Dottie's Blog For 2009
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More Callouts and Kaz is away...boo
Its been another busy week with one thing or another. First of all we went training the other night and there were at least 6 trillion midges at Whinlatter - and poor old body Glen seemed to have most of them eating any spare bit of flesh showing....uggggh!
On Wednesday night me and kaz were having a bit of a cuddle in the lounge whilst the idiot pup Dram and Daryl were outside practising barking for toys (the idiot pop, not Daryl). Then we were getting ready to go training with the team and we went down to the base. Just as we were driving out to the place where we were practising, we were all told to go to another place near Penrith for a callout to help the Police and Fire and Ambulance - me and the idiot pup got left at base and Kaz and Daryl went. Sadly a man had taken his own life and Mountain Rescue were called to help the other emergency services, Kaz and Daryl were gone for quite a long time and were a bit fed up when they got home - but me and the idiot pup Dram made up for it by jumping all over them and giving them loads of licks!
On Friday Kaz and Daryl had a day off from work and we all went for a really nice walk and then in the afternoon went to grandma and grandpas so Kaz and Daryl could go and see some film. Me and the idiot pup ran about in the garden with a ball and had loads of fuss.
Yesterday Kaz and Daryl did some gardening (me and Dram helped a bit....) then in the afternoon handler Elly Whiteford and searchdog Mac and trainee Meg came over and we all went out for a nice play on the fells. Elly was tired and went home about 4o'clock. Kaz decided that she was going to have a nice quiet night in and her and Daryl were planning a nice meal when the dog pager went off for a callout on the Crinkles (near Langdale). The Lake District is really funnny coz the weather here was nice but Kaz was told on the telpohone that the missing people were in really bad conditions. So me and her jumped in the van and drove to Langdale's base and met up with Handler Mik Guy and my big sister Ginny. We had to search up to Red Tarn from the 3 shires stone and then over to Little Stand (Have a look at the route me and Kaz took below).
The weather was really awful - rain and poor visibility - and Kaz and Mick were pretty happy when we got off the fell at about 11pm! The missing people were found safe. We went back to Langdale base where we were given tea and pies (thanks - we were starving!). Me and Kaz drove back and Kaz and I got to sleep about 0030.
Kaz wasnt too happy when the pager then went off at 2am!! Nor was I come to that. We were asked to go and search for a man and his grandson missing on a walk from Wasdale to Ennerdale. It took Kaz a bit of time to get herself together as all her kit was soaking wet from the search we just finished. So we got in the car and started driving across to Ennerdale - just as we reached Keswick we heard that Handler Andrew Mc Neil and search dog Corrie had found the man on Haycock with a leg injury - well done Coz! Me and Karen travelled back and got back to bed at about 0345. She is a bit grumpy this morning!
Kaz is off to London for a week for a course and some exams and is taking the laptop (selfish so and so!).....that means I wont be able to blog for a week so I'll speak to you all soon....................................
Callout
Kaz and me were going to have a chilled day on Saturday with the idiot pup Dram, with a nice walk and then a play in the garden with grandma and grandpa, but just as we were working out where we were going, Kaz's phone rang and it was Chris Francuis the callout co-ordinator asking whether me and Kaz could go over to Cleator to look for a man who was missing. Daryl was out for a meeting and Kaz rang him to tell him that we were leaving the idiot pup at home and then we set off for the pretty long journey. We arrived at a place called Longlands Lake and were asked to go with Rob from the Wasdale team and have a search around the Lake and also search around some small ponds. It was hot - especially for Kaz who was in her full drysuit and buoyancy aid and helmet (I just had a jacket!). We worked for about an hour or so, then went back to the control vehicle where we met up with searchdog Rosie and Fly because the Police wanted us to do something else. We then got send up to search an area of Dent woods - here you can see on the right hand side of the picture - this is what me and Kaz ended up searching for a couple of hours.
It was very hot and sticky and steep in some places as well as difficult for Kaz as there were lots of low branches and broken branches on the floor. We didnt see anyone, but we did hear Andrew and Corrie and Roger and Beinn on the radio who were working in another part of the forest. But after about 2 hours, I smelt something a little bit in front of me and ran forwards - it was 2 rucksacks and I barked at them and then ran back to Kaz and let her know what I'd found. She was a bit confused about them though as it was not likely that the missing man had one, let alone two rucksacks with him. She started trying to work out who they belonged to, but I just had a bit of a search around nearby and found two people - so I barked again - I frightened them a bit and they walked to Kaz. It turned out they had decided to camp in the forest for the night and didnt think they'd see anyone so they left their rucksacks to go and find some water. I'm not too who was more surprised - me, them or Kaz! Still they gave me some fuss (and a biscuit!) - sadly we didnt find the man.
We eventually stopped at about 1845 and had a long drive home, where Dram was very pleased to see us - albeit very jealous!
