Conalter Kennels

Not at all! After what seems like weeks of wet weather, today we have blue skies and sunshine.  What a difference a good day makes.  It’s still very muddy underfoot and the burn is flowing fast but it’s not the raging torrent it has been.  The winds have died down too so – fingers crossed – no more power cuts.

A couple of long stay doggy friends are still with us.  Jumble went out for the New Year but is back for one more week, and Karma remained over the whole of the festive season. She got her share of turkey though.  I never have to throw out any leftover turkey as the dogs just love all the bits we don’t!  No bones though; that’s an absolute no-no for dogs.

Buddy and Buster (beautiful big labs) are with us again and so is Tina, who delights everyone with her ball throwing antics.  Bertie Westie is in for his winter holiday and Scootie (working cocker)  is having a great time while his french chef owner is visiting family in France.  We have a diverse group of dogs staying with us at the moment, from little Karma (King Charles spaniel) to Harry who is an Alaskan Malamout.  He is chocolate box handsome, but powerful-looking too. If we get some snow I would be tempted to attach  Harry to a sledge and tell him to ‘mush’ (or something more appropriate).  Let’s hope we don’t!

Happy New Year!

Christmas is fast approaching and we are probably not dissimilar to many families across the country. The turkey has been ordered, the sprouts are in the vegetable rack and (hopefully) all the presents bought. We have a few doggy friends in over the festive period this year. We made the decision some time ago that we would only take ‘known’ dogs, and of those only the ‘good’ ones. Although it looks like the weather is going to be kind this year, neither of us fancied trying to control unruly dogs in the snow on a Christmas Day walk either before or after the turkey dinner!

Some of the dogs are staying over Christmas and New Year, some for just one or the other. We’ll give them all a special Christmas dinner though, and a few extra treats to make their stay a bit special. The Christmas lights are up at the house and the kennels, which gives us a festive glow!

Let’s hope 2012 brings good cheer to everyone. God bless you all and I hope you and your families have a very merry Christmas.

Well, well, well.  We now offer daycare facilities for dogs!  I have thought about it for some time, but wasn’t sure whether there was a need for it.  With the help of Sandra McRitchie, (supporter, dog owner and Comrie entrepreneur) we have decided to give it a go.

We can take dogs for the day – from 8am to 6pm  – and will give them the same personal attention as we do for those who are ‘boarders’. We are still  small but it gives us the opportunity to look after dogs outwith holiday periods.  Owners just need to call us (01764 652608) to make sure we have space and bring their dogs along the next day.  Whatever their normal routine is, that will be ours.  We have access to lots of space for the dogs to walk and play with Charlie (the resident cocker spaniel dog host).

We have limited ability to collect and return dogs, but it’s something we can talk to you about.  We already collect  and return  a lovely labrador every Thursday from Crieff called Bobby.  So it could expand.

So please take note:  Conalter Kennels Doggy Day Care is up and running!  Have a look on the Doggy Day Care page of the website for further details (and prices) and give us a call.

So far November has been great and we’re not even half-way through the month.  We had the wedding on the 5th – and thank you to everyone who gave us gifts and cards for the occasion.  We were both touched and humbled by everyone’s kindness.  The weather was glorious.  It was the first lovely sunny day we’d had for a very long time, so maybe God does shine on the righteous!  Then there was a big birthday for one of us yesterday.  Won’t say which one or the number, but let’s just say that someone can collect a bus pass any time soon! Going out for birthday cake with the grandchildren today. Might just have a glassy of bubbly too.

Kennels are quiet at the moment, so feel free to come along and have a look (if you’re new to the kennels).  If you want your dog to stay with us we won’t need much notice – just a phone call or email will do it.  Unfortunately we’ve had to put our prices up in November (for dogs not already booked in).  We’ve managed to stay the same since June 2010, but I’m afraid our running costs (have you seen the price of electricity??) have increased too much.  Still happy to negotiate on long-term stays.

It’s October 31, when all the undead come out to play and ask you for treats…. or else.  Here at the kennels we can take a bit of a breather.   We’ve had an amazingly busy October.  We are a small kennel but we’ve had 42 different groups of dogs staying with us during October; some single but many pairs, so it’s been all go!  Apart from the walking and feeding of the dogs, we’ve had kennels to clean and change (think hotel bedrooms) and bedding to wash and dry.  The wet weather has been a nightmare.  Wet dogs going back into kennels means bedding getting wet and needing changed more regularly. It’s been a bit of a challenge!

Then the clocks changed yesterday.  It doesn’t really make a huge difference to us.  Instead of starting the morning walks at 8am we’re back closer to the summer schedule, starting at 7am.  At the other end, we get the dinners and night-time treats done earlier too so we can get them settled by the time it’s dark.

I imagine November will  be less frenetic although I have some regulars booked in as owners take a quick break  before the Christmas festivities begin.

