Imagine how tedious it gets following the same route every day.  It’s much the same for the bassets who fall in and out of love of their various walks.  There is nothing worse in the world than a disgruntled basset.  They are prone to sulks, dragging of paws and false sniffing as a strategy for showing one’s displeasure.

As a result we have a miscellany of  walks to keep things varied and allows for a range of weather conditions.  The walks immediately around home are the ones that get thoroughly explored so I’ve tended to take Fortnum and Mason out further afield.  It’s a mental health requirement.  My mental health that is.

Over the weekend though we did venture back into Kaitoke Forest where we’ve not been for a couple of weeks.  Plenty of new sniffs to be had and a reasonably safe environment to walk off lead.  It’s no guarantee that hounds won’t catch a sniff in the breeze and be off running but usually they are content with staying close by.  Fortnum is particularly content to sniff every dirty stagnant smelly puddle.  Hmmm, mud he thinks.

Mason is not quite the athlete big basset is but he has his moments.  Unfortuantly they tend to result in rather unflattering photographs.

Most of the time he is a handsome looking chap though. Very lovable.

He’s off to get his stitches out this week. His ear seems to have healed completely and his mischief making ways seem to be the order of the day.  His latest party piece is howling on demand since his Lordship has started to become a hound choirmaster.  Good job our neighbours don’t live within immediate earshot although every howling session results in every other dog across the valley barking like crazy.

I’ve got to own up to Karen at the kennels up the hill who the culprit is since it starts off all the dogs in the kennels.  Since it’s Fortnum and Mason two of her favourite day care charges I’m hoping she’ll forgive their musical ways.  I hope!