Dottie's Blog For 2008

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

JULY 2008

23rd July - 2 callouts same location

Last night Kaz and I were just about at Whinlatter for training when the dog pager went off for a call to Langdale - 3/4 of an hour later and Kaz, Daryl and me and Elly and Mac and her navigator were bimbling up the Band (Note from Kaz....Well it was pretty quick bimbling Dottie) looking for a family who'd got lost in the mist. After about half an hour we were called and told that another group were also missing in the area - but they got themselves sorted very quickly. Anyway we got up to 3 Tarns and were about to start searching either side of the ridge south along the Crinkles when lovely searchdog Comet located them after hearing shouts so we all turned back round and went all the way to our cars - half way down Daryl hid for me and Mac so we'd be fooled into thinking that we'd found the people we'd been looking for and not get fed up. We eventually got home at about 2345 so Kaz was a bit tired and grumpy this morning! Here's a piccy of the Band and the Crinkles (in daylight) so's you know what I am talking about. Kaz was quite happy about last night though - she said it's the first time she's walked up the Band in the daylight!

21st July - New car for me and a couple of callouts

Last Tuesday Kaz and I went training in the forest at Keswick - it took a bit of time as the idiot humans couldnt get the key to work in the lock for the gate! Anyway we eventually got in and had some fun looking for the bodies. Then Kaz and I went to grandmas because Kaz had to go to Plas-y-Brenin very early in the morning and she was going to look after me. We were just going to bed when the dog pager went off for a search at Kirby Lonsdale for an old lady - Kaz decided we couldnt go and when she got back in the evening we found out that sadly the lady had died and been found in Windermere.

Then on Friday Kaz went to get her new car - well actually it's a van and it has been specially fitted out for me and all my things - it's just like having a house on wheels and I've been checking out all the little cubby holes and stuff - it's marvellous!!

On Sunday Kaz had been painting the house (under my careful instruction) and she had just put everything away when the team pager went off for a callout - a search at Haweswater - so Kaz and me and Daryl jumped in the van and went down to start a search of the Coast to Coast footpath when the man was reported as being found - hooray!!

Today I am sitting pretty in the back of the van with the doors open watching those 'pesky ducks'.

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14th July - Sad news from SARDA England

It was very sad today - Fern the dog who belongs to SARDA England Handler Bill Batson has died.

She had been very ill recently but was thought to be recovering. Unfortunately she developed an infection that she was unable to fight. 

Fern was on the callout list for 2½ years and was involved in 20 searches finding 3 people. We all send our love to Bill

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14th July - Another fun-filled weekend

On Fridays in the summer Kaz has the day off and she spent the whole day painting bits of the house. It was dead boring and I was very pleased when she finally took me out for a nice walk - then her and Daryl took me to something called a 'drive-in-movie' and we watched a really old film called Grease - agghh Kaz and Daryl know all the words and sang along with the songs - I had my paws in my ears most of the time!

On Saturday Kaz had to do some studying for hre university thingy and she stayed at home but I was allowed to go with Kaz's team to a place called Dalemain where we did some fundraising - I was made a real fuss of by lots of people and had a great day! Here's a nice picture of me.....

 

After I got home from collecting, Kaz told me that she was taking me back to the drive in movie with some of her team mates as they were going to be watching the Italian Job with some bloke who's name's Michael Caine - anyway she was just getting the tea ready when her team pager went off for a callout at Haweswater - so she went to it and unfortunately it took so long that we didnt go to the film in the end!


On Sunday we went to do a dog demonstration for some people near Cockermouth but the person organising it had messed up the dates so we ended up going for a nice walk instead and then had tea and cake at body Terry and Mary's house (ohh and loads of fuss for me)

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8th July - Busy week

Did you all know that it is the 75th anniversary of Mountain Rescue in the UK this year? (No - nor did I).... but nevertheless Kaz and all the team have been involved in a big day over at Langdale Ambleside. I went with her to the rugby ground where I did a dog demo in pouring rain (honestly I really must complain about being made to work in bad weather). Les did the talking on the PA thing and John and Skye and Glen and puppy Molly helped us show what we do - we were of course brilliant. Then my grandma and grandad came over and watched Kaz and her team (they also pursuaded Elly to join them for the day) enter the Its a Knockout - and they came 3rd!! On the Sunday me and Kaz and Daryl took a group of young people out on the hill as part of the celebrations (I think we were all glad to get home on Sunday night - I was whacked!!). Here are a couple of piccies of the 2 days........