Congratulations Olly and Catherine on your Wedding xxxxxx
Training weekend and some good news for a few people
It's been pretty busy here with one thing and another - Kaz and Daryl have been running around with stuff at home and me and the idiot pup have been playing in the garden lots and running around on some nice walks. This weekend we have all been in Coniston - me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram drove over to Coniston on Friday night after work and got to the hut nice and early. We had a play in the stream outside the hut and then on Saturday Kaz and me went with Mike H to teach the baby stage 1 dogs - we had loads of fun and all the dogs did really well - I was very proud of the idiot pup Dram, he is beginning to bark loudly at the bodies! It was very bad weather on Saturday ......
Unfortunately Joy and Penny who were on assessment had to finish as the assessors couldnt see anything! There was some really good news as Paul O'Mahoney and his dog Scar passed their registration test and have started formally training - it was really good news as poor old Scar has been really ill and we were all very worried about him.
On Saturday night we had a really good barbeque in the rain and all of us dogs ran around like lunatics.....the humans also had a good time..........
Then on Sunday there was a lot of celebrations as Penny Kirby and her dog Olly passed their last assessment and were awarded their green tag. Olly is going to be working alongside searchdog Pippi, Penny's other dog and is a very handsome boy!!
And the final bit of excellent news is that Moudy and his handler Benny who moved to Scotland recently have passed their assessment for SARDA Scotland and are now on the callout list up there - well done!!
2 more Callouts and I have a find
Ohh I might have to go soon as handler Mick Guys has just phoned Kaz and told her that there may be a search call on...oh shame as it's Sunday and me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram are having a lazy day.....anyway its been a bit busy again and we had two callouts in one day - on Thursday Kaz was just in a meeting at work where there was a pager message for a search to help Kendal team look for a missing 87 year old lady in a village called Ings near Windermere. Kaz drove home and picked me up and we drove to the church hall which was the rendezvous point. The other handlers that were there were Mick, Mike, John, Les, Dave and Olly and the trailing dog handler Iain from Lancashire. We were all given areas to do and me and Kas searched some of the fellside near Stavely, but after a while we didnt find anything and made our way back to the Church hall to be re-tasked. Just as we were waiting we heard on the radio that the lady had been found by some team members on the Stavely bypass and depsite being missing for over 18 hours was ok. After Kaz had a quick cup of tea we started driving home, we were only about 20mins from home when Kaz's pager went off for a callout for a lady who was lost somewhere on Crossfell in bad weather.
Kaz contacted her base and we went directly to the Radar station road on Great Dun Fell - then we were tasked to go across from there to the Corssfell summit plateau where the lady was lost. The problem with Crossfell and most of the Pennines is, that whilst the temperature can be really warm it can be rubbish weather and cold on the tops. We got out of the car and it was awful - the visibility was down to 50m from the mist and it was horizontal rain and very windy. The rest of Kaz team were still assembling at the base and the other dogs had now been paged. We set off with Kaz working on compass bearings so that we could make most advantage of the wind, she wasnt able to walk on the Pennine Way path - I had a great time I ran all over the place. When we eventually got to the edge of the climb up to Crossfell Kaz was in touch with her base to get an idea of where the lady was. After another 15 mins or so I smelt a human and ran - it was about 300m away and when I got there I barked but she didnt say anything so I ran back to Kaz and barked - I kept doing it until Kaz got there. Kaz was surprised that the lady still didnt seem very responsive and realised that she was hypothermic so we got a shelter on her and gave her all Kaz's food and clothes. Eventually, the lady was ok and we started making our way to the summit shelter to meet Kaz's team mates. Here's it was looking like - and this was the best visibility we'd had all the time and even that was rubbish!
(Photo taken with Kaz's mobile)
After we handed her over - Kaz and I retraced our steps and walked back towards the car - meeting up with searchdog Ginny and her handler Mick who gave us something to eat and his navigator PMRT member John W. Kaz was very proud of me and gave me an extra portion of food when we finally got in at about 1am. I am sure that if any of the other searchdogs had been there they would have found her too!
Callout in Dent
Kaz and I were in action with some of the other dogs on Monday night after work - Her pager went off literally as she got home and was in the middle of giving me and the idiot pup a good old fuss - it was for a missing man in the Dentdale area. Kaz got all her stuff together including waterproofs as it was thundering and lightening at home. The idiot pup Dram was not too please as we drove off but we eventually got to the rendezvous point at a farm and met up with handlers Olly, Les and John and Kevin and his dog Gyp from SARDA England. We were all given areas and me and Kaz, Les and Kess and Olly and Kitt started working our way through the woods up towards the fell side. Just as we were walking we heard on the radio that the man had sadly been found dead by SARDA England dog Gyp.
Kas asked me to talk about the fact that people seem surprised if we treat finding a person that has died as a success. It's like this really, if you didnt know where your family person was and even if you thought that they had died, then it doesnt bring them back but it does help you move forward with your life and stop worrying about where they really are and what has happened to them....I hope that sort of explains it for you.
World Cup fever - I am not impressed with England
Well, I dont know about you lot - but the Wold Cup has been on and I've been watching loads - the onkly problem is that England are (were...they're out now) rubbish. So bad that I decided to contact Fabio and tell him about my alternate SARDA squad he might want to consider (Kaz is convinced that the England Ladies team would be better). So here's some of the squad....
