as well meet the team, as 90% of my photographs have the animals in them.
You've met the goats. Now -meet the dogs.
Winnie is now 3. (I think - I can't keep track of my own age never mind all the herd, but...!) She's 3/4 vizsla and 1/4 lab. I would say she is the greatest dog in the world, but she isn't really very 'dog' at all...she's more princess really. She likes her food 'from Waitrose' as we say - ie; cut up beautifully, and neither cold or hot. She loves a cup of tea. She whines and refuses to get into her bed until someone lifts up a blanket so she can sleep underneath it. {Incase you think we made her like that -we so did not!!}
She likes to talk - all kinds of barking, grumbly, chatty noises CONSTANTLY- none of which mean anything other than omg I love you/welcome home/here's my favourite toy/throw the ball/please lift the blanket/Ooooh! doorbell! She's convinced there is an intruder about ten times a day. She bark barks, the other dog barks, everyone rushes to the door annnnnd..... nobody is there. I confess I sometimes dismiss her 'someone is here!' bark as it goes off so often. (Once I left the parcel guy at the door for AGES because I thought Winnie was making it up, whoops!)
Winnie is not a confident dog around animals and will absolutely refuse to have anything to do with the horses or go within thirty feet of them. (You can thank the shetland pony that bit her for that) She's also very wary of the chickens - they once pecked her nose..! - and quite frankly those sheep look like trouble so she avoids them too. She'd quite like to be best friends with the rabbit, the rabbit is not interested. See? NOT an average dog!!
Alarmingly bouncy and speedy when young, we took her to all kinds of dog training classes, where we didn't do that well at all. What we know now, of course, is a) she was too young and b) she's a Vizsla! They are like this. NOW she's all grown up she is the best behaved dog there is. Jumping up to kiss favourite visitors aside... (!) she doesn't need a lead, waits on command, knows a vast array of words/instructions and is no trouble at all when out and about. I adore her, we spend most of the the day together everyday, everyone adores her. I wish she was more forthright about what's hers with other dogs, and confident around the horses but other than that, she's a pretty perfect pooch.
Stella arrived a year ago, as a tiny puppy with all the confidence on the world and the certainty that everything would be just fine for her. I've never met a dog more 'dog' - she has an amazing nose and can find anything -from a vole in foot long grass to a tiny crumb on the floor. She steals things from sides in the kitchen if I'm not in there, in fact she eats EVERYTHING. She doesn't like strangers, she growls at other dogs, she chases anything that is stupid enough to run, and she is absolutely 100% in charge of Winnie.
She's grown and grown AND GROWN and is the tallest lankiest dog ever, obviously still growing so although we know she's half German Shorthaired Pointer and half Wire Haired Vizsla, I think there may be some giant horse in there as well. Despite being the very definition of naughty, she's very smart and has learnt quickly what I mean and when I actually mean it ;) recall with no distractions is good, sit, stay, lie etc etc all good. If we could just get her not to chase that would be lovely, as it is she is on the lead around chickens/sheep/horses. I just keep repeating everything over and over and keep my fingers crossed the training sinks in like it did with Winnie. In the house she's adorable, never more than two foot away from me, following me patiently from room to room. If she loves you she really loves you. But I'd keep your toast plate in your sight at all times... ;) Honestly YES life was a lot easier without her here, but now she's here we love her to bits and I can't imagine being without her. If Winnie is the golden girl, then Stella is the dark side, and yes, she probably has cookies.
If you own big dogs you will know its a lifestyle. Hiking and traveling and numerous dog beds, phew- they take over your life and house. Your day is run around dog walks and feeding times. But its wonderful exchange for the love and dedication the dogs give back. Am also sure I'd be the size of a house if the dogs didn't require me to hike up some Goddamn hill every bloody day. (or if they didn't eat my toast crusts...) Am also sure I have no idea how to watch television or read a book without the heavyweight of at least one dog on my feet.
They keep me safe, make sure any visitors or delivery folk know they are here AND ARE LOUD, and they scared the HELL out of a loser who tried to break into our outbuildings last year at 3am. So I apologise for the barking when you arrive, the paw prints they are bound to get on you somehow and the fact you have four very large, sad eyes staring at you as you eat anything.. but Team Dog are my constant companions and two of my most favourite 'people' in the whole world.