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2nd July -Coniston Training Weekend

It was the Coniston Weekend and quite a few of us went over to camp in the pouring rain at the Coppermines. Lots of puppies were there - Moss with Mike, Bruach with Tom, Einich with Joy, Molly with Glen and training with me were searchdogs Vinny, Kess, GInny and Mist - trainees Skye and Kitt had a great time working big areas up at Leverswater. Overall a really good weekend - apparently the handlers all enjoyed themselves on Saturday night in the hut!!

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JUNE 2008

22nd June - Wet weekend and a callout

Kaz and I were staying with grandma and grandpa this weekend which was good coz I got loads of tennis ball games and extra treats when Kaz wasnt looking!! Then yesterday afternoon just as the rain was pouring down, Kaz's dog pager went off for a callout to some missing mountain bikers on Crossfell. It took me and Kaz (well her really) 25 mins to drive down to the base and then just as we were going to get out and search they turned up so we went back to Carlisle for some tea! Kaz is in the office today but for a change I'm typing my blog at grandpas pc - he has an eye on me making sure I dont break anything.

This weekend its training at Coniston - Kaz rang body Kim last night and has arranged for us to pitch our tent with hers.Last time Kaz camped on a SARDA weekend her and Jess ended up re-doing their tents 3 times coz handlers Macca and Mike Blakey kept taking the outer off and turning it round so they couldnt get out! Keep your fingers crossed for handsome trainee Jake (with Laura) who are on assessment.

16th June - Been away in Birmingham

Kaz and I have been away with Kaz's work in Birmingham - it was good fun and I got loads of fuss. On the searchdog front it has been quiet - Kaz reckons it's because it has been nice weather that no-one is getting lost at the moment.

Other bits of news are that Dave Watt was filmed for ITV Border last night about our new supporters club called the Friends of SARDA Lakes - here's a piccie of him and also the link to the pamphlet (notice I'm on the front!!) you can cick on it for more information about joining!

Also here are is a rather attractive shot of Merlin who belongs to Dave Lewis who was a dogsbody with us - he moved to Worcestershire and now they have defected to supporting the SARA team there - traitor. Hi Dave, Merlin and Sharon - we all send lots of love to you!!!

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12th June - Threlkeld Primary School Day out

Ohh I had loads and loads of fun with Kaz yesterday - we went to Conisotn to meet the year 4, 5 and 6 children and me and Kaz were given 8 children to take out for the day - with Mrs Smalley who was their teacher. We went up to Boulder Valley and Kaz showed the children all about how to boulder and they had great fun climbing all over the rocks. Then me and Kaz got them to try to search for someone - but it took them ages and ages to find them - and I then showed them how quick it was using a superior searchdog and I found the person in 23 seconds!!! After that we had lunch then Kaz let them work out a really interesting route round the side of Coniston Old Man and we had a bit of an adventure getting back to the centre. Everyone had a nice time (especially me) - so hello to everyone at the school!!

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11th June - Threlkeld Primary School Day out

Kaz and I are going to be helping the teachers from Threlkeld Primary school tomorrow taking the children up Consiton Old Man - I am really looking forward to it coz I know I'll get loads of fuss made of me!!\

Then Kaz and I will be away with Kazs work until next Monday so the dog blog willl be quiet til then! Take care Dot Fans!!!!

9th June - Hot day's training

Kaz and I went to her team training today - it was being held over near Dufton Pike and we were asked to look for some missing people in an area of very steep ground which used to be an old mine working. Kaz and I worked with our navigator Daryl and it was really hard work as there wasnt any wind and the ground was rough - in fact both Kaz and Daryl slipped over but I was brilliant as per usual (coz I've got 4 paw drive unlike you humans). After about 2 hours we moved to another bit of the mine workings and I found one of the missing people (well it was Dave from Kaz's team pretending he'd been out all night when actually he'd just bimbled up there and hidden)......after we found them we all went to the pub for the important (well that's what Kaz said) debrief. Here's a couple of piccies of us in action!!

 

MAY 2008

30 May - long day and then doing some filming

I had a long day yesterday with Kaz - she had a meeting in Stockport followed by another in Ambleside in the evening and I went with her - I had quite a bit of fuss but not too much in the way of tennis balls being thrown!! Tonight Kaz and I are at Kirkstone Pass to do some filming for the new BMC Mountain Safety DVD which should be a load of fun and I'll get to show off my superior talents!!

