tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-11-21:/My name is Cadi, I'm a trainee water search dog (Drowned Victim Search Dog) with SARDA Wales. I'm a Springer Spaniel, and I live with Flash who is a qualified Search Dog - a big black Labrador. Check us out on www.sardawales.org.ukMokoFeed2009-11-21T08:44:53+01:00tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-09-24:/2009/09/24/my-friend-skye-7034306/CadiWaterDog2009-09-24T22:04:30+02:002009-09-24T22:04:30+02:00 <p>Hi friends<br> I've just discovered that my friend Skye is writing a dogblog! She gets an exciting life - take a look on<br> <a href="http://skyesdogblog.blogspot.com/">http://skyesdogblog.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p>Flash and me went to do a talk for the Llanfairfechan double-ewe-eye this week. It was good fun - i found myself a friendly lady who tickled my ears all night, and Flash and me both had a biscuit before the pager went off for a SARDA job in Ogwen Valley. We went off very quickly, and sat in the car in the howling wind until after midnight. Flash thought he was going to have to go out in the mountains, but I think a bit of thinking and working things out meant that he didn't have to!</p> <p>Sian and Phil are back at work now, and Hannah back in college, so we're having boring days at home. Having a laugh playing with Hannah's green frog slipper though - Flash is getting a bit playful in his old age!! </p> <p>Can't remember if i told you that we went boating ... I'll take a look back and come back to you if I didn't.</p> <p>Cadz xx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/09/24/my-friend-skye-7034306/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-09-10:/2009/09/10/boring-day-6938524/CadiWaterDog2009-09-10T20:51:25+02:002009-09-10T20:51:25+02:00 <p>yo guys!<br> Boring day today, Sian was in college and Phil went to explore the south side of Grib Goch, because lots of people seem to get lost down there - getting scared off the ridge, and getting into manky ground on the way down to the PyG track. We got a quick walk in the woods this morning, then had to wait until Sian got home - I got very excited indeed!</p> <p>This evening we've had a walk on the beach, and saw Jack, who's still a bit on the nervous side, and we saw Ellie and Holly - Jack barked and barked at Ellie, and you could see he was really anxious, but he was fine until she started showing her teeth to him - Ellie's scary anyway - she hates me! Lovely sunset tonight!</p> <p>I think the plan is to do more Pigs in Boats tomorrow ( to the tune of Pigs in space!!! remember that? where does it come from, can you remember?</p> <p>Cadi x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/09/10/boring-day-6938524/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-09-09:/2009/09/09/boating-6933362/CadiWaterDog2009-09-09T21:56:13+02:002009-09-09T21:56:13+02:00 <p>We did it, at last, after months and months of waiting, we did it ... friends, I found the pig from the boat!!! You wouldn't believe how strange that it! Well, obviously, I know the smell I'm looking for - or at least, telling them about, but I never expected to find it from the boat! I've been out in the boat before, a few times really, and never smelt it before from a boat, even when we were in the river Conwy, where you'd expect to find a body or two, but there we were today, in the lagoons at Llyn Padarn, and qhat a surprise!</p> <p>I think I've been ready to start training in the boat for a while but Sian and Phil weren't really sure how to do it, and they were waiting because Neil said he wanted to supervise the transition, because it's hard, and you can make lots of mistakes. Anyway, they met up with him a while back, in July, and he explained how, but then there was some poisonous algae in Llyn Padarn, and we didn't have anywhere else to train that was as ideal as that lake. </p> <p>Anyway, lots of people had said that the algae was better, so we went for a look at the weekend, and I found lots of smells there. I think Sian was impressed because we haven't been able to train for a while - Sian's been really busy at work, and the Llanberis team and SARDA have been really busy with rescues - all a bit silly season really!</p> <p>Sian spoke to Paul and Ken this morning, and they explained where the algae was, so we decided to go ahead.</p> <p>We had a run around first, then they started playing about with the boat, blowing it up and stuff, and me and Flash had a run around. Then Sian got into her balloon suit - don't ask, but I must get a photo on here - she looks a sight!! Bless! anyway, I got to run out and find the smell first, then we got a ride on the boat. I couldn't believe it when I got the smell from the side of the boat ... I looked at Sian, and gave her a lick just to check she was awake, and leaned over the side to show her what I could smell. She said speak, so I did, and got the ball! So I thought, I wonder if this is the game again, and it clearly was!!! I did it again and again, and got the ball every time. It was easier when we got into the clean lagoon, with no other smell. It's a strange thing, but so easy when you know what you're meant to be doing!</p> <p>Can't wait to go again! I hope we go soon!I can't decide if it's easier from the boat or when I have to run around!! Mind you, running around today, I got a cut lip from someone's barbecue - you know those disposable ones that have the mesh thing inside - the mesh cut me!! Blood everywhere! </p> <p>I'll let you know how things go!!!</p> <p>Cadster xxxxxxx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/09/09/boating-6933362/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-07-12:/2009/07/12/yet-another-busy-week-with-monday-night-spent-travelling-around-6499680/CadiWaterDog2009-07-12T21:10:50+02:002009-07-12T21:10:50+02:00 <p>Yet another busy week, with Monday night spent travelling around north Wales, initally lookng for something to eat and some petrol at 11.00 at night - nothing to be had in Caernarfon, so ended up going back to Bangor to Tesco where we had to have the last couple of sandwiches of the day - no such thing as a big Mac or KFC at that time of night!</p> <p>We then went down to Dolgellau police Station where Sian was search manager and phil and Flash got to go out looking for someone who had probably just decided to go away to the seaside! We all got home about 6 in morning, so we all slept late, even Flash! Usually he's so institutionalised that when someone flushes the loo in the morning, he thinks it's breakfast time!</p> <p>Sian's been on nights this week, and phil's been at work, so things have beena bit boring - just the usual beach walk every day. Today though, Sian and i went to the police station in Llanrwst to tell them about our adventures, and to tell them that I keep finding a sniff in a lake. After the last smell I smelled, and didn't do anything about, and the person turned up where I sniffed it a few weeks later, Sian felt that she couldn't ignore me telling her about a smell if it happened again. Anyway, when I found a smell in a lake a few weeks ago, she got all hot and bothered, and eventually, this week, told the police. The policeman was excited and is going to try to organise divers to work with us! All exciting stuff - tell you more this week! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/07/12/yet-another-busy-week-with-monday-night-spent-travelling-around-6499680/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-07-06:/2009/07/06/i-m-back-6457634/CadiWaterDog2009-07-06T09:37:40+02:002009-07-06T09:37:40+02:00 <p>Woooooow it's been such a long time since I had time to write! I hope you've all been missing me!</p> <p>Ben busy training since I last blogged - lots going on, all going really well, with some interesting stuff, which I'll tell you about in due course. We're about ready to make the transition into the boat now, and we have all the gear we need ... boat, drysuit -for me, that is, Sian's still waiting for hers, and Phil of course isn't going to fall in! No, I'm kidding, I don't need one, but I have my lifeacket from Ruffwear, and Sian has her extremely flattering - and non-claustrophobic one - from Aqua-tek in Denbigh, just waiting for SARDA badges on it, and Phil of course isn't going to fall in! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> We spoke to Uncle Yoda on Saturday, and he explained to us how to do it - well, he gave us various options as to how to do it, and true to form, we've chosed the KISS method - keep it simple, stupid!!!</p> <p>Biggest problem we've had recently - other than the fact that Sian and Phil need to retire from paid work and do this full time - is that Llyn Padarn has had too much toxic algae for us to work there - something called something like anaboerida spirodes - blue green algae which is flowering Nice! It's too dodgy for me to go in the water, as it would make me ill, and maybe die, and as they've invested such a lot of time in my training, they don't want to lose me ... nothing to do with me being a precious pet of course!!!</p> <p>Anyway, I'll write again to let you know how the boating is going! Maybe now that it's started raining again the flowering algae will go away! Hope so!</p> <p>See ya peeps x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/i-m-back-6457634/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-05-06:/2009/05/06/looking-for-druids-6068114/CadiWaterDog2009-05-06T11:26:18+02:002009-05-06T11:26:18+02:00 <p>Hiya folkses, how's it going ...<br> Wewent looking for Druids yesterday ... Jude and Terry came to stay, on Sunday, so on Monday we had a wet day - superb run and play on the beach at dinas Dinlle in the morning - that was SOOOO windy! I came home and Sian said I'd had Dermabrasion, whatever that is! My face was sore anyway! In the evening, we went on the beach again, and I did lots of running and jumping in the sea - it's warmer now than it has been, although it was cold when you came out - not sure why the humans don't come in with me though!</p> <p>Yesterday, we went to Anglesey to look for Druids - well at leastI think that's what we were doing. We went to a strange place with some dead smells in the morning - bit of a walk to it, where we saw some of those strange animals in fields - I know they're not sheep, cos they're bigger, and Iknow they're not horses, cos i know horses. They run up to me, and then stop, and run along the fence with me, and they're really a bit scary! I barked at them, but that just makes them stand and stare at me. When we got to the dead place, there was a sheep running around, so I just lay on the ground and let it calm down, and eventually it went back out to it's lamb. After this place, we went to another place, where Flash and I had to stay in the car, then we got a run near a beach. I don't think we found any Druids, but I wouldn't know what one was anyway. We stopped by some lakes, so I think Sian might have been looking for somewhere new to go pigging.</p> <p>Talking of pigging, we had a good training session last week, at the top end of Llyn Padarn, where I had to search for ages and ages - must be the longest one I've done! The week before, we did some work at Llyn Lockwood, and Sian and Phil were both really pleased with me - some really good find, and they were really pleased with the way I was working! All going well now really, and we're ready to move into the boat - just waiting to hear from Neil about when we can go and do that bit! Yay - I can't wait!</p> <p>Cadi xx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/05/06/looking-for-druids-6068114/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-04-15:/2009/04/15/lots-of-cuddly-people-5950836/CadiWaterDog2009-04-15T20:54:07+02:002009-04-15T20:56:26+02:00 <p>I've had a lovely few days - Iwan brought Anna and Billy home with him from Cornwall, and they've both been soooooo cuddly! I've just been sitting on the sofa with them having lots of strokes and cuddlZ! Anna's gone home now, and Billy's still here, but he and Iwan are staying up at Iwan's dad's, because Hannah's home again - she came home from the racehorse place for the weekend, and then got ill again. She's still having problems with her ribs which got hurt by Bex last December, so they've been to the doctor again, and she's had a photo taken of her insides, and has to go for more inside pictures before she sees a people vet! Poor Hanzie!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif" alt=":'(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>We went for an awesome HUGE walk last Saturday - up a mountain called Cnicht. It was a hot day, and there were loads of people there. My feet were hot by the end of it, but on the way back, there was a lovely mountain stream for me to walk in! Poor Anna had sore knees.</p> <p>Today, Sian and me met up with Lesley from Cantech, and her dog Bentley. Lesley wanted to see what I do, so I showed off a bit for her! She wants Bentley to have a go at water searching, but Neil explained to her why Bentley can't do it - he's already a live person search dog, and it just gets very confusing for a hound if you find live and dead people! We did some good training on Llyn Padarn, finding piglets in deeper water than usual.<br> The water's much warmer now too - I like swimming in it now! Even though there was ice at Llyn Lockwood last time!</p> <p>Oops, just realised - I've already blogged about Cnicht! Never mind! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/04/15/lots-of-cuddly-people-5950836/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-04-11:/2009/04/11/training-weekend-good-stuff-5928206/CadiWaterDog2009-04-11T21:46:22+02:002009-04-11T21:46:22+02:00 <p>Hi<br> I said I'd try and get round to writing a bit about last training weekend - we stayed at Caeathro because it was an assessment weekend. On the Saturday, me and Sian got to do some training - Phil came and helped on that day, and we went to Llyn Padarn to the Quarry hospital side. It was very very windy and I had to work really hard, but I think I got them all in the end. I watched children playing on Ropes and Ladders in Llanberis - that looked fun - I fancy that, but I'm not sure how a dog could manage it!</p> <p>On the Sunday, it was a much better day, and Elinor came and helped. We went up to Llyn Lockwood to see hows the wind was. It was a lovely day, sunny, nice wind, but there was ice on the lake! Good day's searching thought - managed a good few of them, and Sian was very pleased ... I jumped in the water a few times, so got a bit cold, but Uncle Harold had given Sian a sort of furry bag for me, and that kept me warm. I found some pigs that I just had no idea where they ended up!</p> <p>Last Tuesday we went to Glynllifon to do some training - there's a river there, so Sian hid the pig in the river and I managed to find it - complicated, because you have to look way up the river to find it! Good fun on a really windy evening - and it went dark while we were still there!</p> <p>Cadster zzzzzzzzzz </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/04/11/training-weekend-good-stuff-5928206/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-04-11:/2009/04/11/cnicht-5928001/CadiWaterDog2009-04-11T20:58:32+02:002009-04-11T20:58:32+02:00 <p>Hi gang<br> Had a superb walk up Cnicht today with Sian, Iwan, Anna and Billy. Iwan you know - he's my big brother who lives in Cornwall, Anna and Billy are on the same course as him, and they came up with Iwan to do some mountain days to count towards their Mountain Leader Log book thing - they have to do 20 quality hill days for the training, and another 40 for the assessment - it's a bit like I have to do a training log for the pigging.</p> <p>The weather was fantastic - so warm that Flashers and me had to spend lots of time in water to cool our feet down. We slept all the way home, and after tea, I've slept on the sofa.</p> <p>Phil went to the football, and came back with smiley face, and now he's doing a Llanberis job - I think he's going to a barbecue after that!