Goalie - trainee Beck (can catch food at 100m)
Tricky winger - trainee Einich (doesnt listen to instructions but has flashes of genius)
Striker - Searchdog Rosie (fastest thing on 4 legs)
Midfield General - Searchdog Kess (well we assume as her handler went to Cambridge Uni that shes a bit of a strategist!)
Subs bench - idiot pup Dram (he'd never make the grade)
Physio - Handler Laura (she gets paid to do it in real life so must be good!)
Manager - Callout co-ordinator Chris Francis (Similar hairstyle and doesnt take no for an answer....ever)
Fundraising
It was pretty busy at the wekeend - me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram went to Crosthwaite with bodies Terry and Mary for their Church fete so we could do PR stuff.
It was aa really nice day - we got loads of fuss and pats and the humans apparently had sun stroke that can only be treated with ice cream!
Callout to Duddon and Furness and Get well soon to trainee Scar
Me and Kaz were just having a chill out in the garden tonight after work when her pager went off for a callout to look for a despondent man somewhere near Bootle and we got in the car - after 85 miles of driving we arrived and RV'd with John and searchdog Skye.
We worked a line search up towards Black Coombe with Paul (trainee dog Scar's handler working as our navigator). It was very hot and very hard going (especially for Kaz) and I thought I worked brilliantly. There were loads of sheep and I had to move through them all without making them stampede! After about 2 hours we'd reached the end of what we needed to search and we met back up with John. The police decided that they were finishing the search for the night so we got in the car and went home - Kaz was a bit tred as it was 1am by the time she got to bed and she had to get up early
Scars handler Paul has told us that Scar is poorly and hasnt been able to train - so get well soon and lots of hugs and woofs from us all (dogs not humans....well not the woofing bit anyway!)
Training weekend and a couple of callouts
Well, it was our training weekend at Barbon this last weekend. Kaz was going to be helping to train the little dogs (including the idiot pup Dram) and I was supervising. It was a good weekend - the weather was really hot on Saturday and all the dogs struggled a little bit - but it didnt stop everyone doing really well. Trainee searchdog Einich and her handler Joy did their first ever assessment and they were brill - well done.......here they are finding Helen....
Just as we finished training on the afternoon and got back to the hut, Kaz's pager went off for a callout to look for a missing child in the Langdale Valley. Kaz and me jumped in the car and we were just leaving the carpark when we got a phonecall to say that the child was safe - phew! So we got out of the car so we could wish Benny well for the future. it was really sad - Benny and his searchdog Moudy are leaving to go and live in Scotland. So we had a big party and Benny and the all the humans went to the pub - here's Benny being presented with his cake by our chairman Mike.....
On Sunday the weather was rotten, but we had another good day - first of all it was handler Mike Hadwins birthday and we set up a table and chairs and bacon sandwich for him so he could watch the training in style!
Then all the baby dogs did some proper training, but it was raining so handler Christyne Judge decided she'd use her brains and make sure her hair didnt get wet whilst searching - hmmmm, the assessors weren't impressed!
News from the other areas was that Nick and Sam and Penny and Olly both passed another assessment and they havent got very many to go now!
Callout to Haystacks
Nice walk and team training
Kaz and me and the idiot pup Dram went out on Saturday for a really nice walk - we went to Wet Sleddale resevoir near shap and then after we walked round the resevoir looking at the nesting birds, we walked up on to the fells and bimbled about on the Shap fells for a long time. Kaz says she was just ambling, but me and Dram were abit worried that she's managed to get us lost coz we wandered around for ages until we got back on to a foot path. It was really nice though and me and the idiot pup got a swim in the river at Lowther on the way home. After that Kaz tidied up the garage and got very messy (honestly, if me or the idiot pup did that we'd get shoved under the hose in the back garden, but no, she got a bath in the bubbles with a glass of wine!)
On Sunday Kaz went off to team training and me and the idiot pup stayed home cos it was training for crag rescue and we're not too good with the knots and stuffl. Kaz seemed to have had a good time as she was pretty tired when she got home. Here is a picture of one of my favourite dogsbodies -Glen who joined Kaz's team recently and who was sent down to find a casualty.
Away on holidays
Kaz and Daryl went away last week to Bala in Wales to do their Swift Water Rescue certificate - I honestly dont get it - why does anyone want to throw themselves in fast moving water - I prefer to just lie in becks and puddles and mud! Anyway they had a really good time and passed their certificate - here are a couple of photos of them doing stuff (I thought it was supposed to be hard work but it looks like they enjoyed themselves a bit too much!).
Me and the idiot pup Dram went to grandma and grandpas and had a great time getting lots of fuss - we always get to run about in their garden with toys (although sometimes grandma isnt very happy when the idiot pup eats all her flowers and jumps inthe bog pot!). It was a really nice holiday but I was really happy to see Kaz again - I jumped up and down loads to tell her how much I missed her.