Dont forget if you are out and about in Kendal tomorrow then we will be doing some collecting around the town - come and say hi!!!

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28 May - doggy callout

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26 May - Went for a walk and ended up on a callout
Kaz and friends from the team took me for a walk on Helvellyn on Bank Holiday Monday - we were sat at the Hole in the Wall eating some food when Kaz's radio suddenly burst into life - Patterdale team had got two callouts so Kaz radioed and said we could help - so Kaz, me and one of them went on one callout and Dr Andy went on the other (....and next time I'll keep my mouth shut...). Turned out our casualty was at Ruthwaite Lodge - so we ended up descending down a really bad and steep bit of ground for about 500m and while Kazs teammate and I went to help the casualty, Kaz was asked to go down to a Patterdale team vehicle and pick up a stretcher (have a look at the route she took). After a while the Patterdale team were there and helped out and then Kazs team turned up to carry off the casualty (who had a fractured and dislocated ankle - ooohh painful) - Apparently Kaz's legs are pretty stiff today!!

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20 May - Weird or what?
Do you remember last year when Kaz and I helped a doggy called Sam, his owner and friend after Sam had hurt his leg. Well this weekend Kaz and I were camping at Hollows Farm in Borrowdale - just as we got out of the car a voice shouted 'Kaz is that you?' - and then Sam came running towards us!! Turns out that Mark (the owner) and some friends were camping there as well - what a surprise - so me and Kaz joined them for a quick drink in the evening. Next morning Mark came over looking worried - Sam had cut himself badly and he asked Kaz to have a look at it - she told him it would need stiches so poor Mark and Sam had to go back to the vets. Sam ended up having an operation to make him better and Kaz is worried that she has some sort of curse on her!!

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18 May - Kaz is back from Belfast
Finally Kaz is back from working in Belfast - she was there for a couple of days at meetings and she managed to get in some sightseeing at the Giants Causeway and even got to go to the Bushmills Distillery (she told me it was very interesting but that I wouldnt have liked it)...I miss her loads when she's away from home. So what's news then?:

Our training officer and general top bloke Mick Guy was on a rescue the other day and managed to turn his ankle and tore some ligaments - get well soon Mick!!

Kaz's teammate Glen - his new collie puppy Molly has broken her leg jumping up (but the vet says she's get better really soon)

Kaz and I went for a nice walk at lunchtime with searchdog Mac and Elly - Mac and I ran round with tennis balls and Elly and Kaz gossiped!!

Kaz is in the office today and she and Steve are working on their new email and IT systems - I'm lounging around chewing the pink pig but am very happy cos I will be training tonite and seeing all my friends!
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9 May - Kaz is back and off again
Kaz and Benny and Les went to Norway to help with training their dog handlers to work like me and the others - they had a really great time apparently and stayed in a lovely hut in a place called Tjorn near Stavanger - Kaz says I must say hi to everyone so here goes: Hiya and lots of love from Kaz. Here are some piccies of the trip.......and you can even read Helen's dog blog - (dont worry it's in English!!) www.mist.dogsandmaps.com

She's been away for 6 bloomin days and tomorrow and Sunday we have a training weekend in Langdale but after that she's goimg away to Belfast til next Thursday and taking the pc with her....marvellous! So no blogging til then.

Other news from the dogs is that Laura and her handsome hound Jake passed their first assessment in Coombe Ghyll last week so hopefully they'll soon be on the list - hooray!! Poor old Mac has been told he has a bit of arthritis but he's got some medicine and Elly hopes he'll be ok........

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APRIL 2008

27 April - Kaz is off to Norway
Kaz and Benny and Les are off to Norway to help with training their dog handlers to work like me and the others and I'm going to miss her lots and lots but I will be going to see grandma and grandpa for the 6 days so I will be getting lots of fuss and cuddles from then to make up for it! So when she gets back I may allow her to put some of her photos and video clips up!

In the meantime here is a clip of me at the recent Helicopter Training (I did enjoy it really - I know it doesnt look like it!) - click on the piccie to start it (It might take a while if you are on an old-age technological thing).......

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25/6th April - Long Weekend
Me and Kaz and 3 others from her team were on the hill helping some of the teams from the RNLI (Lifeboats to you and me). They were going to be doing a team building weekend in Ullswater and me and Kaz and Glenn were there to help them navigate from Patterdale to Mardale Head via Borredale Hause, Angel Tarn, the Knott, Kidsty Pike while the team and the two Ians came the other way. In the middle of the day they had to do a load of excercises and build a boat and get across to the island in the middle of the tarn. Unfortunately, the weather was really bad at that point as you can see from the pictures below....Glen and Kaz and I retreated to the tent!