</p> <p>I just realised I haven't written my log from last training ... I'll have a look what I did and write shortly!</p> <p>Tarrrraaa<br> Cadders xxxxxxxxxx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/04/11/cnicht-5928001/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-04-03:/2009/04/03/puppy-pictures-from-mummy-sharon-5885667/CadiWaterDog2009-04-03T21:37:15+02:002009-04-03T21:37:15+02:00 <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/052/3378052_70a5f20cd5_s.jpg" alt="baby cadders" vspace="5" hspace="5"><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/i_spy_with_my_lazy_eye/3378054" title="I spy with my lazy eye "><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/054/3378054_d90e0fdae3_s.jpg" alt="I spy with my lazy eye " vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/puppy_pics/3378055" title="puppy pics"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/055/3378055_cf79e52cce_s.jpg" alt="puppy pics" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/04/03/puppy-pictures-from-mummy-sharon-5885667/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-03-29:/2009/03/29/more-training-5855369/CadiWaterDog2009-03-29T20:45:27+02:002009-03-29T20:54:17+02:00 <p>Oh dear folks, I've just realised I'm getting really lax about this blog thing! We've all been so busy over the last month that I just haven't had time to write! Sorry - must try harder x</p> <p>Last writing was when I got staged ... since then, I've done the odd bits of training with Sian, but on the whole, she's been working, they've had things to do with Hannah - she had a big birthday, and we've still got a house full of balloons and floating things - I know balloons are the strange smelling things on the floor, but we also had some big ones up in the sky - big pink ones shaped like a 1 and an 8! We had good fun with them!</p> <p>Sian went to collect some piglets this week, and she changed over the old pig - really stinky one - she was nearly sick!! I had fun, because she'd left them on the steps at the back while she went to get the basement key, and of course, I sniffed them, and barked at her - guess what - she didn't have a ball to reward me, so I just barked and barked and she had to get one quick! We've now got a basement full of piggies!</p> <p>We had Bobby and Ellie staying with us this month too - Bobby's ace - we have a really good time - even though he's older than Flash, he's loads more playful, and we play chase on the beach. I've gone right off Ellie - she's been really grumpy with me, and fighting with me, and I got really frightened - she was bossing me and bullying me, and we ended up having massive fights, and I got bitten loads by her. She's gone back to her dad now, but my leg's still sore - she bit it on both sides. I also got loads of scabs on my chin and my face - Sian calls me a "scabby dog" but I know she doesn't mean it nasty!</p> <p>My leg's much better now, but I forget about it, and do too much running about, and then it hurts - I've been resting it this evening, but it's quite sore.</p> <p>I'm really tired now after my training weekend, so I'm going for a sleep, and I'll write about the training tomorrow - see you then xxx</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/03/29/more-training-5855369/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-02-15:/2009/02/15/on-being-proud-of-myself-5580592/CadiWaterDog2009-02-15T21:03:45+01:002009-02-15T21:05:46+01:00 <p>I'm just going to write a little bit before I go to sleep - I'm so tired, and my head is battered with thinking too much!<br> As you know, we've just had a training weekend, and I've had such a challenging time - but great fun because I got the ball lots and lots of times.<br> Yesterday was very strange. We went a long way in the car first, picking up new girl Alex on the way - she's just been accepted as a DogsBody with SARDA, and Sian was giving her a ride in our car - very brave considering how smelly our car tends to be. The pig was 4 weeks decayed - so you can imagine how bad it was! Sian couldn't smell it, but the rest of us could!!<br> She left me and Ellie (who came along for the ride) in the car, then we had a long long drive to a strange bit of water - not quite a river, but it was moving, had high concrete sides, and had very strange, long boats going on it! I found the pig smell a few times, but on the whole, it didn't really smell very much, until they put the pig juice in the water too, and then it was brilliant - found it from a long way off! they had to do some small quick things with me so I recognised the smell - and then I was fine - had some good finds before lunch - sausages - then off again. Lots of the long boat things around after dinner, and I found some smelly holes in the ground - rabbits they reckoned, and I got a bit distracted - don't come across them very much really.</p> <p>We went back to Rhyd Ddu then for the humans to watch the rugby - woo hoo!!! Cymru am Byth!<br> Came back home for a proper warm sleep and a dry, and then back again this morning. We had a bit of a lie in this morning - except that Bobby and Ellie will insist on barking like mad dogs in the morning - embarrassing when you've got neighbours - who sometimes have loud parties, and it's ok to bark loudly then, but not when it's a peaceful Sunday morning when dogs want a lie in!</p> <p>Sian then took just me along to the lagoons in Llanberis, and we had a very peaceful morning, just her and me, doing a few searches, which all went very well. We then sat in the car for ages, listening to the radio, when all of a sudden, Phil, Gareth and Richard turned up. Turns out that I was getting staged! That means when someone comes along and watches what you do, and decides what stage in the training you're at. They gave me some really good ones to do - the last one was really cool cos I knew that I found it before Sian did - she had no idea where it was until I told her, and even then she couldn't find it - but at least she believed me!!</p> <p>Anyway, she was very proud of me, and gave me lots more sausages! </p> <p>So after all this, I'm shattered, and falling asleep on my little legs!</p> <p>Thanks to everyone who came along and helped with my training this weekend - Big Uncle John yesterday, and Richard and Gareth and Phil today!</p> <p>Good fun - when are we going again ?? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/02/15/on-being-proud-of-myself-5580592/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-02-13:/2009/02/13/training-5569184/CadiWaterDog2009-02-13T22:36:26+01:002009-02-13T22:36:26+01:00 <p>Yay!!<br> Training tomorrow! I hadn't realised, because Sian's been working for ages and ages - and we've hardly seen her. Tonight she came home from work and she's been busy getting the car organised, putting my cage in the back, and the search box, and I think I could smell a new pig in the basement - she also had lots of tennis balls in her pocket!</p> <p>Yippee!!<br> I wonder where we're going to go!<br> She and Phil have been really busy with the mountain rescue team, and with SARDA searches - the air scenting dogs have been going out on the mountains to look for missing people - and finding them too - which is good news. All a bit sad and stressful though - the look on Celyn's face in the photo I told you about - I bet she's going to be even more miserable looking by tomorrow - sometimes the dogs and handlers get bad dreams - that's if they can sleep at all ...<br> Sian was telling me about the risks of that when I qualify - I guess we'll be seeing some pretty gruesome things, but if we're prepared for it, and can talk to someone about it, and understand that it's normal to react to that kind of thing we'll be ok - the problems start when people - and dogs - try to be heroic about it - and try to pretend that they don't react, and it doesn't affect them - Phil calls it the "John Wayne syndrome" - I think he was in school with John Wayne or something ...