Maggie's blog
From BCDS
My name is Maggie Dalmatian and, unlike Fenris, I wasn’t lucky enough to be born into a carriage dog family. I live with my owners, Roz and John, and my best friend, Dexter, who is a cross breed (he thinks that he is spotty though). I chose him from the RSPCA and we love each other. Here is my carriage dog blog (latest news at the top).
Enough about him, let’s talk about me! My owner says that I was a “semi rescue” as I was for sale on the internet (!) and she decided that any animal that was for sale on a general selling website must need to be rescued. Roz found me at 5 months old living in a small flat in South London with four cats and five children. She said that my paws were pink as I’d never really been out and I wasn’t lead trained (I’m still not, but that’s another story and not Roz’s fault, apparently it’s a Dalmatian thing...).
One day in 2010, Roz read that there was going to be a Carriage Dog display at a local show and she took me to see them. We saw other Dalmatians working and running with a thing called a carriage pulled by really big dogs that I now know are horses. It was amazing, I couldn’t take my eyes off them. I just wanted to join in the fun!
Anyway, one day about a year later, Roz and John were out in the countryside and decided to stop off at a pub they knew. As they walked into the pub garden, there were two people with two Dalmatians, Fenris and Munin and their owners Anne Dickens and Crosbie. Roz obviously had to talk to the dogs and after a short conversation with my mate Fenris’s owner, it turned out that it was them that we had seen do the display! Anne said to Roz to email her (whatever that is) and to take me over to see her and to see if I would enjoy being a Carriage Dog. So, one warm day in May we went there. I met Fenris; was put in my place by his mum, Munin who thought I was a real upstart; met the ponies, Polo and the other upstart, Parker and tried to take on the (very large) Nobel!
Roz had to be trained to be something called a Groom Handler (I’ll explain more about that in my blog as we go along). I didn’t need training, I was so good from the start, I was hoping I would be.
After going out a few times, Anne thought that I was good enough to be entered for the South East Trials for my Bronze Award, so from June to August we practised like mad. Every week in the summer we went out with the ponies and the carriage, it was great. Sometimes, Fenris would come out with us which was even better. We all got carrots when we got back as well.
We did the Trials, I was a bit naughty because, well, because I can be sometimes, but I was good when I needed to be and got my Bronze Award and Roz said that she was so proud of me. I felt like the best dog in the world!
Then, the worst thing happened in my life, Fenris and Munin moved to a place called France and, apparently, it was too far for me to go and visit them every week. I was sad for a little while, but then I found out that we could go out with Isobel and Shadow. I knew them because we did the Trials with them. I love Shadow; we kept egging each other on to go faster around the course. So, now we go out every week with them and I’m training for my Silver and I hope to go to the Nationals in July, paws crossed for that.
My life with Roz and John has been great. I have learnt that walks are fun and chasing after a tennis ball is good but going out with the Carriage is the best thing in the world!
Saturday 12th May 2012
I am SOOOOO excited. Roz has sent in her entry form for the National Trials in July. Cheque sent, motorhome booked, my food and collar packed (well maybe not yet, but it better had not be forgotten). It is all booked!! AND... my bestest, most favourite person in the whole wide world, the lady who taught me to be a Carriage Dog is coming with us. Roz said that whilst she was on holiday, Anne (Dickens) rang her and asked if we were going to the Nationals, if so, could she join us as she is over from France. Anne is going to help out. When Roz told me, I couldn’t contain myself, it was be best news ever. I told Dexter all about it, but he said his only memory of Anne was being told off by Munin and being locked in the car whilst we went out and enjoyed ourselves. He also said that he didn’t think that running behind a carriage looked very much fun and was far too energetic. Well, he would, wouldn’t he? He’s not a Dalmatian and doesn’t do any work. He did say that he had good plays with Fenris, though, and he enjoyed the after drive carrot. The bad news is that my mate, Fenris, isn’t going to be with her, which made me a bit sad.
