Bella and the hound illustrations

Starting my own little business has been a dream, an unexpected dream, but a dream all the same. I create personalised prints and illustrations, pet portraits, digital artwork and more. And I love it with all my soul! I started drawing again in may 2020 when I was poorly with long COVID . I drew...

Big-dog-little-handler: what a difference a year makes, off leash walks, dog relationships and not expecting perfection .

I feel like I am forever talking about our training journey. One minuet I’m insisting Duke’s come on leaps and bounds, the next I’m surprised that Duke has taken a step back. I’m annoyed at a slip in our progress or questioning how well we have done. I say I’m proud of Duke’s progress but...

Big-dog-little-handler: one year of training.

So it’s been almost a whole year since we joined our dog training club! I can’t believe it’s been that long. Duke has changed so much since we first walked into (burst into) class on a Friday evening last August. Has training helped?? Yes. 100%. Duke and we (Hubby and I)have changed for the best....

Big-dog-little-handler: Why we “do Agility”

Duke is never going to be zooming around a course on crufts.... he won’t even win a local agility competition (if I was ever bothered enough to enter him). So why do we bother? Firstly it’s fun; I love that it’s not competitive. I love that we are under 0 pressure to get it right....

Big-dog-little-handler: My dog will never be able to do that!

My dog will never be able to do that, I’ll never be able get him to do that - I’m guilty of saying it. Not just saying it but of thinking and feeling it. The thing is it’s wrong! All dogs are capable of so much more than sit, stay and paw; even though sometimes...

Wagging tail tales.

What does a wagging tail mean?? I’m sure by now most people have heard the old “a wagging tail doesn’t mean they are happy”. So what does it mean? How do you know a happy tail from a sad tail??. Can you trust a wagging tail?? I’m by no means an expert: just a fool...

Big-dog-little-handler: off leading it!

Stop what you are doing. Duke managed to be unclipped in not one but THREE training classes. Can you feel the pride emanating from me!! Okay two of the classes were on the same day but the second session he was off the lead for most of the lesson. So so proud. This was something...

Big-dog-little-handler: Santa paws is coming to town.

It’s Duke’s first woofmas with us! My wonderful boy has come on leaps a bounds since we took him home. I was still very worried a big family Christmas might be one hurdle too large. I had visions of our wee beast knocking over the old ladies and crashing into the Christmas tree. First battle...

Big-dog-little-handler: when your dog is the biggest dog in the dog park.

Today we braved the “big dog walk”. On Saturdays our dog training group take all their pooches out for a walk together. Sounds idyllic doesn’t it? For us it’s our worst nightmare; people for Duke to annoy and dogs for Duke to wind up. Now it sounds like I am being very mean to my...