After the 2 hours at the tarn - we then had to get them to navigate across towards Mardale Head - it was very bad weather and all of them got blown off their feet at some point - then we finally ended up at the Rigg on Haweswater at about 5pm - just as we were about to do the last exercise - a search task - Kaz's pager went off with 2 shouts - one for a doggy job and one for a job for Penrith so Kaz was going off to the dog job but then got stood down. We stayed the night with our friend Kim and then on Sunday went back to play in the water with the RNLI. On Sunday night Kaz and friends went out to play something called 10 pin bowling - she said that the ball she was given was not working properly!!

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24th April - Searchdog Skye retires
We heard today some sad news about that handsome searchdog Skye who has retired as he has got an excrutiating ligament (or something). He has been a qualified dog for 6 years and works with Christyne - if you look at the roll of honour page you'll see his account of what has happened to him. Here is a cute piccie of him and Christyne

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21st April - Kaz and I visit Scotland to see old friends
I have been with Kaz in her new camper van all weekend in Scotland - we travelled up to Rannoch Moor and camped overnight which was great cos I got loads of fuss then we went to Fort William and then had a nice walk (we even had a chat with the Lochaber team who were on a callout to Ben Nevis but they didnt need a searchdog at the time or we would have gone with them!!). Then we went to see my old friends searchdog Drizzi and Kidsty (and Karen and Pete) who moved to the North West coast of Scotland to build a house (well the dogs arent doing the work!). We had a great time on the beach and running all over the place - then it well down hill from there onwards......the camper van broke down and Kaz and I were taken back to Carlisle on a lowloader (she wasnt very happy)...anyway we had a great time and Kaz chilled out a little - here are some lovely photos of the camper (before it broke down), Karen and Pete's house, and then me and Drizzi and Kidsty on the beach





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2nd April - Kaz is sad

Sorry I havent been very good at blogging recently - but there have been a lot of things happening lately - poor Kaz is quite unhappy at the moment - her and Baz decided to split up and it is a little difficult a the moment (thats why she is using her old name now) - I make sure I keep giving her lots of cuddles to help. She is also very busy at work so that is making her a bit fed up....she says she'll be feeling better very soon......and says thanks to everyone who has sent her nice messages.

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1st April - weather rubbish....
Hi guys - am sat in Kaz's office chewing a dog bone and wondering when I'm going to get out of here and on the hill (...actually Dot we're training at 6pm...) I'm soooooooo bored - I have some fun earlier though - Glen from Kaz's team came to her office with his new puppy dog Molly - it is very cute (not as cute as me) but I did put her in her place - well she needs to know who is the boss around here. Anyway Molly is only small (10 weeks) and she will eventually be training to be a search dog. Glen says that the family are really happy with her already - of course - she is a superior sort of dog!!! Here she is.....



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MAR 2008

28 Mar - Lots of catching up to do.....

Ok Dot fans - sorry I havent been blogging but Kaz has been mega busy and wont let me play with her laptop - but here's the SP on the news and views:

Kaz and I were photographed in the Helvellyn area for a magazine - honestly 2 and a half hours to take one photo (Kaz didnt enjoy it as she doesnt like her photo being taken - me on the other hand I love it!!)

Ian and Vinny and Roger and Beinn passed their last assessment and they are now on the list with me - that's great coz I get to bat my eyelashes at more fabulous looking dogs!!!! Here's Vin and Beinn posing with their handlers

Also there have been a lot of searches - I was out with Kaz and some of her team mates last week just about to climb a gully in Brown Cove in the snow and her pager went off for a dog search - her team mates Glen, Craig and Daryl offered to navigate for me and we all went to Grizedale to look for a missing man - it was hard work in the snow and trees and unfortunately the body of a man was found. The other dogs went to another fatal accident on Red Screes the other night and had a very hard night.

This weekend Kaz and I are going to a party on Saturday night then we are going to be at Tebay collecting money for Kaz's team on Sunday......if you're around I'll see you there!!

Merlin (who belonged to Dave Lewis the dogsbody that moved south_) emailed me the other day - Dave is now a member of SARA (a lowland search team) Merlin seems to be having loads of fun too - so a big woof to Dave, Sharon and Merlin!!