</p> <p>Anyway, we have sausages in the fridge ready for the weekend, so here we go - I'll let you know how things go!</p> <p>Cadz xx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/02/13/training-5569184/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-02-03:/2009/02/03/flash-stinks-5500134/CadiWaterDog2009-02-03T17:31:28+01:002009-02-03T17:31:28+01:00 <p>You know how labradors eat everything - I think Flash ate everything and it died inside him and the gas is now coming out - what a smell! and it's been going on all day!!<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wth.gif" alt="|-|" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Did I tell you we got the training stages from Yoda Neil? Well, we did, and Sian asked him what he wanted to do about staging me - that means when someone takes a look at what you're doing, and decides whereabouts in the list of stages you're at. It's quite important to do really because it gives you something to aim at, and it sort of sets in stone where you're up to. I think - and Sian agrees - that I'm at stage 7 - which is shoreline searches, and working towards stage 8 - which is where the target is up to 10m out in the water, and somewhere along a 500m stretch of shoreline. Actually, I'm probably at stage 8 really, but we don't have a 500m stretch to use - the lagoons in Llyn Padarn are very broken shoreline, but I guess in total we manage to search 500m. Lockwood is less than that, but you can manage more than 10m out. Sian's going to ask some more people if we can use their lake - that's got nice clean edges so will be good to use for training. She's done risk assessments for everywhere we use so far - I do dynamic risk assessments myself - goes a bit pearshaped when I get new experiences, but I guess that's the dynamic bit of it!!!</p> <p>Anyway, Sian's asked Richard if we can go for staging at the next training weekend in a couple of weeks - maybe use Llangollen Canal and go for the Stage 8? What do you think?</p> <p>The boat engine has arrived, we're just waiting for the cheque to clear. Once we get that, we can start on the boat stages - can't wait!!! </p> <p>Sian showed me the photos of Celyn and Teal on the Llanberis job yesterday -it looked awful weather, cold, windy, snowy. The look on their faces was classic! Sad as well though <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0">- I'm glad I do water search - we can't go out when the wind is too strong, the waves too slappy, and the water too cold! How good is that !!! We can justify waiting for nice weather!! Sian's talking about doing a poster to show people what the water searching is all about - that'll be good! I don't think people generally have a clue what we do! </p> <p>I'm ready for my tea - just off to nag a bit!</p> <p>See ya x<img src="/img/smilies/icon_wave.gif" alt=":wave:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/02/03/flash-stinks-5500134/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-02-02:/2009/02/03/snow-5495774/CadiWaterDog2009-02-03T00:11:01+01:002009-02-03T00:11:01+01:00 <p>Way hay!! what is this white stuff that's cold and such huge fun to play in!! We've had a quiet day today - this morning, Sian took us to Nant Peris, and we sat in the car for ages, watching everything that was going on. There were people coming and going, some very mountainous looking people, and then lots of policemen, and then some telly types. Eventually, Sian came out, and we headed back home. Hung around at home for a while - she went to bed, because she'd been working all night before going to this Llanberis MRT job. </p> <p>Anyway, she got up when Phil came home - he'd been away ages too - and we had tea and went up to the woods - I couldn't believe what it was like up there - fairy wonderland - all white and fluffy, cold, but wheneve I ran it was fluffing up around me - so I ran faster and faster, and got the white stuff stuck under my chin, and in my paws! It was such fun! The other dogs said they'd seen it before, but Bobby was certainly having fun in it! Flash said it just makes things smell a bit different, and he had his nose in mouse holes all over the place. Ellie just complained about the snow getting stuck under her belly and between her toes - she had to keep stopping and chewing them, so got a snowy bottom! Me and Bobby found some really cold sticks to take home.</p> <p>It's been a while since I did any writing - Flash has been really poorly - nasty sick and runs for two days, and he lost loads of weight - you could see his ribs! He had to go to the vet on a Sunday, and had medicine and an injection, and got better thank goodness! the vet said me and Bobby would get it too, but so far so good! </p> <p>We've got Ellie staying with us this week - that makes it 4 dogs in our house - yay - at last we outnumber the people! I think she's here until the weekend.</p> <p>We went training last week on Sian's days off, did well, found piggies every time. I think we're going to be doing some training with the boat soon - yippee! Trouble is, the water will be SOOOOO cold! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/02/03/snow-5495774/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-01-23:/2009/01/23/where-flash-makes-a-fool-of-himself-5428586/CadiWaterDog2009-01-23T02:50:49+01:002009-01-23T02:50:49+01:00 <p>Like I said last time, I've been in season; that wasn't a huge problem, Flash or I get to stay in the car when things all get too much for Sian and Phil. Over the weekend has been wierd, but things have settled down again by Wednesday, and all those strange feelings went away - I have to say it's a bit of a relief <img src="/img/smilies/icon_crazy.gif" alt=":crazy:" class="middle" border="0"> it's all a bit mad really! Flash though couldn't get his head around the idea that I really wasn't interested in making springador puppies with him,, and he's been mooning around, staring at me with these goo goo eyes, dribbling and jumping from one foot to the other! He eventually got the message when I growled at him every time though!</p> <p>Sian was saying that she's had loads of people asking for talks and demonstrations and stuff. We're going to do a talk at Crispy Chicken's college, although Hannah says we can't - she goes there too! Also, we're going to do a stall at Llandrillo College soon, to sell mugs and t-shirts - i only go along to see if I can have snacks! I look cute and get treats - great!</p> <p>I heard a little rumour that the radio ladies from the other day want to do a television programme about me and herself - can you imagine that! If it happens, it'll be late in the summer, so I'm going to have to get going on the training - hopefully we'll have an engine next week for the boat, so we can get going on lake training - yippee, can't wait! What happens then is that they put the pig in the water somewhere and then I have to go across the lake in the boat in a sort of grid pattern, until I get the sniff, I bark when I can smell it, and stop barking when I can't! that way, we're supposed to be able to tell where it is! </p> <p>See you soon x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/01/23/where-flash-makes-a-fool-of-himself-5428586/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-01-19:/2009/01/19/surprise-training-and-being-famous-5404419/CadiWaterDog2009-01-19T10:37:26+01:002009-01-19T10:37:26+01:00 <p>Well that was a surprise yesterday - we got to go training! I didn't expect that at all, because I'm in season, and life has been a bit restrictive to say the least! I knew she'd got a new pig out on Wednesday, but I thought that was just to show Woody - Hannah's friend who's really interested, and knows how to train gundogs, and I think Sian's thinking that he might one day want to apply to train a search dog. Anyway, she got a pig out, and got rid of the old one - which was very very smelly - and that was that!