So roll on July, we are ready! National Trials here we come!
The other exciting thing that happened to me this week was that we were invited to do an extra day with Isobel (I think this might be a regular thing) and we did Carriage Dressage Training with me behind! It was so much fun. I didn’t know where the carriage was going to go next. We had Shadow’s friend Norman (one of Isobel’s other horses; she has 5 including 2 Shetlands who are about the same size as Dexter). We went through cones; round in circles, serpentines and figures of eight; fast and slow. It was brilliant. I didn’t have my lead on as we were in Isobel’s field but I stayed ‘under’ the carriage as much as I could without getting too far behind. I was running around a little bit to begin with, but as soon as the Norman went into trot, I got into position.
I’d never worked with Norman before, so it was fun. We also did some stay practice next to the carriage as Norman stands still better than Shadow who is a bit like me and doesn’t like to be in one place for any longer than necessary. Isobel and Roz said that it was all good practice for me at the trials as we will be doing similar (but not as complicated) work for our Silver. I have been told that I have to sit still for a minute and a half. Now, that will be difficult. We then changed horses and Shadow took us out on the road. Isobel enters them in lots of competitions and they are doing very well.
We are a bit fed up with the weather being so wet. It is really funny because I end up with more spots on my tummy from the dirty road splash when we’re out with the Carriage. Roz and Isobel end up looking like me with mud that gets thrown up from Shadow. When we go down the byway-that-you-can-take-carriages-down we always canter. Last time we went, this grand lady said: “You’re not going to canter down here, are you?” “No” we all replied, “as if we would...” then off we trotted, as soon as we were round the corner, Isobel gave Shadow a nudge and off we went. I have to gallop behind to keep up. Roz said that it must be great to ride Shadow because he has such a beautiful canter. We will be going out on Tuesday and Thursday again this week, so even more practice. I love my work!
Anyway, Dally fans. Wags and licks until next time! x
Saturday 21st April 2012
I think that I have upset Shadow because I said that he had a big bum! He said that I wasn’t so slim myself; I guess I do love my food and would eat all day if I could. This morning Roz found me with my head stuck in the food bin and my bottom in the air because she had accidently left it open.
Anyway, Dally fans, what have I been up to lately? It was so exciting the other week, we went to see Shadow and then there was a big surprise because my friend Lottie (who also trained with Anne Dickens) and her owner, Anna Day came with us for our carriage ride. I was very pleased to see them at first, then I realised that I would be working with Lottie and I wasn’t so sure about that. I like to run in the middle of the step and Lottie was in the way so I gave her a little nudge every so often just to let her know that this was my carriage and she was in the way. I got bored with that after a while so we just worked next to each other. I should have been better behaved with Lottie I suppose because I used to work with Anne’s Fenris (I do miss him). Anna came with us on the carriage and all I could hear was the three women talking the WHOLE WAY ROUND!! Anna and Lottie were very pleased to have been asked to join us, she put Lottie in paw boots as Lottie hadn’t been out for a long time. I thought that she might have forgotten how to do it, but she proved me wrong. I guess it comes naturally to us Dallies...
We were supposed to have gone on one of our Spotty Walks the other week, but with illness and other commitments, it got cancelled. It was a shame, because we all love meeting up and sniffing each other to see what’s been going on, they are all such lovely dogs, Dexter and I do love them. Roz enjoys it because the humans get to swap carriage dog stories and tips. When we all met up last time, Roz’s foot was still a bit sore because Shadow had (accidently) stepped backwards trod on her foot. She was wearing good walking boots but he still managed to crack a small bone. She was telling Freya’s owner, Anna Gambles, about what had happened and Anna recommended some steel toe capped walking boots that she used. Roz had never heard of them before but went straight on eBay ordered a pair. They weren’t very expensive, and she said that they are excellent as they protect her feet and they also have good grip for the carriage. So that was a useful tip.