Oh yes and before I forget I must say a big THANK YOU to Dana at Spottie Dottie Pet Shop who sent us all some nice toys for training!!

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13 Mar - Kaz is going away....
Kaz has to go to work at something called the Outdoor Show so I am staying home with the 2 stupid labradors and grandma and grandpa! So I'm not going to get hold of the laptop til next week - so no more news til then Dot fans!!


12 Mar - New puppy

Kaz's team mate Glen wants to train a searchdog and he went with Kaz last night to choose his puppy - here she is .... 6 and a half weeks old and her name is Tarn........




10 Mar - I'm a star again

Kaz and her team and I went to the University of Cumbria to do a presentation on MR and dogstuff - I was as usual fantastic!! The nice man Simon Yates was there as well and he was very complementary about me and the work that us searchdogs do! Kaz says she'll let me have some of the photos soon.

4 Mar - LABRADORS RULE

I am convinced that the best breed of dog in the world is a labrador - particularly black ones - they have the finest intelligence, a great sense of smell, are handsome and very cuddly......I completely retract all previous statements about Stupid Labradors and will, in future make sure I give them all due respect and acknowledge that they are the superior being.....(Note from Kaz - hang on a minute Dottie are you ok?) Of course we are, I mean, I am ... furthermore I will resist from talkiing about collies being 'proper dogs' , will not try to get Kaz's attention and will stop telling Donald that he was useless because he failed as a searchdog....(Note from Kaz...ok I definitely know something's wrong here.....)....She may be the family star but it's time we hounds stood up for ourselves and told the truth about it all.... oops - we blew it - better take the tape off Dottie's mouth now Fraser!!

That's better - I dont know - there I was having a sleep under Kaz's desk when suddenly the two STUPID LABRADORS got hold of me - wrapped some gaffer tape over my nose and started typing - at the same time laughing and muttering about getting their 'revenge' on collies....that's the last time I let them in Kaz's office. Anyway - order has returned - Kaz is back in the office and the stupid labradors have been returned to the car in disgrace!!

I wont be able to blog for a couple of days as Kaz is away with work and I'm staying with grandma and grandpa - so take it easy dot fans!

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1 Mar - We missed a callout and Mac located the missing person!!

On Saturday night we had a callout to assist Langdale Team with 2 missing people on Crinkle Crags - by the time Kaz's pager had gone off and she looked at it - it was late at night. Anyway it turned out to be a hard night for all of my searchdog buddies- Mac (and Elly), Fly (and Mike), Kess (and Les) and Ginny (and Mick) - apparently it was raining and very windy and there was no visibility - the handlers all got blown over, had to get across tricky becks and Mick Guy got ill!! Blimey!! Anyway very early in the morning Mike Hadwin and Elly heard whistles and shouts and Elly sent Mac up the hill to see where they were coming from - he located the missing people and they walked them off - Fly told me he got home at 3.30am - Mike was cold and wet - Fly was just tired and hungry!!

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FEB 2008

28 Feb - A great Game and a shop named after me!

My good friend Rigg (AKA Rigg the Pig who used to be training as a searchdog) sent me an email asking me to try out this game - why dont you give it a go it's great fun.....just click here - there's even a player with my name (although spelt differently). Thanks Rigg and a big woof to you from me!

Also Kaz has been talking to a lovely lady called Dana who has a fantastic web pet shop called guess what? Spottie Dottie (blimey I'm so famous now humans are even building shops in my honour!). Anyway have a look at the link - I'm already making a note of what I want Kaz to buy me this year!! I quite fancy a nice pink collar.......

28 Feb - Almost a callout
Me and the two stupid labradors went for a walk with Kaz on Helton last night - it was great fun - I kept barging Fraser out of the way to get to my ball on a rope - Kaz told me off though and made me lie down while she played with them - it's not fair - doesnt she realise I'm supposed to be the one she spends all her time with? Anyway we all ran around for a while and then we met one of our friends a handsome German Pointer and so we ran around some more!

After we got home us dogs were all really hungry (normal state of affairs for Labradors I'm told) and Kaz made us our tea and we had a cuddle with her on the sofa but dont tell Baz coz he doesnt like us on the furniture! He was out climbing so he wont know (Note from Kaz...not unless he reads this dimwit!)

At 8.30pm Kaz got a phone call to say that we might be needed to go out on a search for a man who had not come back from a walk in Seathwaite - Kaz got ready and waited and about 1 /2 hours later was told the man had come back - hooray!!