A lucky escape
There were a couple of bad thunderstorms the other day and guess what? some people got hit by lightening - one of them was Eleanor one of the dogsbodies that comes out and plays with me - she got knocked off her feet and felt very poorly for some time - shes back at home now and hopefully she'll be up and about playing with us all soon. Get well Eleanor!!
Sad days
Kaz was at work when the Fireservice had been called to a major accident on the A66 involving a coach - some of her staff went off in the Fire engine and her and Chris Francis went along in their cars after the Mountain Rescue teams were called to help with medical stuff. Kaz spent the rest of the time with the other dog handlers from Keswick attending to the injured school children. Sadly 3 people died in the crash. Unknown to Kaz, Daryl had also been called to the incident - both her and Daryl were very quiet for a couple of days so me and the idiot pup gave them lots of cuddles to try and help.
A couple of callouts
Kaz and Daryl were just home on Tuesday and we were getting ready to go to training at Whinlatter when the team pager went off for a rescue of a man on the Pennine Way who had fallen and hurt his head. Kaz and Daryl left us in the kitchen and went off to help - apparently when they arrived they were beaten to it by the air ambulance, but the good news is that the man wasnt too badly hurt.
Yesterday (Saturday) all 4 of us went for a walk up onto Causey Pike - the weather was very hot and it was a great day out for us dogs - we played in the gorge before the walk and jumped in the gorge on the way down. Kaz and Daryl had their radio on the Keswick channel and half way up Keswick control said hello as they could see us on their computer - we listened as they dealt with a fallen climber - our callout co-ordinator Chris Francis and handlers Elly and Mick were out on the job - we could tell they were going to have a busy day!
So we had a great walk and just as we were half way down, Keswick base radioed Kaz and asked whether she and Daryl could go to Manesty to help with a rescue of a person who had fallen over and injured themselves. Kaz and Daryl ran down (which was fun as Kaz rarely runs) and we all jumped in the car and drove through the Newlands Valley to Manesty. But when we got there the air ambulance had landed and the casualty was being taken care of. So we drove back to Keswick base for a quick glass of orange and then went home via grandma and grandpas house, where the idiot pup proceeded to run about like a lunatic in the garden.
Today I've been helping Kaz in the loft moving stuff whilst the idiot pup has run about in the garden playing with a ball.
Kaz goes to Norway, we stay at home
Kaz went off to Norway last week and me and the idiot pup Dram stayed at home to look after Daryl. Kaz must have missed us coz she rang home a few times!! we had a nice time with Daryl and went to see his friends Seb and Michelle and Eva (and Bert the labrador). When Kaz came home I was really happy to see her - I dont like it when she's away! She bought me and the idiot pup Dram some nice squeaky toys though.
Nice day out with Kaz and the Penrith Carnival is fun
This week Kaz and Daryl and me and the idiot pup have been working in the house...(Note from Kaz...actually me and Daryl have been doing the work and the dogs have been doing exactly nothing)...well anyway you know what I mean! This weekend has been really nice - not many callouts lately so we have had some fun with Kaz - on Sunday Kaz took me and the idiot pup Dram out for a walk - we went to Glenridding and walked up to Ruthwaite Lodge then onto Dollywagon Pike, back round Grisedale Tarn, up onto Fairfield and then onto St Sunday's where we stopped on the top of Pinnacle Ridge and waited for ages and ages coz Daryl and his big brother Craig had gone for a scramble and climb. Eventually (yawn) they appeared and we then walked down the footpath for a bit. Kaz decided to take us down a really steep sided gully and scree slope to see how the idiot pup would behave on it - (fine, I've taught him all I know!). Daryl and Craig just continued down to the road near the Patterdale MR base and Kaz and me and the idiot pup went up over Lanty's Tarn and met them back at the car
This is Daryl's big brother Craig...and me and the idiot pup at the top of Pinnacle Ridge.
Today (Bank Holiday....incidentally, what does a bank need a holiday for? Kaz moans a lot about banks and I'm not sure she's that keen on them)...anyways what was I talking about...oh yes...today we went to the Penrith Carnival with Kaz's team and me and the idiot pup Dram got loads of fuss from the local people - here's me and Kaz and Serena and Simon (oh and the idiot pup) at the start of the parade. It wasnt too bad and loads of people were there. Dram had a bit of a rest before we started as you can see.
Nice short callout and then we go for a long walk
On Friday night, after Kaz and Daryl finished work, the Penrith team were going to be meeting up for a meal and social thing (huh and guess what me and the idiot pup Dram were going to have to stay at home!). Anyway Kaz was just putting on her lipstick and girly stuff when the team pager went off for a search in the Pennines for a missing lady. Daryl rang the restaurant and cancelled and Kaz and me jumped in the car and drove straight over to Hilton whilst Daryl drove to the base and meet eveyone else. Just as we arrived at the rendezvous point we heard over the radio that the lady had been found (good news) - so Kaz rang Daryl and he suggested that we could all still go out and have something to eat which they did!
Yesterday the idiot pup and me helped Kaz in the garden mowing and Daryl did some cupboard building; then grandma and grandpa came over to see us so we had a really nice run around in the garden for the ball.
