Geranium

I have already mentioned that we would like to get another dog in a few months time. However, I soon realised that to get the dog one would like you have to start the process a good few months beforehand. These days you need to be on the breeders list long before the puppies are even born. 

We have decided to get something completely different to Murdoch - I could not look at a similar face every day and not feel sad about Murdoch, or compare the dog to Murdoch, which is not fair, and so we have therefore decided on a Hungarian Vizsla. It's a breed we have always liked and at one point we even considered getting one when Murdoch was younger. 

I started doing some research about breeders, and of course none of them are in Surrey. One of the main breeders in the UK is in Leicestershire and their line of dogs are present in many other breeders kennels throughout the country. Breeders need to interview prospective owners before you are considered for a puppy, and quite rightly so. 

So today Gavin and I left home early this morning for a 10am meeting in Loughborough with a breeder whose dog is not even pregnant yet! We met the dad, who is used as a stud for many breeders throughout the country, and the mum to be. They were both beautiful, friendly dogs, the female thinking she is a lap dog and was happy to sit on me! Mum-to-be may or may not be already pregnant, time will tell when she is scanned in a few week's time. Anyway, even if it does not happen it was good to meet the dogs and talk to the breeder all about the dogs and their characteristics. They need a lot of exercise, but not much more than Murdoch got when he was younger. They are very intelligent dogs and respond well to training, which I plan to take the dog to. They are also known as velcro dogs as they tend to stick by your side which I rather like.

It was an easy drive there and back and since we got home we have just been pottering about. These flowers in the garden are the only photo I took today.