</p> <p>Anyway, Phil and Flash went off yesterday morning, Sian and Hannah went to sort out the Bexiness - who has been a bit of a beast in all this wind (more on that in a bit!)and then we came home, and she got all the gear into the car - pig included! I thought then that this was a bit odd, but she piled me and Bobby into the car, and off we went to Llyn Padarn. It turned out that two ladies called Catrin and Sian from Radio Cymru were doing a feature on SARDA Wales and wanted to interview me! Well, Sian really, and wanted to watch me working! That made me a bit nervous, and I got distracted - mind you, Sian was seriously distracted, trying to talk at the same time as watch me! And me being in season too - I think she thought I'd get snatched away by any old dog! They talked to Sian for ages, and were holding what I thought was a ball, so I jumped up to get it - turned out to be a microphone! Oops <img src="/img/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt=":-/" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>We went on to to lots more training searches - about 6 altogether, most of them where Sian didn't know where the pig was. I had a really good day - hard work looking for the smell because the wind was all over the place, but I got some good long strikes. Altogether we were working for about 2 hours or more, and had lots of searching to do. Sian was pleased because I was indicating on the scent cone lots more than I have been before, and when you think that I haven't trained since November training weekend, that's pretty good going! It was freezing cold in the water, and windy! I really really need more search jackets - it's horrible putting a cold wet one on to go out for the next search! </p> <p>Anyway, this past week has been strange and busy! I've been taking a strange little old dog out for walks with me - her name is Sally, and she's a Jack Russell, and her legs are only tiny - 4" long - or short! Sian has to carry her for the first bit of the walk, because she's not keen to start with, but once you get her going, she's brilliant - for an old girl, she's dead keen, hates stopping, and managed the whole of the circular path at Nant y Coed!! right to the top! On Saturday, her little boss Archie came too, leading the way, and that was fun, because he kept on throwing sticks for me - Sian doesn't throw sticks and things because she saves that for training, but I've trained other people to throw things for me! </p> <p>Back to Bex in the wind - wow she doesn't like it, she got very scared and was doing bucking broncos and rodeo shows!! On Saturday, Sian and Brian were leading her up from the bottom field. As they passed the pink bath in the field, the wind lifted the bath right up, and Bex naturally got frightened and ran off! Sian and Brian got hurt - Sian got a bruised foot, and I think Brian got a bump on his bot, but they eventually got Bex to the stable - she was really scared, and kept going up to Sian saying "help please, I'm scared of the wind". Hannah's scared of doing things with her now, especially because she's still hurting loads - Anne sent her some arnica - Anne's a homeopath and arnica works well for pain - and that's worked better than anything else. Anyway, I think they said that Bex is going to live somewhere else for a bit, to try and get her ready for selling <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> but I think it's for the best - Hanz is getting no fun with her now.</p> <p>Anyway, today, Flash has gone to work with Phil, so I can relax - he's persistent bless him, but he's not the one for me - I'm looking for a nice big spaniel boy - anyone know of one? <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/01/19/surprise-training-and-being-famous-5404419/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-01-11:/2009/01/11/wind-5360247/CadiWaterDog2009-01-11T20:38:52+01:002009-01-11T20:38:52+01:00 <p>Blooming 'eck - it's windy out there - we didn't get a walk on the beach this morning, cos Sian got blown over when she was taking the horse muck to the heap, and her wheelbarrow got blown away! That was windy! Instead we went up to Nant y Coed and had a good run and a sniff in there. The lake had melted, and the water was a good bit warmer than it has been. Sian and Phil were out for ages last night, they're both in the Llanberis Mountain Rescue team, and they had three!!! jobs straight after each other. I heard that Celyn got a find <img src="/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif" alt=":p" class="middle" border="0"> clever girl! take a look at the story on <a href="http://www.grough.co.uk">www.grough.co.uk</a></p> <p>Me and Flash started to get a bit frisky today <img src="/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" class="middle" border="0"> so she put me in the car - and I got to go out with her when the other two got to stay at home. Trouble was, Phil didn't see I was there and he didn't take me out when he got home, and I was late having my tea. I remember last time I was in season I got to go to work with Sian! I'm looking forward to that!</p> <p>Anyway, I plan to spend the evening chilling on the sofa with Flashman and the Bobster.<br> Have fun yourself ... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/01/11/wind-5360247/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-01-10:/2009/01/10/new-pigs-please-5353958/CadiWaterDog2009-01-10T16:24:29+01:002009-01-10T16:24:29+01:00 <p>Yippee! We've got some new piglets! We'd used up all of the last ones we got, and Sian came home today with four new ones - they're only tiny - one still has it's umbilical cord! Bless! Mrs M said they'd got out, and froze to death! Poor little piggies. And lucky old Cadz! They're in the freezer now, because I don't think we're going training next weekend (because of me being in season), so we may as well save them until we need them. </p> <p>Sian's home and Phil's at work today, so we went for a walk with Sian - she seems to be working all the time at the minute; she says it's because the children and the horse are too expensive! And we had that thing called Christmas too, which cost her a lot of money - her children aren't working, so she gave them money to spend on presents for people - she probably ended up paying for her own Christmas presents really! Anyway, she worked loads extra last month, and at the moment, she's got an extra job looking after Kate, Josh, Archie and Finlay while their dad is in Scotland. He's an "outdoor instructor" whatever that means - I think he teaches the outdoors to do things - not sure I understand that really - maybe he told it to freeze? which is why I can walk on water??? When he comes back, I'll tell you his website address, so you can read all about his job - cool job I think - he writes a good blog too - I think he needs a proper dog to go with his job - Sian said they've got a tiny tiny Jack Russell called Sally. He's going to be a SARDA trainee! </p> <p>I went in the sea this morning with Bobby - it was very cold, so I tried to jump over the waves, but they were all too big - I got my belly cold and wet, but it was nice to get clean and fresh! We watched the big swans on the yachting pond - they were chasing each other, and one of them had to stay on the sea - the others wouldn't let it on the lake. Beautiful things when they fly! I've just checked - the underneath of my ears is still wet from the sea!!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/01/10/new-pigs-please-5353958/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-01-07:/2009/01/07/talking-to-double-ewe-eye-5340083/CadiWaterDog2009-01-07T22:56:36+01:002009-01-07T22:56:36+01:00 <p>Hey you'll never believe where me and Flash went to today - we went with Sian to talk to some ladies in something called Double-ewe Eye. It was good fun - first of all we found some biscuits, until they hid them from us <img src="/img/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt=":-/" class="middle" border="0"> Then Sian talked to them for a while - there were lots of pictures of lots of the other SARDA dogs, and the SARDA handlers. I got to play with the ball - Sian's so easy to train - I just woofed a few times and she gave me the ball to play with!! At the end we got to show them some tricks and got treats for it!! Such good fun - I can't wait to do more! We've been for three walks today, and Bobby's here - did I tell you how much he growls and woofs - in fact he gruffs all the time.