Talking about Spotty Walks, Roz and I were thinking of doing a Spotty Walk as a sponsored walk for Dalmatian Welfare. She has asked around a bit and we have had some positive reactions, we have also invited Shadow’s owner, Isobel and my mate Paddy (who is a Collie) as honourary Spotty as he is a carriage dog too. Now all she has to do is organise it!!!
This weather is beginning to get me down, one minute it’s sunny the next it’s pouring down with rain. We met up with some friends the other day and I thought that they were being a bit optimistic as they didn’t have their jackets on. Well, it started lovely and warm and then these big dark clouds came over and it started to rain! Then, these hard icy lumps fell on us, apparently they were hail stones. I didn’t like them at all, neither did Dexter, we kept shaking to get them off us. Snow is so much more fun.
Anyway, Dally fans. Wags and licks until next time x
17th March 2012
Sorry it has been a while – you can blame Roz for that! She has been unwell, she’s better now, but it meant that we haven’t done much for a few weeks, I did get the sense that something was wrong and instead of bothering her Dexter and I curled up around her to keep her warm. She then went on holiday with John for a few days which had already been booked. Dexter and I went to our kennels. We do like it there, we always get excited when we know where we are, Roz tries to say goodbye to us, but we just want to go and have fun!
I have to tell you, I feel really naughty. A few weeks ago I actually got on the carriage! Well, I didn’t want to get up obviously because during my training I was always told off if I even got a paw near the back step, but this was an emergency. A couple of days before we went out I had hurt my paw on some cut straw. Roz had a look at it and she said it was a bit red and to see how it went. Well, I didn’t think anything else of it as we normally go for our walks in the woods or in fields. A few days later we went out with the carriage on the road, we had gone about 8 miles and were only about ½ a mile from Shadow’s home when Roz noticed I wasn’t keeping up with the carriage and I was limping. Not like me at all and my paw was really hurting. I heard her talking to Isobel and they were discussing what to do as we were too far from home to carry me, (apparently I am a bit of a “lump”), I’m only 26 kilos, not like that big Dexter who is about 43 kilos.
Roz was worried that I would be a nuisance if I got on the carriage because I can be a bit excitable, but I knew that it was special circumstances so I stood very still looking round the side of Isobel at Shadow’s big bum bouncing up and he trotted down the road. Roz has now bought some paw boots just in case it happens again. I’ve worn them before, but that was when we went out with Anne Dickens and they belonged to her Munin. Roz hadn’t bothered getting any as we really only used them when the tarmac was hot. We now have them stowed away in the carriage for “just in cases...” so we always have them with us.
Yesterday, we went out with the carriage; we are starting to build up our stamina. Shadow and I don’t really think we need to, but you know these humans, always too cautious. Anyway, we did 12 miles and then I had a good run around the field with Dexter afterwards. The humans undid all the paraphernalia that Shadow needs to wear to pull the carriage. (Dexter waits in the car for us while we’re out). Shadow was a bit hot and sweaty so he had a good wash down and then he rolled in the mud; he is a horse after my own heart. We went home for a little while and I had a short nap then we got back in the car to go to a friend of Roz’s. She had to smallest dogs I had ever seen! They were call micro dachshunds and they were tiny, Roz had to keep telling Dexter to be careful he didn’t tread on one by mistake. We then went for another 4 miles, gosh, those little dogs’ legs can go the distance. I thought we would be leaving them behind but I think that they are high energy dogs like me so they kept up. We all had lots of fun and I was very tired (that doesn’t happen very often!) when we got back. I had my supper and then went straight to sleep on my favourite spotty cushion on the sofa.
