Duke Festive visits
- March 2025
Repawter: Duke
Well, I’ve been busy the past few months despite the chilly weather we have been experiencing.
I’ve been busy completing my National Trust Pooch Passport, which needed to be completed by the end of February.
I’ve visited some familiar places and a few new ones too, with trips to Dovedale & Ilam in the peak district on a very foggy Boxing Day, followed by trips to Kedleston, Children’s Country House at Sudbury both in Derbyshire, Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire, and trips to Charlecote in Warwickshire, Hanbury House& Croome Park in Worcestershire, with my final stamp coming from Attingham Park in Shropshire.
I have managed to complete 2 full passports visiting 24 separate places since October which means I got double sets of treats and 2 neck snoods.
Mum has made full use of some of the accessibility buggy hires at these places too, as her knees are still recovering, and she needs to limit her walking activities. These are free to hire at National Trust sites but do need to book in advance. It meant mum and grandpops could accompany me on our big 7 miles trek around Clumber Park, needing to only walk from the car park to the visitor reception. 
My final visit at Attingham Park was on Valentine’s Day and I was a bit confused why we were visiting a site when it was already dark. Each year Attingham Park puts on a light trail to highlight the snowdrops which cover the ground through the woods. The evening sessions only cover a couple of evenings and are extremely popular. The route is set and one way, and is suitable for dog walkers, buggies, mobility scooters and those with mobility issues. It is wise to take a torch so you can see the ground you are walking on, but the paths are well maintained but can be slightly uneven in some places. You can walk round the route as many times as you like, but once was enough for me. 
Other things I have been doing the past few weeks is attending some of our local Greyhound walks arranged by Burton on Trent Greyhound Trust. They have 4 walks each month at various places. New for 2025 was a walk at Burton Marina, so I popped along last month to try it. The group always try to find places that provide an accessible walk to those with mobility issues or families with small children or buggies and with free parking. Both greyhounds and honorary hounds are welcome and after the walk we often get a sausage (or two if the kids are handing them out) and a little biscuit.
The walk took about 45 minutes on a bitterly freezing day and followed a path around the lake and through the woods. We stopped mid-way for our compulsory photo moment. When I finished the walk, I realised I wasn’t even walking with any of my hoos as dad had handed me over to a couple who had come along without a hound, but thankfully I got reunited with dad and went back home to the right house.
To be fair, trying to steal a greyhound wearing a bright green dinosaur coat wasn’t going to be the easiest thing to do.
After the walk there is a raffle with a variety of prizes for the hoos and if we are lucky sometimes there is a prize suitable for a hound.
There are a small select of shops, cafés, and restaurants by the marina itself, so we had a mooch round these afterwards. A lot of the cafés and restaurants were dog friendly and had seating areas outside as well, which would be pleasant on a warmer day.
Well, I enjoyed it so much I am going back again this month.
March is a big month for us in our household, as it means I start by having a groom (cuddle with the groomer) in readiness for Crufts. I have my usual shift of Thursday AM on Discover Dogs to represent the greyhound breed, supporting my kennels, Greyhound Trust Wolverhampton. After doing my shift, I then take the hoos shopping making sure they spend their pennies on me first before themselves.
Crufts is not all about showing expensive dogs, there are tons of displays from rescue charities and service dogs, the fun of agility and the thrill of flyball, which quite frankly just makes me have a need for a nap. Then there are tons of stalls selling everything you need for a dog, and a few things you probably don’t, as well as stuff for dog lovers in general. Discover Dogs is very popular, especially at weekends, as people get to find out information about a breed they may be considering (always wise to do your homework in advance) or to just get to cuddle and stroke a breed you maybe wish you could have but you know the breed would not suit your home or lifestyle. Mum always drags me to the Italian Greyhounds and Great Danes.
I then get to spend the day with my girlfriend Luna when both hoos return at the weekend to do their volunteering for The Kennel Club, as it requires them to leave in the middle of the night or certainly an hour of the morning that I don’t recognise. They come back to collect me once they have finished their shift and completed further shopping.
Crufts time means it is also dad’s birthday, so I’m sure we will be visiting a pub or two to celebrate. Let’s hope he doesn’t end up like I did after my birthday trip to the pub in February.
Love and licks!
Duke
www.dukesdoggieadventures.wordpress.com