Satte Dog Run

Today we discovered a great new dog run about 60kms from Tokyo. Shin found it on the net and we set out hoping that it would be as good as it showed in the pictures. It was quite cold and windy today but the girls were excited to be somewhere new. The place was divided into three dog runs; one for under 10kgs, one for over 10kgs and an agility course. Even though Jazz doesn't weigh in at under 10kgs we started there first because of Dixie's fear of big dogs. After some playing and running around with other dogs we decided to try the bigger dog run. Dixie was ok except for when we met a very cute and very excitable, 8mth old Basset Hound. Dixie kept barking at her as she ran up to us to play. The dog run was right next to a steak restaurant so Shin and I stopped in for lunch while Jazz and Dixie had a rest in the car. They were very happy that I remembered them and gave them a piece of steak for being good girls.

A Jazz and Dixie Day

From left to right: Dixie, Jazz and Nala.

My Spring break went by so quickly! Its been nice to spend more time with the girls even if the weather hasn't been so great. As today was the last day of my holiday I decided to make it a total Jazz and Dixie day! This morning we walked with Shin to the bus stop and then on for an hour walk in the park. It was sunny but very chilly. We stopped in at As Classics American Diner for breakfast. They make the best club house sandwiches in Tokyo there! After breakfast we headed home and did a spot of gardening on the balcony. Jazz and Dixie had to oversee what I was doing. After that we made carrot juice so the girls got to crunch on some carrot sticks which they love! Then it was back outside as it had warmed up a bit and the sun was still shining. We arranged to meet up with a beagle friend of ours, Nala. We walked together over to the next suburb to have coffee outside. As we sat with the girls so many people came to pat the 'cute beagles'! At one point we were joined by another girl beagle called Momo. So many children wanted to pat and play with the girls we could have opened a 'Beagle Petting Zoo'. After coffee we continued our walk on to a local pet shop were I picked up some snacks for J&D before walking home. We were out for 3 hrs! I got a little colour in my cheeks and the girls are now snoring on the sofa! I wish there could be days like this every week!

Return of the Sun Lizards!

Where does the time go? It's been more than 2 weeks since I last posted! As usual work is keeping me very busy but we are managing to enjoy weekends away with the girls. Spring is here although you wouldn't know it by the wintery cold weather we are having this week. Last week was beautiful, with warm sunny days but since I am on Spring break this week and have the time to be out and about with the girls it has turned cold again. Other signs of sring are the cherry blossoms and the sun rising higher in the sky and shining in on the girls in their favourite morning sunning spot. I got out of the shower the other morning to find them like this!

Everyone is Back Home

Jazz, Dixie and Shin are all home! On Friday and Saturday I had a teachers' conference from 8- 5pm both days. As I would not be able to spend any time with the girls at all I decided to let them go to the pet hotel at Dog Inc from Friday morning. Shin was in Paris this last week and came home yesterday evening so now everyone is here! It looks like the girls had fun with each other.

Girl's Day

Today is Hinamatsuri (or Girl's Day) here in Japan. This is our third Hinamatsuri since starting our blog (2007)(2008) and today I bought some of the traditional sweets eaten to share with my girls. We tried both "sakura-mochi "(bean paste-filled pink rice cakes with cherry leaves) and "kashiwamochi "( rice cakes wrapped in kashiwa (oak) leaves. Kashiwamochi are traditional Japanese sweets usually eaten on Children's Day on May 5th but they were being sold together with the girls day sweets today. A great thing about Japan is the festivals, celebratory and seasonal foods - there is just so much variety! Happy Girls Day to all the girls out there.

A Stinky Dog Run and a Run at the Beach!

On Saturday after a week of rain we decided we would take Jazz and Dixie to an indoor dog run as the ground was still very wet out. Shin did a bit of a search on the internet and found one that looked ok about 50kms out of Tokyo so we headed out. The first thing we noticed when we got there was the smell of dog pee pee but decided to give it a go anyway. I lead Jazz and Dixie into a big shed with a fake grass floor and immediately Dixie was attacked by a chocolate lab. That made her very scared and edgy with other dogs there and thus she preferred to sit up on a bench or on my lap. Jazz was a bit more adventurous and went up to people for a pat but neither of them was interested in playing there at all. This happens in the Komazawa dog run too especially in summer when it gets particularly stinky so I think that Jazz and Dixie super noses are offended by the oder! They usually love the grassy clean dog runs we go to and can run around for ages but when it comes to concrete or fake grass they are not interested! The dog run was not far from the beach though so we headed down there for a bit of a run on the beach. It was quite cold but Jazz and Dixie were in their element, running and pulling me along behind them. I only wish I could have let them off the leash but with all those smells and that vast open space I am scared I would not get them back. I envy the Dughallmor Beagles who often run along the beach and always look like they are having such fun. Shin went off to Paris today for a week so its just the girls and I at home this week:(