Anyway, licks and wags until next time, Dally fans x
12th February 2012
There’s SNOW in the garden!!! I love the stuff, it gets me even more excited in the morning than normal. I had to wake everyone in the house up at 5.30 to tell them about it. I felt it was my duty. Dexter was so funny. Roz had to literally shove him out of the door this morning, he was not keen. I went on ahead and was playing around in it, so he soon got the hang of it. We then had a lovely game of tug with a ball on a rope; he’s fine now I’ve shown him how much fun it is. He also likes eating it, he saw me eating snowballs that were being thrown for me and thought that was fun too. In the summer when I get hot, Roz gives me ice to crunch and rubs it around my ears to cool me down, so I love eating snow as well.
We went out with the carriage on Friday before the snow, we drove up to the gate and I went behind the carriage without being asked! Roz had got off to open the gate and I stayed in position. We didn’t go for a long drive, only about 5 miles as Shadow had a competition the next day and we just wanted to warm him up, not wear him out. (That would take some doing!!). It was bitterly cold and I was glad I was wearing my new coat, I did look so smart. I take my work very seriously and I like it when I look the part too. Roz thinks that she might put my other light weight vest on for the trials so that I know that I’m working.
I heard Roz and Isobel talking about the National Trials, I am SOOOO excited about that. I’m going to go for my Silver (I wonder if that tastes as good as the Bronze Rosette?). Roz was talking over the details of getting there with the carriage, Shadow, me and two humans and somewhere for us all to sleep. I loved the Regional Trials, while the humans drank wine we ran around and played tag in the dark. It didn’t wear any of us out though... I saw her on the computer thing looking at the new rules that have come in, we must study them in detail before 7th July, I need to keep practising. Apparently it’s quite a hilly course, hope that’s ok for Shadow.
On Wednesday this lady came to the house and I wanted to talk to her but she ignored me every time I jumped up her. Roz said that she was a dog behaviourist and she was there to help me understand what good doggie manners are and what was expected of me. She told Roz that I was spoilt (I think Roz knew that) but agreed that I was a very bright, confident dog and that the work I did with the carriage was good for me but I needed to be stretched a bit further when I wasn’t working. Today I had my dinner in a wobbly Kong toy! Apparently, it was supposed make me work for my food. Roz loaded up with loads of lovely bits – cooked chicken, my dried food and some (low fat) cheese. Then she put it on the floor knocked a couple of times with her foot and I got the idea straight away that if I knocked it with my paw, food fell out. This is a great game, I chased it all round the kitchen and it really kept me occupied. Dexter just had his food in a bowl, I think he would think it was too much work to get his food from a toy, he sometimes doesn’t even finish his dinner, I want to help him, but the bowl is put out of my reach. It’s just not fair!
We have been doing some other exercises, like my sit and stay that we do for the carriage (the nice lady was impressed with that when I showed that I could do it). Dexter wasn’t very good at it. I knew that I was working, but he got bored because he started pulling at my collar and was putting me off. The nice lady is going to write a report for Roz so we’ll see what that says.
I’m going off the snow a bit now, my work was cancelled this week because of it, not happy at all, but Roz did say that she thought it would be as her riding lesson was cancelled as well. I miss Shadow, hopefully we will go out next week but it will depend on the weather. We’ve just had some more snow here, so it is looking doubtful already, I’m not pleased...
I did something really silly the other day, John had some pork chops for his dinner and when no-one was looking I took the small bone from the plate on the counter whilst Roz’s back was turned and then choked on it. Roz rang the vets (it stays open quite late) and said we were coming down, but as she lifted me into the car, I think she helped dislodge it as it came out. It was a bit scary, I haven’t learnt my lesson though and I still try and get food from up there.
I nearly forgot to tell you, Roz eventually sent off for the Dalimiles and it has come back – she did take her time with that. She wears a pedometer now when we go for a walk so we can clock up the miles. I wonder how long it will take us to reach Level 1? Don’t worry, Dally fans, I will keep you all informed of our progress and how the training is going.
Until next time, wags and licks from yours truly x
24 January 2012
We have had such a busy week; my paws have not touched the ground!