This morning me and Kaz and the idiot pup got up and Kaz told us that we were going out for a walk because she wanted to work out why people keep getting lost in a certain area (...note from Kaz - we've had a few callouts for people lost coming off the back of Whether Hill towards Helton). It was very wet and windy but we went up the hill and Kaz walked around and took some photos of the ground whilst me and the idiot pup Dram ran around - Kaz then walked on some compass bearings (dont ask - I dont know) and then we came off the hill after about 10 or so miles. Me and the idiot pup have just had a really nice snooze in the kitchen and he is now being a real pain in the proverbial!
So I'll try and blog soon Dot fans and let you know whats been happening here!
The Idiot Pup is perhaps not such an idiot after all!! Plus, a good weekend and Dynamite retires
We all went to the Howgills this weekend for training and it was a lovely weekend. But the big news in our house was that on Tuesday night, the idiot pup Dram passed its obediance test so it can start formal training. Blimey, I've been telling it that it was hopeless and low and behold the thing managed to walk to heel off the lead, lie down, stop on command and all sorts (of course, it'll be nothing to do with Daryl, clearly my pep talks in the cage at night worked!) So Daryl and Dram trained with the stage 1s - there were also some other new pups there - Keppie and Molly who have also passed their test and Bill and Ani - all the stage 1s had a really good time. Here is a piccie of them all (as well as the bodies and trainer Mike) and a piccie of a proud Daryl (Dont let the idiot pup know but I was very pleased it passed!!)
All of the dogs had a good weekend - Nick and Sam passed 2 more assessments and Kaz and me went and trained the stage 2s (Elly with Meg, Joy with Einich, Tom with Bruach and Glen with Molly). They all were really brill and found all the bodies - it was hard for me tho, coz I sat there and wanted to go and find the bodies but Kaz kept telling me to sit still. On Sunday, Kaz and Les and Roger and Olly all helped out and at the end us searchdogs got to have a run onto body Andy - it was great although I have a feeling that poor old Andy is probably deaf now as we barked ever so loudly
Finally some sad news - searchdog Dynamite has retired at 13 - we worked together lots and she is always feisty (theres not many dogs I back down from but she's one of them!). I wished Dynamite all the best and we all hope she enjoys resting by the fire while her little sister Flash keeps working for many years to come!
A quick callout
Hi Dot fans. Its all been quite quiet lately on the callout front - the only excitement we've had lately is that there was 2 callouts on Easter Monday for Kaz's team - we had all been running around on the fell and we'd just got home. Kaz and Daryl had planned on watching the Pirates of the Carribean and cuddling on the sofa (ugh). They'd just settled down when the pager went off for a search for a group of missing DofE students in the Whether Hill area. Kaz and Daryl went off with me but just as we got to base, we got told that they had met up with a member of the public who was helping them. We needed to make sure they were ok, so Kaz and Daryl and Dave and Matt got in a landrover and drove up to Bampton and Kaz walked up the valley and Dave and Matt walked up the ridge to meet the group and check them out. They were fine (if a bit cold and tired).
Then Kaz and Daryl came home and we all started to watch Pirates of the Carribean - it was pretty good although the idiot pup Dram was a bit scared at some of the bangs on the surround sound! About half an hour after it started the pager went of again and it was a callout to Haweswater for an injured ankle. Kaz and Daryl went down to help and there was a lady with a broken ankle which the team splinted and took her to the ambulance. After that Kaz and Daryl came home and watched the end of the film (it only took from midday to ten oclock in the evening to finally finish it.
Then on Friday night Kaz and Daryl went to handler John Leadbetters for dinner - we were allowed to go too which was great fun coz me and the idiot pup Dram ran around loads with searchdog Skye and John and Clairs other dog Islay. All of us dogs slept the night in the dining room together which was great - we gossiped for hours (just like the humans who managed to drink loads of wine and whiskey)
Today Daryl is out at team training but Kaz is here with me and the idiot pup (who's in disgrace for jumping in our neighbours pond after all the frogs - idiot!)
Anyways see you all soon.......
We meet the public, Kaz has double good news and winter comes back with a vengance
It's been really busy at home again over the last few weeks, and heres all the news....................:
First of all Kaz went down to Lancaster University last Friday to see her supervisor and after a while she was told that she has passed her MA thingy - apparently Kaz was a real girl and cried her eyes out! (Wooss!).
Then after a year and a half of being trainee assessors, Kaz and handler Elly Whiteford were told that they are now full assessors which is nice (although the other assessors would probably say that being an assessor isnt all its cracked up to be - standing around in the wind and the cold and making helpful comments to poor trainees!!)
On Friday night, me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram drove off to the NEC in Birmingham - after about an hour in the car the pager went off for a search on the Pennines, but we had to carry on as we were meeting handler John Leadbetter and Clair to represent SARDA Lakes at the show. The dogs that stayed back in the lakes apparently had a really nasty time searching in horrid ground and bad weather - poor Mick Guy and Ginny did about 14km, but the good news is that the missing people got found - hooray.
