Welcome to "Man with two dogs" - the family website for dog owners and dog walkers.

This is my countryside diary which appears each Saturday in the Courier & Advertiser newspaper.

Archive for February, 2003

As good as a rest

Saturday, February 22nd, 2003

DOGS ENJOY a change just as much as we humans. Like us they can get bored with the same walk every day and no variation to stimulate them. We are fortunate to have such a choice of walks close to home. But a visit to son James and his family who live in Gorebridge meant new sights, sounds and smells for Sheba and Macbeth. Macbeth is most sociable and meeting new dogs in parks is a real treat for him. (…read on »)

Written for Weekly |

Solitary birds

Saturday, February 15th, 2003

A HERON has been working between the Cruick Water and some scrub grass by the side of the road. They are solitary birds and you rarely see more than one at a time. There must be food, possibly frogs or small rodents, for this bird to be seen so regularly. They are very efficient killers. It seems pretty unfazed by passing traffic though it didn’t linger when I stopped by the roadside for a chat. (…read on »)

Written for Weekly |

Surviving winter

Saturday, February 8th, 2003

THE HEAT starts to go out of the sun around noon at this time of year. Two more hours or so and daylight is starting to fade. With the arrival of the snow there have been sharp sunny mornings and the hedgerow birds have been busier than usual searching for the constant supply of food they need for survival. (…read on »)

Written for Weekly |

Country courtship

Saturday, February 1st, 2003

PIGEON FEATHERS scattered over the grass told a story of violent death. They hadn’t been there at lunchtime when I went outside to taste the afternoon. But by dogs’ walk-time it was clear another episode in the natural cycle had occurred. Survival of the fittest, as ever. (…read on »)

Written for Weekly |