We met up with Eddie and Lizzie and their owners (my special friend) Mary and Tony. It is so funny because they have to be kept one on and one off the lead. Apparently they run off together if they are both off the lead. Lizzie does like to go further than I do, I don’t like being very far away from Roz, I always have her where I can see her just in case I miss out on a treat. The only reluctant walker in the family (John) came too and the owners walked about 4.5 miles, we ran about double that! It was a lovely clear, crisp winter’s day and we could see right across the Downs. While the humans were admiring the views, I found an especially good smell and was having a good sniff – rabbit, I think.
In the evening, some more of my favourite people came round. They are John’s daughters and their boyfriends and I love them so much. I always get soooooo excited. When I see them I have to jump all over them. I’m sure that they don’t mind... really... Emma used to live with us and helped bring me home, so I get extra love and cuddles from her. They ate lots of food and Dexter and I had some leftovers, not that there was much!
On Tuesday, we went for a walk with my favourite little boy, Edward. He is Roz’s grandson and he’s only 20 months old. I love to try and steal his food – well, he’s the right height for me! I do get told off though but he sneaks me biscuits when no-one is looking. Dexter made him cry because he knocked him over, he doesn’t realise how big he is!
On Thursday we went out with the carriage, we had a couple of incidents, but then we always do! Firstly, we had a Distraction Dog. He was a Jack Russell and belonged to a friend of Isobel’s. I was working really hard behind the carriage, when he put his nose up my bottom! Well! I was working so I told him to leave me alone but he wouldn’t. Anyway, his owner came up and took him away, I was pleased because I was too busy for that sort of thing.
Then a bit later on, a car came round the corner really fast, luckily Roz and I were wearing our florescent jackets so he saw us just in time. He had to swerve round us and nearly hit a car coming down the other way. Roz said that was a bit scary to watch but she reassured me that most people were really good, even police cars turn off their sirens when they see us out and about. It was raining and we all got very wet, Roz said that she has ordered me a new waterproof florescent coat; I will look so smart now when I’m working. We also took a picture of the horse and carriage sign (without a Dalmatian, I must do something about that). Roz said, sorry it’s a bit blurred but Shadow isn’t very good at standing still, especially as he knows he can go really fast down there.
That evening, I laid on the sofa with my head on Roz’s lap, and looked up at her. I do enjoy my work and it makes me love Roz even more for taking me there. I think that I might behave for the next few days just to show that I do appreciate all she does for me.
I’ve had to nudge Roz about doing the DaliMiles, she said something about running out of ink in the printer. Honestly, some people are so disorganised!
Anyway, wags and licks until next time!
12th January 2012
I AM SO EXCITED!!!! Roz woke Dexter and me up while it was still dark, this meant only one thing... we were going out with the carriage today!!!! We got in the car and I was so impatient to get there I whined for the whole journey and I got told off, but I just couldn’t help myself. When we got there Shadow was all harnessed up and ready to go. I went and said hello to him and then Roz got me ready. Roz and I always wear florescent coats and I have a bright yellow reflective harness too. She has a spotty riding hat to match me for a bit of fun as well. Shadow and I were really looking forward to going out, we both had so much energy we both wanted to go straight into trot, but Isobel wouldn’t let us, she is so mean, always slowing Shadow down when he wants to go fast.
We did have a really good run though, we went down this path with a sign with a picture of a horse and carriage on it. There was no Dalmatian at the back so Isobel said that she was going to go back with some tipex and a black marker and add me. Then Isobel gave Shadow a nudge and we were off in canter! It was so exciting, Roz and I loved it, it seemed so fast. When we got to the proper road again, Isobel had to stop us from going fast again. Shadow and I weren’t pleased about that. I was quite tired when we got home and I slept all afternoon.