When we got down to the NEC we all had a really long sleep which was a good idea as we didnt get much for the next 2 days! In the morning me and Skye and Dram and Islay went for a run round outside the hotel and then walked over the exhibition centre to meet with the lovely people from Montane who were sponsoring us. We set up the stand and then the doors opened and blimey, it was thousands of people saying hi to us - I was really proud of the idiot pup Dram coz he didnt keep jumping and was really good with the children and all the loud noises and stuff. Of course, me and searchdog Skye were perfect! Kaz was also doing some lectures in the theater and I had to go and act as her glamorous assistant! We slept for 10 hours that night and then did it all again on Sunday....here are a couple of shots of the stand......
On Monday Kaz and John (oh and me and Skye) got interviewed by some people from the Cumbria Life magazine up at Red Screes - when we got there it started snowing and we think the piccies will look great for the May edition! Then we sat in the pub and had a fuss for me and Skye and Dram and then a cup of tea for Kaz and John. Daryl was with us and he took me and the idiot pup Dram home and Kaz and Daryl went back to work. Just as she got to work Kaz got told that there was a callout over on Red Pike near Buttermere and she phoned Daryl to turn round and bring me back to her. When me and Kaz got to Gatescarth, John and Olly arrived and we waited to get told what we needed to do. In the meantime Laura and Jake, Elly and Mac, Mick and Ginny, Andrew and Corrie, Mike and Fly were already up on the hill in the snow. Luckily the people got found near High Stile and we all came home, then this morning at 4.30 ish the pager went off for a callout near Hawes but Kaz couldnt go coz she was due to be in London for a couple of days with work. So me and the idiot pup Dram and Daryl are all alone (booooo). Anyway see you soon Dot fans and if any of you are in Keswick on Easter Sunday then come round and meet us all outside the Keswick Motor company
March SARDA Training - Well we all went to Patterdale on Saturday - me and Kaz walked up to Brown Cove to help assess Nick and Penny and Daryl and the idiot pup stayed lower down so that Dram could start learning about search stuff. There was quite a bit of snow and ice in the Cove and the wind was very strong. Anyway Nick and Penny were in the middle of their assessment areas and I have to say both of them were doing really well (actually both trainees Olly and Sam were doing well!) - Kaz and I had seen a group of 4 people walk past earlier and they had gone up one of the gullies. Just as Nick was nearly finished his area, Kaz and Mick Guy started running across the snow - they had seen one of the climbers start falling down the hill very fast - Dave Watt started running as well - then Mick got on the radio telling the others that there was a fallen climber in the Cove and that we were going to help. The poor lady fell about 200m and we all got there as quick as possible - body Kath whos a team member with Kirkby Stephen left her hideaway and Penny and Nick abandoned their assessment area and made their way accross. When we got there I stayed laying down and Kaz and the others gave the woman first aid while we all waited for the Patterdale Team and the RAF helicopter to come along. A little while later Daryl and Laura and Benny arrived with kit and we all got the lady comfortable and then the helicopter arrived and she was taken to hospital. (it turned out that she'd only got a broken wrist - blimey that was lucky!). After all that Kaz and Mick and Dave made Penny and Nick continue their assessments - they both passed - hooray! (here's me sitting patiently while the lady is looked after)
Scotland Training
We all went up to Scotland for the avalanche training and it was brill - I was great and there was loads of snow - we found all the bodies and I really love digging!!!! The idiot pup Dram went too and he was pretty good - here are a couple of photos of stuff
I find the body
On my way out of the body's snow hole!
Dram the idiot pup in his snow kennel
Meg finds the body
Building the snow hole for the body
Skye sitting patiently in the snow storm
The weather deteriorates
Kaz and dog John spent the afternoon collecting kit from the hill
And we even had to dig our cars out!
9th...A few things have been happening
Did you see the ITV programme the Lakes? It's on a Monday night and the searchdogs were on it and will be again next week - searchdog Beinn (handsome boy) was on with his handler Roger and I think it's going to be trainee dog Bute next week - make sure you watch it!
Here we go with a couple of piccies ....yesterday we did team training and Kaz acted as the casualty - it was body Glen's first try at first aiding since he joined Kaz's team and here he is (on the right) - Kaz is the casualty with a pretend head injury. Then the other piccie is one of me licking Kaz when she's defenceless - it was Daryl - he made me do it - apparently kaz doesnt like my tongue up her nose!
Me and the idiot pup Dram have had a nice few days - first off there have been acouple of callouts for people who have been lost on the fells - Kaz and me and the idiot pup went off to do a demo to a bunch of lovely WI ladies the other day and just as Kaz was talking to them about what we do on the hills and stuff - and the dog pager went off - Kaz had to say that it wasnt really a setup! There was a search on for a lady lost on the fell near Esk Hause. The ladies of the WI really enjoyed Kaz's talk and me and the idiot pup got given some biscuits and cuddles (Dram was really happy). We drove back home and on the way up the motorway Kaz rang handler Elly who was also out and about with work and they decided that they were going to go to Keswick base and see if they could help out - but just as Elly and Kaz were getting near the pager went off to say that the lady had been found....so we went home again!