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5 Feb - Kaz goes away again
Hi Dot fans - well this weekend me and the two stupid labradors played with Kaz and Baz on Helton Fell which was great fun and me and Donald tried to pinch the roast pork yesterday but Kaz has a sixth sense when it comes to dogs trying to raid the kitchen!! Kaz is away again today with work - boo - and she wont be back til Wednesday......not much happening on the SARDA front at the moment - except the next training course is happening soon - that's the one where the lovely Vinny and Beinn will be on assessments and if they pass they'll get on the callout list - hooray!!! I have to say a big hello to my friend (and former trainee searcdog Rigg who keeps telling me off for calling the two labradors stupid - he's a half lab himself)....sorry Rigg I dont mean it really!

2nd Feb - We're back - what a great time!
Kaz and I got back from the Scottish course yesterday afternoon and Kaz then had to go straight out again as it was her Advanced First Aid Exam at 5.30pm - she got home at 10.30 and was tired!The course was great fun - there were 7 graded dogs and 4 trainees and loads of lovely bodies and a few visitors (including the lovely Theresa from the Czech Republic who trains with searchdogs over there).

Kaz and I travelled up with body Kim and we all stayed in the Norweigian Hut in Glenmore - there wasn't much snow but we did some really big searches around Coire and Lochan with the graded dogs and the trainees did really well with everything they did. We even did some searching in the woods with bodies hiding in some really strange places. Kaz and I worked well together and when I was on a find she had to carry out an ice axe arrest - I wasnt bothered though because I had found someone - although I was getting a bit frustrated that she hadnt got there very quickly.

The evening entertainment was interesting (Kaz said) - apparently the new craze in SARDA is playing drafts (photos to follow). All in all a great time and everyone did really well.

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15th Feb - Off to play in Scotland

Just to let you all know that we havent fallen off the face of the earth but me and Kaz and all the others are off to Scotland for Winter training until the 22nd Feb - so I'll be back blogging then with the gossip and photos and stuff. In the meantime take it easy and stay safe!!

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10th Feb - Callout to Scotland

As I said yesterday, Kaz didnt have to go on the exercise today as we had been out searching the area last night. So we spent a quiet day playing with her in the garden - well actually she was doing the gardening and me and the stupid labradors were helping by chewing the sticks and digging up things (funny she didnt think it was helping though!). At about 5.30 in the evening Mick Guy rang Kaz to tell her about their day on Crossfell - all of the dogs found the pretend missing people and Vinny and Beinn passed another assessment which is great (I really fancy those two).

At 6pm Chris Francis the callout co-ordinator rang Kaz and asked whether we could go up to a place called Currutherstown in Scotland to help look for a missing man. We drove all the way up and were given an area of woods to search. The ground was very boggy - covered with fallen trees and brambles and was extremely steep in places. Searchdog Corrie was in the east and I was in the west of the area. After an hour or so one of the Moffat team found a piece of the mans clothes and me and Corrie were asked to try and find him- I found some trousers and barked loudly and Kaz came over - just then both me and Corrie turned round and we saw the man - Kaz and the other dog handler got him out of the water and then they did something called CPR for about 1/2 an hour til he was taken to hospital. Sadly he didnt survive. Kaz was a bit upset when we drove home.

Today the weather at Kaz's office is lovely - me and the stupid labradors are in the back of the car - Kaz has the boot open and we are looking at the ducks and stuff. We've already had a walk on the fells this morning which was nice.

Anyway only 4 days til we all go up to Scotland - hooray!!

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8th Feb - Callout on Crinkle Crags then an overnight exercise on Crossfell

Kaz and I and the two stupid labradors were chilling out on Friday night - the weather was pretty bad - high winds and quite cold.....Kaz's pager went off at about 8.30 and she was asked to go over to Langdale Base to help search for 2 missing walkers on Crinkle Crags - we drove over slowly coz there was a lot of fog on Kirkstone pass. Then we arrived and Kaz and me and my half sister Ginny and her boss Mick Guy were told to search up the Band to Bowfell and then north to Ore Gap. It was Kaz's first day back on the hill since the Man Flu and she was coughing alot - it was terrible weather - fog and high winds. Mick and Ginny went off up towards Ore Gap and me and Kaz searched round the summit of Bowfell. My friends Searchdog Mac and Moudy were going up another way. At about 1.50am - there was a call on the radio to say that Ginny had found them and we all came off the hill. It took a long time for them all to come off the hill and we got home about 4am