</p> <p>Apparently, I've got something wrong with me which means I might have to get separated from Flash - in case we get puppies! Not sure I fancy puppies at the moment, I'm probably too young! It would get in the way of my training I think. Sian said she want's to concentrate on getting me qualified this year. Hope so!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/01/07/talking-to-double-ewe-eye-5340083/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2009-01-05:/2009/01/05/too-busy-but-now-for-a-rest-maybe-5328783/CadiWaterDog2009-01-05T22:20:28+01:002009-01-05T22:42:50+01:00 <p>It's been 18 days since I last wrote in my Blog - but loads and loads has happened! We had a funny time when they had something called christmas - I think I remember it from last year. Everybody got fatter, and after that, we all got more exercise - does that happen in everyone's house at this time of year? </p> <p>It's got very cold, and the ponds have had hard stuff on them - sometimes you can walk on it, sometimes you think you can, and you just fall through it into the water - it's a bit sharp on the ankles, and very very cold! There's been a lot of that cold hard stuff around - but I think I've got the hang of it now - I can slide on puddles, and when we went for a walk up the mountains last week, there were long slides of it, that I could skate down! that was great fun, but Sian and Phil were being careful not to slide on it!</p> <p>What else has happened - Bobby's come to stay with us for a while - I'm all excited about that, because he follows me everywhere! He's a big dog, and he growls and woofs all the time, but I guess he'll settle down when he gets to know all the noises here!</p> <p>I forgot to tell you about the time that Flash and me went to do a talk on SARDA at college - we went to Llandrillo college, and got to meet a whole load of people in a room. Flash was good because he didn't fart once, and I got cuddles and polo mints from a cute boy! Sian had a chicken sandwich in her bag, which Flash found, and ate! Sian said we're going to do another talk this week, so that'll be fun!</p> <p>I found a chicken in the woods today - a live one, that squarked and flew away - I left it alone when Sian called me off, but she still growled at me - I guess I shouldn't have chased it, but I was just curious to see what it was - I wouldn't have done anything! I wasn't expecting to see it there!! </p> <p>We've got training in a couple of weeks, but it's very cold, and I really don't fancy spending the weekend cold and wet - with no prospect of getting warm for the whole day - shudder - it's no fun being a water search dog in winter - unless you're boat is ready to use. We've ordered an engine, but then were told that they don't make the engine we want any more, so Sian asked them to look for another one similar. We've now got a boat, and anchor, and Sian's started lookinng at drysuits - I want one of those! Sian said she was going to look for a canal for me to train on - I could just run along the side looking/sniffing for a smell, without having to go in the water! Mij does that, and she's not even a water dog - she's a trailing dog! </p> <p>Anyway, sian said she's going to bed now, so I guess I'll have to settle down to sleep - three on a couch now that Bobby's here! I'll just have to be bossier, so I get the couch to myself! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2009/01/05/too-busy-but-now-for-a-rest-maybe-5328783/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-12-17:/2008/12/18/too-much-bounce-5239060/CadiWaterDog2008-12-18T00:33:52+01:002008-12-18T00:33:52+01:00 <p>Oh people I've just got too much bounce at the moment - I can hardly keep still!!! Sian's working nights, and is in bed all day, Hannah's still not well - did I tell you that she was in hospital - Bexy and her had an accident, and Hannah hurt her tum <img src="/img/smilies/icon_yawn.gif" alt=":yawn:" class="middle" border="0"> so she's not doing much more than lying around! I've hardly seen Iwan at all, but when I have, he has this strange Ellie smell about him, which makes Flash get all frisky (I remember that from a few months ago, when the Wolf was with us!) Flash is being a bit naughty generally at the moment - Sian's certainly getting cross with him.<br> Anyway, I was about to tell you about me and Hanz wrestling and Sian telling us off - Hannie gets a bit rough with me, and because obviously I'm more top dog than she is, I have to win, and I growl at her, to keep her in her place! Sian gets cross because she thinks I shouldn't be top dog - and so she's been a bit bossy with me - huh! she says I take advantage ... who? me? what do you reckon???<img src="/img/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt=":>>" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p>Sian reckons I'm growing up - the feathers on my legs are growing long - I guess once they get long enough, I won't be a puppy any longer. Mind you, they do say that Spaniels don't mature until they get to 7 years old!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/12/18/too-much-bounce-5239060/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-12-12:/2008/12/12/yay-my-big-brother-s-home-5211830/CadiWaterDog2008-12-12T22:31:22+01:002008-12-12T22:31:22+01:00 <p>Yippee!! My big brother Yong is home from Cornwall for the Christmas holidays - and I'm so looking forward to having some big mountain walks with him! I had a big cuddle with him on his bed this morning after Sian and Phil had gone to work, and he was reading climbing books - his new favourite hobby! That and walking on mountains!! He told me that he would take me and Ellie for a walk - he took her this afternoon - she has to stay away from Flash, in case we get Springador puppies - hmm, how cute!</p> <p>My Hanz has been in hospital - she's got a sore tummy where Bexiness (or is it Bexilicious this week) (maybe Bexamanic?) pulled her and a wheelbarrow over, and Hannie got "internal injuries". She was in hospital for three whole days, before she came back, and she's still not well - she won't let me be bouncy, but she lets me have a cuddle, so long as I don't get on her tummy ... she can't cope with Flashers though -he's just TOO BIG -he had to go to work with phil today! </p> <p>I'm sorry I haven't written for a while - we've all been a bit too busy - not with jobs or training or anything, but just busy with getting on with things. I'll try to do better - oops, smack wrist (if I had one <img src="/img/smilies/grayrazz.gif" alt=":b" class="middle" border="0"> )</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/12/12/yay-my-big-brother-s-home-5211830/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-11-24:/2008/11/24/banished-5100959/CadiWaterDog2008-11-24T22:53:48+01:002008-11-24T23:05:26+01:00 <p>I've been banished to the back room for being too smelly :>> I smelt lovely after my bath last night, but we went down the beach tonight, and I found some tasty poo, and ate it. They've done nothing but complain that I smell ever since - even Flash won't stay with me, and he does nothing but fart! We usually walk along the cob, during the day with Sian we go all the way round Glanmor Elias, but in the evening, we usually only go up to the gate by the woods. Tonight, I thought we were going to go all the way round, and when we got to the gate, I went through it, as it was a bit open. I guess the wind blew it closed then, because when I ran back to it, I couldn't get through and everyone had gone. I could smell them walking away from me, and when I heard Sian blow the whistle, I barked, but it was so windy, my bark got carried away on the wind. The whistle blew and blew, and I barked and barked, but no-one heard me. I was very upset and a bit frightened :( Luckily, Sian realised that I wasn't with them and I hadn't caught up, and they sent Flash back to find me. Sian saw the shine of my eyes in the distance and realised I was caught on the other side of the gate! I tell you, I was so relieved when I saw them coming back for me - I don't know what I'd have done if they hadn't - mind you, it's lucky i'm a dog - and I don't know what it is to worry about the future. Funny thing, being a dog - it's a bit of a mixed bag really.