On Saturday me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram went out for a realy long walk near Castle Carrock with their friends - it was a lovely day and we all enjoyed the sunshine - me and the idiot pup Dram ran all over the place and got really muddy - the walk was about 16km and the humans managed to get a stop for lunch at a pub in the middle of it while us dogs plus out new doggy friends Shadow and Burt were left outside waiting...hmmmmm. Here is a piccie of us at the start of the walk in Gelt Woods....
31st...Two nice days out
Kaz and Daryl and me and the idiot pup Dram have had a really nice weekend. Yesterday we went up onto the Caldbeck Fells - blimey it was a bit crowded though, we thought we were all alone, but we ended up bumping into Kaz and Daryls' team mate Matt and his girlfriend and then when we were coming off, we bumped into trainee searchdog Molly and her owner Glen - it was very cold but me and the idiot pup had a great run round. After that we went to Keswick so Kaz and Daryl could meet up for a drink with handler John Leadbetter (...now then Dot we had serious things to discuss - the fact we were in the pub is immaterial!) - then today we have been up to Cawdale Edge (where I had my find on New Years Eve - I showed the idiot pup Dram where I had been and we had a real good time running up and down the hill (Although last time I was there it was very deep snow). Kaz was very sad though, there was a deer and a baby deer both dead on the fellside - I'm not sure what had killed them.
Me and the idiot pup are now rolling around on the floor in the lounge while Daryl is pretending to do some paperwork for his job (I didnt know you humans did work with your eyes shut and your mouth open!)
So, that's all the news for January - keep blogging Dot fans!
28th....Kaz got woken up
We went training on Tuesday night to Whinlatter - it is still a bit icy there but we had a good time - me and searchdog Jake went on a big circuit in the woods and we found all the bodies - although I got extra ones coz I also smelt some others (that werent in my area) and went and barked at them...coz I can! After that we all had some yummy cake that handler Laura had made - it was to celebrate handler Ellys birthday - but she wasnt even there! Still the cake was good.
The next night Kaz and Daryl were both a bit tired from work so they had gone to bed around 9.30pm when Daryl woke up coz the phone was ringing. It was Penrith team leader Ian asking whether me and Kaz could go and search for a man missing near Brampton. Daryl explained that Kaz and I cant go on our own, and that any searchdog callout also needs a mountain rescue team to be involved, so Ian rang a few of the Carlisle based members and me and Kaz and Daryl met them at Brampton police station. We then drove out to Gelt Woods and search for a while - it was reall fun - steep, muddy and woody - my favourite (but not Kaz's favourite somehow!). We didnt find anythinhg but by the time we go thome it was about 2.30am and Kaz wasnt too cheery when she got up at 6am the next morning!
22nd....callout and a very long drive for Kaz
Kaz and Daryl had just got home from work tonight at about 5ish and were just getting ready to go to the pictures, when both of their pagers went off for a Penrith team callout. It was a search in the Kershope Forest for 2 people who had called in to say they were lost - now, let me tell you something, the Kershope forest is sooooo far North we practically have to take a passport to get their - no kidding it's in Northumberland and very close to Scotland. Kaz got me and Daryl in the car and they left the idiot pup Dram at home in the warm kitchen - searches are just no place for idiot boy collie puppies! Daryl still cant quite get about properly and so he was 'manning' base - he called out the other searchdogs while Kaz and me drove up to Kershope - blimey she wasnt enjoying the drive it was really really foggy, and it takes forever! After about 1 and half hours we got to the forest - just got out of the van and would you believe it - the helicopter picked them up! Kaz had a phone call from John and Olly (handlers to Skye and Kitt) saying they'd been on the M6 on their way up and were now going home again for a drink. Kaz and me had a quick walk at the edge of the forest to allow me to stretch my legs and run around after the interesting smells then we drove home - we didnt get in til quite late and Kaz and Daryl missed their film (the idiot pup Dram was quite please to see me)
16th....and then an avalanche happened for real!
Kaz was working in Penrith on Friday when her pager went off and she was a bit surprised to read 'Avalanche on Glaramara person buried' - she grabbed me and jumped in to the car and drove to Keswick - luckily the man who had fallen managed to get himself out and his two friends needed help to get out, so I wasnt really needed - we went back to the Keswick base and met up with Elly and Mac and Meggy and had a cup of tea. It was a bit of a reminder that the sort of stuff we do which we have fun doing, is for real. Kaz and I drove home and the idiot pup Dram was waiting for us - I told him all about it. Since then it's been pretty quiet really, but a couple of things have happened.....handler Les Teflord is having a knee operation and so we have to wish him lots of luck - apparently search dog Kess is going to take it easy while he is recovering! Also dogs body Jackie Woodrow managed to fracture her pelvis (ouch) whilst cycling - poor Jackie is now back home trying to rest! So we are all sending out best wishes to them and hope they are up and about very soon
10th Jan....Two fun days in the snow
On Saturday me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram went to Clogh Head so that us graded searchdogs could do some avalanche training as it is pretty likely that we could be called into action sometime soon what with all this snow - it was good fun - some of the trainee searchdogs and their handlers acted as bodies and so did Russell from Cockermouth team and Helen the Vet. It was VERY cold with really stong winds. We did some digging and got people buried. It's quite a different thing doing the avalanche search as I have to stay where I can smell the body and dig as quick as I can until I can see the body then get into the hole. I am pretty good at the digging bit, but I do need to get more practice at getting in the hole when I can see the body - normally on a search I would run back to Kaz and get her to go into the hole; still Kaz was pretty happy. The idiot pup Dram had a go and was really good!! We stayed most of the day and had a great time.