Kaz got up at about 8.30 to do the gardening with Baz - then she was called in to her team base with me to start preparing for a search exercise which was going to be happening on the Sunday with lots of other teams - but at 6pm she was told that if she went with another dog handler and searched up Crossfell in the night then she wouldnt have to go during the daytime exercise. So we went up with handsome searchdog Fly and his boss Mike Hadwin and two fo Kaz's teammates John and Darryl. The only problem is that I keep thinking that when Kaz walks up a footpath with other people then I'm not working and I wouldnt go away from her to do my job. She wasnt very happy about that and has told me that I need to do some extra training. Still, it was a lovely night and we got home just after midnight.



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4th Feb - Kaz takes to her bed!

Oh dear - Kaz finally got the cold she was trying to avoid - she has been a miserable old bat for the last couple of days (well that's what Baz has been saying to us dogs!). On Saturday she got up had breakfast then promptly back to bed - goodness me if I did that there'd be hell to pay!

Baz was a bit sneaky though and had switched off Kaz's pager so she wouldn't be tempted to go on a callout while she was ill. So guess what happened? Her team had a callout on Saturday afternoon near Haweswater and then on Saturday night there was a dog callout on Great End for two missing walkers.

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JAN 2008

28th Jan - another couple of callouts

Last night Kaz was in bed when her pager went off for a callout to Crinkle Crags - she got me and we started to get ready to go over to Langdale Base - we got almost there and then the people were reported as being safe so we came back.

Then this morning me and Kaz and the two stupid labradors were on the way to work when the dog pager went off for a callout in Keswick - we went straight to Keswick base and were told I was the only searchdog (until some others arrived). We went with Chris Francis and we were told to search a big area of woodlands by the river - it was very steep and Kaz was getting a bit frustrated with me cos I wouldn't go down the very steep bits to the water's edge. She soon found out why because she slipped about 30ft down a very muddy slope.

It was hard work for me - it was very muddy and steep and there were lots of fallen trees and no wind and lots of rain! After a while the RAF helicopter started searching along the river and they spotted the lady in the river - unfortunately she had died. Kaz was a bit concerned that I hadn't found her because we'd passed that area in the woods - but it was very hard for me - the lady was in the river so unless I had actually swum in I dont think I could have found her.

Kaz has just arrived back at work with me and the two stupid labradors and has just told me she needs her PC.........


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24th Jan - Ooh I'm not popular and Kaz's team get 2 callouts in a night!

Kaz was in London yesterday all day and I stayed with Baz and the stupid labradors. He had arranged to go beating (apparently that isnt what it sounds like - I have to admit I was a bit worried) - normally he just takes Donald but he had to take us all as Kaz was away. Well everything was going well, but I havent been trained with birds and I ran down the edge of the pen and they all shot up in the air (about 50 of them) - which isnt supposed to happen - well, not at that moment. Baz got shouted at, but he was ok with me and still gave me a biscuit after.........

Last night I was pleased when Kaz came home - she was very tired (something to do with getting up at 4.45 and then sitting through the worlds most boring meetings)...I still managed to get a bit of fuss and a cuddle from her though. Then her team pager went off - and for once we didnt go anywhere coz she decided she was too tired, and thought I was probably tired from my day of chasing the birds!)...funny thing was her team pager went off again for another callout at 9.30 and she decided that she was still too tired - she doesnt look so bad today though...but tomorrow she's off to Southampton for a meeting so I bet she'll be tired again.

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21st Jan - Kind donations and a mad woman!!

Kaz and I went to Threlkeld last night to do a presentation (Kaz) and Demo (me) - it was great fun and can I say a big woof to all the lovely ladies who came and listened to Kaz (you deserve a medal) - and also thanks for the biscuit and the donation to SARDA Lakes

Also a big thank you to Kirkby Stephen MRT member Alister Renton who sent us a donation in memory of his Grandma

Finally - there is a mad woman in our midst - Julie Graham, who is a supporter of us, has decided that she is going to run the London Marathon is aid of SARDA Lakes - have a look at the marathon page for more information ....honestly the woman is crazy -lovely but craaazzy!!



20th Jan - My sister Gael has written to me

Here is my sister Gael - she recently sent me an email which was great - I dont remember much about her but she sure looks pretty and clearly very intelligent - obviously the superior genes!!