Roz has been looking at that screen in the corner of the room, and I noticed that she was on the BDCS website again. This time, she was looking at the Dalimiles form, we do about 6 or 7 miles with the carriage and we do a lot of walking. Talking about walking, Roz says that we’re meeting up with my special friend Mary Kinsey who gives me treats, and their Dallies, Eddie and Lizzie at the weekend which sounds like fun.Tony (Fincham) was telling me that they had signed up for Dalimiles and he was wearing something called a pedometer so that he could track how far we’d walked.
Anyway, I’ve got to go and do some ‘counter-cruising’ to see if anyone has left any food up there for me. I think the best thing I ever got was a 1lb of cheese, I was very sick after I’d eaten it; Roz had no sympathy for me and just said that it served me right.
Saturday, 7th January 2012
Dexter and I met up with some of my other Carriage Dog friends. I have noticed that not only has being a carriage dog changed my life, but it has changed Roz’s too. She has new friends and new hobbies. She has started learning to ride a horse and wants to eventually own a horse and learn to drive a carriage as well, which is good news for me.
We arranged to meet up at a local park with some other BCDS members from the South East region. We all met at the Training Day and Trials, although some of us knew each other already, and we have decided to meet up every few months. The owners take it in turns to organise a good walk, Roz and I were in charge last time and we went to my favourite park. The owners probably only walk about 4 or 5 miles, but we run about 10, because we’re Dalmatians and, well, we can!
There were SEVEN Dalmatians and Dexter, of course. We certainly turned some heads. Roz said it was good to swap stories and tips about carriage dogs and owning a Dalmatian and everyone was very jealous of me going out every week with the carriage. I had a good catch up with my special friend, Lottie, who is owned by Anna Day; Freya, who is Fenris’s sister, owned by Anna Binney and Lizzie, owned by my friend Mary Kinsey (she gives me treats). We were all trained by Anne and we all said that we missed Fenris and Munin and how much they would have enjoyed the walk. I will have to start practising my French for when I see them again... Bonjour, je suis un dalmatien!
We had a new kid on the block, a very handsome rescue dog called Harley (I think I flirted with him a little bit) who is owned by Celia Gilbert. Dexter kept putting him in his place, but I think that was because I wasn’t playing with him. We all walked for miles and ran and chased each other. It was FANTASTIC and I loved every minute of it. When we got home, Roz gave us a big bonio each and we both fell fast asleep. I wasn’t tired at all before that.
If you live in the South East and would like to join us on our Spotty Walks, you can get in touch with my owner, Roz, through the BCDS website. Your owner doesn’t have to be a member, let them know they can come along and find out more about the wonderful world of being a carriage dog! They will definitely want to join once they’ve met all of us.
Thursday, 5th January 2012
I am so annoyed; I stamped my paws in protest. Roz said last night that we all needed an early night as we were out with the Carriage tomorrow morning. I didn’t sleep very well, the wind was so loud it kept me awake, I even scratched at the kitchen door to tell everyone I couldn’t sleep, but I was ignored. The next morning, Roz got us up and we had breakfast. Then she looked at this small square thing that lights up – she is always using it – and then she said it was a text message and that we weren’t going out. A tree had been blown down in front of the gate we use to get in and out of Shadow’s field so it was cancelled.
Dexter and I decided to have a duvet day; we curled up on the comfiest cushions on the sofa while Roz used the machine in the corner of the room which has a screen and a keyboard. As I was lying there, I thought about sunnier, warmer days and how I trained to be a carriage dog. I was showing off a bit earlier, I did have training. I remember Roz sitting on the step of the carriage facing me with titbits in her hand (I love food!!) telling me to do a “good under”, I very quickly realised that this meant that I had to put my chin by the step of the carriage. We went out like that for a couple of times, then one day, Roz stood up and turned around leaving me to follow the carriage. I thought “I like it here and it just seems like this is what I was born to do!”
After I’ve been out with the Carriage, I feel so grown up and important and I am really good for a few days afterwards. It is the best thing in the world (and Roz loves it too). She says there’s nothing better than being out on the carriage and I agree with her.