Today we all went to Hartside for Penrith team training - it was another good day and I got to try out more of my avalanche skills. Also it was an important day for body Glenn - it was his first day as a probationer member with our team and he enjoyed it very much. We all played on the snow and here are some pictures of the two days.................
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7th Jan....The snow is falling - hooray
Well....it's all been happening here then hasnt it? The idiot pup Dram has been a flamin' lunatic - ok so it's white, cold and can taste good on your tongue but it does not mean the idiot has to rush out of the house into the garden and stick its head straight into the biggest pile of snow it can find, then run back inside to Kaz and look all cute! I have been very cool in the snow - although when Kaz isn't looking, I guess I have been having a roll around in it too. Kaz's team and I guess all the others in the Lakes have been pretty busy - lots of calls to help out the ambulance service and stuff. On Sunday, Kaz had a team pager and off we went to a search for 2 people who had left Mardale Head at midday but hadn't yet turned up after hopefully walking to Kidsty Pike, Highstreet and Loadpot Hill. Kaz and some of the other search managers worked out some routes which needed to be searched - Kaz and me were about to set off and Daryl was doing radio stuff and running base, when the missing people called in to say that they had got back.. It was very good really :-) for the people but sad in a way cos Kaz said lots of the other search dogs were coming over and I was looking forward to a great run round with them all.
Since then we have been flamin cold at home and work - Kaz got stroppy last night and Daryl made her 3 - yes 3 - hot water bottles - what a really nice bloke huh! But he woke the idiot pup Dram up when he came into the kitchen who then jumped all over me and woke me up!
Kaz says I also have to say a couple of hellos - firstly to Molly Whyle who hurt her leg slipping over in the ice - lots of love from us; then to Grandad Ron and Grandma Jeanie who have just lost their old dog Charlie; and finally to handler John Leadbetter who has a bad chest infection.....Skye says hurry up and get better cos she wants to go out and play in the snow!
Anyways take it easy Dot fans!!!!!!!
We had a really great Christmas - me and Kaz and Daryl and the idiot pup Dram stayed at home on Christmas Day with grandpa and grandma and we had fun - the humans played on a thing called a Wii (hmmm sounds like something me and the idiot pup do after a long drink!
We then travelled down to Worcester to see grandpa Ron and Daryls family - that was good fun too and me and the idiot pup Dram got taken out and about for lots of walks.
When we came home we were going to spend New Years Eve walking to Mosedale Cottage near Haweswater and spend the night in the Bothy with a few people, but just as we were getting ready to leave home in the afternoon Kazs team pager went off for a search for 2 ladies who were lost after going for a walk in the High Street area.
Kaz and I drove directly to Bampton whilst Daryl went to base to organise radios and stuff. It was very interesting driving conditions because of the snow and Kaz did really well getting our car almost up the fell road, but then she couldnt go any further and luckily the people living at Moorahill Farm were behind us and gave us a lift the rest of the way in their Landrover.
When we got to the farm, Kaz and me set off to search up the valley towards White Bog - it was pretty hard going for Kaz as the snow was up to her waist in some places - I was fine though as I have four paw drive! After about half an hour Kaz heard that the rest of her team had arrived at the farm and were now on the paths as well. After a while I smelled something and ran up the hill for a couple of hundred meters. I got a bit excited and barked a couple of times so that Kaz could realise that I knew I could smell someone but hadnt got there. Eventually I found the two ladies - they were going up the hill because they decided they were going in the wrong direction. But as soon as I barked at them they were really pleased to see me - Kaz caught up with us and we all walked back off the hill together. Kaz was also very pleased with me. It was a bit late to then go to Mosedale cottage so Kaz and Daryl rang everyone and they all ended up coming round to our house for the night - just to make it authentic, Jon Stevens slept in our very cold, unheated conservatory!
Anyway - I wanted to wish all my Dot fans a very happy New Year and I look forward to blogging more in 2010 - keep up the emails - I love to hear from you and I might even let the idiot pup Dram have a go too!
Click past years to read her story - 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
This blog is written by Dottie - a tri-coloured border collie bitch born in late November 2004. The entries follow the trials and tribulations of training a human (Kaz Frith) to work with a search dog ....upto the point where Dottie graded as a searchdog
and everything that's been happening since with Dottie, Kaz's team and other stuff. (Please note that this blog is a personal account and does not represent the opinion of SARDA Lakes).