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/11/24/banished-5100959/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-11-23:/2008/11/23/they-found-it-and-i-had-a-bath-5094965/CadiWaterDog2008-11-23T23:50:50+01:002008-11-23T23:50:50+01:00 <p>Aaargh, I'm so sad - they found my stinky fish - but not until after I'd rolled in it, and got particularly hummy! Was very bad though - even if I say so myself. I didn't even object when Sian got me in the bath - with lovely bubbles - I objected when I first got in and the water was cold, but then it was warm and bubbly, and the shower was lovely - hmm, what it is to be a girl <img src="/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif" alt=":DD" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/11/23/they-found-it-and-i-had-a-bath-5094965/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-11-21:/2008/11/21/they-say-i-stink-5077286/CadiWaterDog2008-11-21T22:39:11+01:002008-11-21T22:41:35+01:00 <p>We went on the beach this evening - it was very very cold, but there was this smell - Flash smelt it too, but the humans natureally didn't! We could smell it a long way off, and on the way back to the car, I went to investigate - you know me and dead things!<br> Anyway, I found it - don't ask me what it was, bit it was quite tasty, and I had a bit of a chew, before I heard my whistle blowing, and had to make a run for it - I always worry that Sian will drive off without me! Anyway, they stopped by the curry house in the village, and left us hounds in the car. When they got back, they just went on and on that I stink! And they've gone on about it ever since. They reckon I smell fishy - whatever that's supposed to mean. They wouldn't let me near them when they were having this really smelly food and they won't let me play or sit with them <img src="/img/smilies/graysigh.gif" alt=":**:" class="middle" border="0"><br> Sian had a good sniff of me, and couldn't find any evidence, but she said that the smell just hovers around me - she's going to take me back on the beach tomorrow to find whatever it was - I didn't tell them that it's been there a while, and I've hidden it! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif" alt=":>" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Catch you later<br> Cadi</p> <p>By the way, forgot to mention - I've had some of Maddy's blood to mix in with the piggie - thanks Madders x<br> Sian also brought some hair home from work - someone had their hair cut and left it lying around, so she brought it back for me - she hates other people's hair, so I guess she's a bit brave! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/11/21/they-say-i-stink-5077286/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-11-16:/2008/11/16/too-tired-to-write-what-a-weekend-5047966/CadiWaterDog2008-11-16T22:35:17+01:002008-11-16T22:37:16+01:00 <p>Grrr, Sian's been busy doing her training logs after the weekend, and she's nagging me to write the blog but I'm much too tired. Flash is asleep on the sofa and I did much more than he did - I trained on Friday and Saturday and today, and he only did a bit today - mind you, he did find 6 bodies in his area - Phil ran out of treats for him!!</p> <p>I was really pleased with myself yesterday and today - made a bit of a mess of things on Friday - didn't find the piggie the first time - when she took it out of the water, I realised I'd been really close, but I just couldn't smell it! Hey ho, these things happen!</p> <p>Saturday we had Caroline helping <a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/me_and_my_kit_ok_sian_s_kit_and_caroline/2993036" title="Me and my kit! ok, Sian"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/036/2993036_76fa40df21_s.jpg" alt="Me and my kit! ok, Sian" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> We worked really well in the foulest weather early on - we got soaked. Because things had gone wrong on the Friday, we took a step back on the Saturday, and it worked really well. I was getting a bit confused with the line attached to the pig tube, and thinking I needed to tell Sian when I found the line, then when I realised I didn't need to find the line, I thought if I found the line, the pig would be close. anyway, she took away the line!!! to start with it was a bit confusing, but when I remembered what we used to do before getting the line, it was all sorted. We went on to do some really simple searches first, then getting more and more difficult - I was starting to get the hang of telling Sian when I got the smell - without having to find the pig itself - that's good when I do that, because on the boat, I'll never be able to find the pig - only the smell of it.<br> She was really pleased with me by the end of Saturday, and the weather had brightened up nicely. The only trouble with Saturday was that I had to spend long time in the car on my own, and Phil was late arriving with my tea, but after he arrived with Flash, me and Flash had a cuddle in Phil's car - that's the trouble with water search - the wet! And you do end up staying wet and cold! I've got a horse rug for dogs, but it only covers part of me. Charlie's got a muddypaws dog bag, - I'm hoping that Sion Corn will bring one for me for Xmas.</p> <p>Today, we had Patrick helping - he was great. We didn't do so many searches today, but I really got the hang on indicating on the scent cone - however far away from the piggie it is! It was brilliant, and Sian was happy. We even had some handlers and bodies coming along at the end to watch me - that was good - I've only been watched by my staff before! I did try to frighten them by staring at them, and looking at imaginary things in the sky - I tried to chase Patrick away too because he stole my pig and hid it - I thought only Sian was allowed to do that - but she said it's better when other people hide it - that's when it's called a Blind Search, and I did three of those today. Blind Searches are nice, because I get a cuddle from Sian for a long time while we're waiting for the people hiding the pig to come back! </p> <p>Phil's busy doing something strange with a machine which makes pictures on the wall - there's snow and naked men and pianos on the wall.</p> <p>I'm tired now, I can't take my nose off the keyboard - time for a sleep</p> <p>Night night x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/11/16/too-tired-to-write-what-a-weekend-5047966/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-11-11:/2008/11/11/i-m-going-over-to-the-dark-side-5020373/CadiWaterDog2008-11-11T22:15:46+01:002008-11-11T22:15:46+01:00 <p>We changed the pig over yesterday, because we have a training weekend coming up. The old pig was seriously stinky - even Flash and me were trying to keep away from it - gross! Sian then took ll the old pigs over to the Fallen Stock Collection Centre at Gaerwen - you have to giggle - they call it Cymru Lan - Clean Wales - and its for all the stinky dead animals in the area to be disposed of! And they do lots of other recycling too. Sian said that the men there are great - they were asking how my training is coming on - how sweet is that!