The ‘Tattie Holidays’ are in full swing and we have dogs of all shapes and sizes with us. Those of you without school age children are probably oblivious to this little holiday period, but all the schools in Scotland take a break in October – some for less than a week and some (as in Perthshire) for a fortnight.  This was the traditional time when school children were sent out into the fields to pick the tatties.  Some through financial necessity, but most just to earn a bit of pocket money.  Now of course the potatoes are picked by machine, so families go on holiday instead!

I’m not complaining though.  We are very busy but that’s very satisfying.  It’s also great when regular customers come back again and again.  We know the dogs and – more importantly  – they know us and seem to enjoy coming to stay here. I just wish the weather would improve.  It’s definitely what my gran would call ‘dreich’.  Thank god for a sturdy pair of wellies – none of your fashionable rubbish – a good green welly is what is required for this time of year.  A bit of sunshine would be very welcome – everything is so wet and needs drying out. It’s October though, so probably not a lot of sunny days to look forward to.

Next month – the wedding!

This is just a small thank you to John and Helen – owners of Oscar, Wallace and Bosun (Newfies) – for their gifts from Islay.  Laphroaig whisky and Islay tablet.  We  are overwhelmed by your generosity.  Thank you so much.  It was completely unexpected;  which makes it even more appreciated.  And you hadn’t seen what I wrote about your big boy this morning! Welcome home, and bring the boys back any time. x

It’s getting on for mid-September and the schools (Scottish and GB wide) are all back.  It means that we are fairly quiet. We’ve had the Newfies in for a week, which has been great fun.  We just can’t keep them out of the burn as they paddle up and down – under the little bridge and back up again!  Eventually they succumb to a treat and we can get on with it.  Oscar, the biggest, has decided he likes coming into the kitchen.  He also discovered that there can be more than one way into a house, as we found out at the weekend.  We had left the back door open, so Oscar sauntered in and made his way to the kitchen where I was preparing some food. I got a bit of a fright to find this big black mountain of a dog at my side, keen to sample my baking!

Some news on the business side of things.  We have at last received our credit/debit card terminal so are able to offer customers the facility of paying with plastic.  No more cheques though.  It’s a service we are happy to offer as we know it can be annoying having to bring enough cash.

My hip is splendid.  I’m even walking some dogs.  However, as I suspected,  Nigel has assumed overall control and is reluctant to give it up.   I have to admit that he’s pretty damned good and I might just let him get on with it!

I am sometimes asked what is the most popular breed of dog in the kennels.  I really don’t have to think very hard – it has to be the labrador.  We’ve had a good number of spaniels (of all kinds) and some lovely border collies  – but we’ve had more labradors than any other breed, predominantly black but a few yellows and a smattering of chocolates too.  Most of them are well behaved and responsive, and are, consequently, a pleasure to take out.  A little training and some discipline when still young make such a difference.  The ‘not so great’ dogs – of all breeds – are the ones who have been allowed to get away with anything when still cute little puppies.  Like children dogs need a bit of control and discipline, and to know there are boundaries!

Back to the labs.  Over the last week I think we had 6 labs in (and another three expected this week).  It’s great fun throwing the ball for them and seeing which ones use their nose to find it and how fast they all are.  We usually allow less bolshie ones to get a shot at the ball too,  so they’re all happy!  Charlie,  my own cocker spaniel, has to be put in his kennel at this point as he’s the absolute master at ball finding.

Readers of previous blogs will know that I’ve been due to get a new hip.  Well my brand spanking new ceramic hip is in and working very well.  I’m still walking with one stick but getting better all the time.  Nigel is  doing all the dog walking, and is acting Commander-in-Chief – (not just CIC of the poo patrol).  I better watch out or there might be a coup and I’ll be reduced to merely  blog-person

Sorry Rowdy, you may be the handsomest dog around, but I’m afraid I have been smitten by someone else – a bolshie, couthy little border terrier called Buster! He may be look a bit scruffy, but all ladies like a bit of rough now and again! Buster was with us for only a short time but he stole my heart and he was ever-helpful with preparing breakfasts (picking up the little spilt bits) and generally being a ‘very useful dog’. I really hope we have him in again.

On the dog front generally we have quietened down considerably.  A lot of folk must be back from holiday and getting ready for the start of the new school term – only a very few weeks away in most of Scotland.  And what weather we’ve been having here over the last week – just like the Med without the cooling sea (and the sangria).  Not sure how much the dogs are enjoying the heat.  I have one very hairy beast in who likes to lie on the cool kennel floor rather than in his bed.  Poor lad must hate the summer.  Not me though!  Just glad my work is mainly outdoors and not stuck in an office.  Thank god those days are well and truly behind me.  Running a dog kennel isn’t a bad job to have!