On Tueday we checked out MugDock Country Park as another possible location for off-lead Beagle romps. Unfortunately it was quickly scored off the list. The park is truly in the country, and it’s teaming with wildlife: we saw squirrels, rabbits, deer, and its apparently quite popular with horseriders too. Little Biggles was almost foaming at the mouth with excitement when all those scents reached his nose, and there can’t have been anyone within a mile who didn’t hear him baying. So regrettably MugDock park is definitely not  a good off-lead location for crazy hounds, but it is large enough to provide varied and enjoyable on-lead walks – in fact you can even get onto the West Highland Way from one of the paths.

To make up for this lack of off-lead fun, the next day we headed back to Irvine. When we arrived there wasn’t much beach (the tide was only just on its way back out) and it looked a little overcast, but both of these problems resolved themselves as the walk progressed. Beanie and Biggles had an enjoyable spell of free running…

..then just as they were starting to wander we put them back on the Cani-Cross lead and alternately walked and jogged so as not to cramp their style too much.

We even practiced a little recall this way; I jogged a little way ahead with our two pups, then when Susan called us we all turned and sprinted right back to her for treats. Well, to be more accurate only the dogs got the treats – which wasn’t fair because my recall was much more reliable than theirs!

On the way back we encountered a couple of dogs. The first was a playful Lab. Our two seemed interested in playing with him, so we let them off lead again. Off course the moment they were released they shunned their potential play partner and disappeared into the tall grass just off the beach. Since neither of us like them being out of sight for any length of time I headed up to their last known location and began hunting for them. I became a little concerned when I couldn’t find any trace of them, so I ran to a higher point to get a better view; still no sign! I continued on parallel to the beach for some minutes – in vain – then headed back to the beach to recruit Susan’s help. I saw her way back in the distance with two tricolored blobs dancing around her. As it turned out, Beanie and Biggles had doubled back and emerged by Susan almost the instant I’d left the sand. She couldn’t call me because I’d cunningly neglected to bring my phone. That’s the thing about mobile phones: they’re not much use if you don’t take ’em with you.

A little further on we ran into an old friend from the park: Cassie. Perhaps foolishly we let our troublesome twosome off-lead once more. Thankfully this time they became completely engrossed in play:

Thanks to Cassie the walk could not have finished better; our two pups got a good romp around, and we had no stress or hassle for getting them back on lead afterwards. If only it would go like that every time..