</p> <p>After she came back from there, she wanted to wash out the container in the river - no problem with that because it was quite full, and it doesn't go into any drinking supply anywhere because we're quite close to the sea. She dripped some blood onto the grass while she was walking over, and then had a thought, and dripped some where she'd know where it was. Then she rinsed off the container, and came back to the house to fetch me. We walked back up towards the river, and she set me off to find. I could smell the smelly one - I think a dead fish with no nose would smell it to be honest - but I found exactly where she'd put the container in the water - I found the smell further down river first, but couldn't get to it, and I wasn't really sure what she wanted me to find. Anyway, she then asked me to come away from the river to look for the smell, and I got into the cone fairly quickly - quite a long one, but not wide because it was pretty windy. I barked at her, and she asked me to show her where the smell was coming from - so I followed it to the strongest place, and there it was, on the tree! Strange place to find smelly pig blood, but hey ho! She was pleased that I'd found it, and I got to play with the ball - yippee!!! </p> <p>I get a bit of a feeling that she's not sure what to do with me now that I'm indicating on the scent cone - she obviously can't tell that the cone is where I tell her it is, but I wouldn't lie, would I - not even for the ball! I just want to tell her where I can smell the smell! She did say something about getting some smoke by the weekend - I'm not sure if that's legal, but I guess she's a grown up. It would be useful for her to see where the wind goes, and see what I smell! Does that make sense or am I mixing my modalities?</p> <p>Sniff you soon - I'll have to invent scratch and sniff blogging<br> Cadi </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/11/11/i-m-going-over-to-the-dark-side-5020373/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-11-09:/2008/11/09/i-m-on-youtube-5009654/CadiWaterDog2008-11-09T21:28:47+01:002008-11-09T21:47:05+01:00 <p>Hi y'all<br> You'll never believe what we found today - I'm on YouTube!!! Doing helicopter training back in August this year - watch this!! I'm the one wagging her tail the whole time - raring to go!<br> <a href="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mACdBITN9ao">http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mACdBITN9ao</a><br> Some of the other dogs were a bit wussy to tell the truth!<br> It was great fun - I've never even seen a helicopter close up before this, but we got to have a sniff, got to go in, and get lifted out again, and then, Sian got lifted up hanging on to me! It was great fun, but I was a bit worried about the other dogs, cos some of them were really quite scared. Luckily we don't get to go in helicopters very often - well Celyn does, but she gets to do lots of searches with Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team<br> I'll ask Richard if I can put some photos of her on here I'm sure he won't mind!<a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/celyn_heli/2973814" title="celyn heli "><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/814/2973814_e6a7352d32_s.jpg" alt="celyn heli " vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/celyn_heli/2973815" title="celyn heli"><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/815/2973815_16f36c1592_s.jpg" alt="celyn heli" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><br> Doesn't she look cool!<br> I don't expect I'll get to go in helicopters much when I'm working.</p> <p>It's been a quiet week or two since we came back from our holidays in deepest England. We had a great time - apart from sleeping in the car in Falmouth! We seemed to spend lots of time in the car - sleeping or being driven to places, but it was nice to see new places. We went geocaching one day, but I only found one - which was a new one - we were the second to find it, but it was in a horrible slimy place!</p> <p>I've been out training once, to our local pond, but I didn't do too well. I got my jacket stuck in a branch in the water, and Sian had to rescue me! How embarrassing was that! Good job it wasn't too far into the water or she would have got very wet and muddy. I think that would have got me into trouble. I really struggled to find any dead smells, and we couldn't figure out why ... maybe the wind was wrong, or maybe the place was too familiar - it's our usual morning walk before work, so all I was looking for was ducks and bread. Anyway, its new pig day tomorrow, before training at the weekend, so I'm looking forward to that. </p> <p>Heard today that Bobby's coming to stay with us after Christmas - yay, that'll be fun!</p> <p>Bye for now, </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/11/09/i-m-on-youtube-5009654/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:cadiwaterdog.blog.co.uk,2008-10-26:/2008/10/26/holidays-in-deepest-england-4935029/CadiWaterDog2008-10-26T18:31:50+01:002008-10-26T18:31:50+01:00 <p>Hi gang!<br> Flash, Sian, Phil and me are on holidays in the deep south of England. We're staying in Terry and Jude's house in a place called Goodworth Clatford - I had to get Sian to go and check that out - it's a bit of a name for a dog to remember! </p> <p>We travelled down yesterday - car FULL of stuff, because we're going to see Iwan in Falmouth on Tuesday and we've got clothes and things for him. It was a very long way and Sian drove - Phil navigated, but he didn't have a map and we got a little bit lost at the very last bit! Jude and Terry have got a lovely house with a big garden with smells - loads of apples have fallen off the trees and are on the floor - Flash told me not to eat them in case they got me drunk - I don't know what that means but he said there was something on the news about a drunk horse <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7672691.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7672691.stm</a><br> We slept in the bedroom - I snuck up on to the bed <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0">and then got off by the time they woke up!<br> We had a bit of a giggle at the four humans last night - they said something about having a wee - this turned out to be a game, and they were throwing something at the telly - I kept going in front of the telly to see what they were doing, but couldn't figure it out. They were having a good laugh - Flash said something else about drunk! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_crazy.gif" alt=":crazy:" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>This morning we got up, and they had a MASSIVE breakfast - we had to take them out for a big walk to work off this breakfast - Flash and me got toast - bit of a treat cos we're on holiday - we don't usually get bread! We had a nice walk through some fields and woods - I think Sian was a bit cross with me cos I was pulling on the lead - she made me sit in the middle of this huge field while they walked away - I was a bit crafty though cos as soon as she went to blow the whistle, I ran - before she blew - and she couldn't really tell! Heh heh <img src="/img/smilies/icon_twisted.gif" alt=":>" class="middle" border="0"> There were some lovely rivers we walked past, and woods and stuff - great - but I got injured!!! I got spiked with something in my chest - ok bit of an exaggeration, but I have got a hole in my chest now! It's sore! <img src="/img/smilies/icon_cry.gif" alt=":'(" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>We went to the pub on the way back from the walk - I think Phil knew the football was on Sky and tricked us all into going - I was cold and I could smell cats, so they took me and Flash back to the car for a sleep and a warm, before they came back later on - Phil had a smiley face - something to do with Liverpool beating Chelsea I think <img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>More tales tomorrow, just off for a sleep, to give me beans for the rest of the evening - I think someone's coming for tea - can't wait - I'm all excited to meet them - I think they've read my blog!!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://CadiWaterDog.blog.co.uk/2008/10/26/holidays-in-deepest-england-4935029/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>