Daniel Oakley is still going strong and has continued to be well looked after. The hull was good when we blacked it last year. The Gardner 2L2 engine is 80 years old this year, has been regularly serviced (every 150-200 hrs) and maintained as required, Danny Williamson did a fine job in restoration. There are a new stove, water pump, calorifer, Eberspacher and battery charger all fitted within the last 2 years. I’ve also been painting the places you never see like under the back counter as well as those you can.

We hope the next owner will have as much pleasure as we have had from owning Daniel Oakley.

Crufts Gold Team Photo

Kennel Club Gold team photo taken on the last day at Crufts 2012. All the dogs did really well when demonstrating the different obedience exercises and Charlie finally won the “send to bed” race in the last display. We had an amazing but exhausting time, and made lots of new friends.

You might expect that August would be quiet for dog walking in Banbury, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Folk are on holiday but many cannot take their dogs with them.

Dogs seem to enjoy there holidays as well whether they go with the owner or come to us for a short stay.

Mo has settled in well and has had plenty of company with the many doggy visitors each day. I am sure he’ll be glad to get home for a rest.

Here he is just setting into the large bone which has now half the size, these terriers have no limits.

September next week already and holidays will be over, everyone will be back.

More updates later when we get time.

As a break from dog walking in Banbury I took Charlie and little Mo, a customer’s dog, to the Bicester and Finmere Show hoping to have some fun. It was a great family show, the old fashioned type with rides for the kids and some very posh horses.

Charlier wins best terrier

They had a little dog show in the side rings with obedience and novelty classes. Charlie went into the Best Rescue and Terrier class, and won best terrier, clever boy!

Mo wins first in obedience

I thought I could have a bit of fun with Mo in the pet obedience class. Mo and owner had recently gained their Kennel Club Bronze with the Banbury and District Dog Training Club, so I thought we had a good chance. Imagine our surprise and delight when Mo put in a perfect round of heelwork, novice recall, control at gate and a one minute downstay! He came first. Well done Mo – and his owners who have done all the hard work.

Charlie wins fourth in obedience

That was a hard act for Charlie to follow in the “Triers Obedience”, but we did very well against some stiff opposition and got a fourth. We had to do heel on and off lead, a recall and a retrieve over a jump, and two stays.

A long and successful day, with two firsts and two tired dogs.