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20th Jan - Great News for Roger and Ian

Two of the good looking trainee dogs Vinny and Beinn (see the piccie below) are about half way through their assessments at the moment, and this week the SARDA England organisation bought their dogs up for an assessment course which Vinny and Beinn went to (along with some of the assessors from here)......(Note from Kaz - both organisations regularly assess candidates from the other so that there is an element of external verification of the standards).

The good news is that both Beinn and Vinny are now on 5 assessment passes each and apparently were pretty good even in the really bad weather!! Hooray for them - here they are



Also Kaz wants to say thanks to everyone who has sent us congratulations on my recent first find - ......Note from Kaz - seriously, many thanks to everyone from all over the world who have sent such lovely messages - at the end of the day we did what we trained to do and it was the luck of the draw as to which area we got to search; the team of dogs, MR personnel and those who help train us (especially the bodies) should all be congratulated - not just us......so - well done everyone - it was a joint effort!!

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6th Jan -All my training has paid off - I found someone for real

Kaz was in London at a meeting and had just got off the train in Penrith when her pager went off for a search for a man in Wigton. She got home and ran in to get me and her things - we drove straight over to Wigton Police station and met all the other dogs (Fly, Mac, Ginny, Mist, Moudy, Kess, Flash and Dynamite) as well as the Cockermouth team members. The dogs were given two areas to search and off we went.....Kaz was working with Benny (Moudy) and we set off round a tarn - it was great for us dogs coz we could swim through it all but Kaz and Benny found it really hard as there were some very deep puddles! I had a bit of a moment though, I got over enthusiastic about jumping a big ditch and ended up in it - but my jacket got caught in brambles and I kept trying to swim but I couldnt go anywhere! Benny and Kaz tried to free me up but they nearly ended up in it as well - luckily I managed to free myself.

We searched loads of woodland and it was really thick and horrid - at about 11pm we were told to stop and we went back to the Police station where we told them that we felt that we needed to re-check the area again - as it was so difficult.

This morning we were paged to go over again, this time Kaz's team Penrith and Keswick were also asked to help. Kaz and I and Mike Hadwin and Fly went back to the Forest and started searching (before we did though, Kaz and Mike chose which side of the Forest they were going to do and Kaz chose the middle bit). After about 20 mins I was running through when I smelt a person - I ran over to a fallen tree and sure enough it was someone - I ran right back to Kaz and barked like mad - when I got her to the man she was very worried as he was very blue and didnt look very well - but she called for Mike and they set up a special tent to warm him up and the rest of the team arrived to help get him better. We then carried him out on a stretcher to an ambulance. Funny really, you would think Kaz would be happy, but she had a bit of a cry on the way home!! I'm glad I could make Kaz proud and I'm really glad that the man was safe.

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13th Jan - Training and stuff

Kaz and I went over to Loweswater to train this weekend - it was really great fun - Kaz and I helped with the trainee dogs on the morning - it was fun watching them and realising that I'd made so much progress since the last couple of years - here's a nice photo Laura and Jake (he's very handsome).....

Trainee Vinny and Beinn passed another 2 days of assessment so they'll hopefully soon be on the callout list - hooray!!

In the evening there was a night exercise and I was sent up a footpath to find the bodies -Kaz was really impressed with me coz I ran around and found them all and she didnt even have to leave the footpath!!

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5th Jan - Another team calloutKaz and I were in the office when Kaz's team pager went off in the afternoon to help look for two missing walkers on Crossfell - there is currently an avalanche warning in the Lakes so as you can imagine the weather was atrocious....anyway just as we rocked up to the base, we were told that the two men had found a place called Gregs Hut and they were staying there until someone found them - so we could go home (but first we had a cup of tea and some cuddles from Kaz's team - well I did not Kaz!!)

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3rd Jan

Hi there Dot fans and a happy new year to you all!! It has been pretty quiet really on the callout front - the last one was on 23rd December and Kaz and I nearly made it before being stood down.

What other news is there? Well we are all looking forward to next weekends training - it's getting pretty nerve racking for some of the others as they are now under assessment - so fingers toes and paws all crossed for trainees Beinn, Vinny and Blisstic!!

Yesterday Kaz was at work when her team pager went off - so she and the rest of her team went down to Patterdale to assist with a callout on Helvellyn. When she got back me and the two stupid labradors got some cuddles from her...we love Kaz!

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1st Jan

just for a bit of fun - here are 2 piccies of Kaz and Baz dressed up for Last Night's party - funny enough people didnt recognise Kaz

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