Hi everyone, welcome to this latest issue of BHOC’s Lowdown, I do hope you find within it things to enjoy. I know that photos of you and your hounds taken at our Club walks and events are very popular, so I’ve tried to include as many of these as possible. Anyway, please read and enjoy!

I must thank all those members who kindly sent me ‘get well’ messages following my little period of illness last year. I have since made good progress and am eagerly looking forward to throwing myself into our Club walks and other summer events.

Thea King was wonderful for stepping into the breach by being guest editor of the last winter issue of Lowdown. I’m sure that you enjoyed her fresh approach to the look of the newsletter.

Many thanks, Thea!

One interesting thing that came out of this time was that I became convinced that both Pablo and Nico were very aware something was not quite right with me (no comments, please!).

Whenever I rested for a few minutes on one of the sofas, the boys would rush over to jump up and and join me. The winner would lie across my lap and nuzzle into me.

Both hounds are normally very affectionate - but the frequency and intensity of this attention was unusual.

This rather enjoyable activity lasted for the duration of the most difficult part of my illness and as I improved these cuddles lessened. I began to regard this as some sort of canine barometer to the progress of my recovery.

I think that most of us have read reports of dogs alerting their owners of impending diabetic attacks and sensing tumours etc. so perhaps the boys’ sensibility was something of this nature.

Now I’m feeling so much better, fully recovered, hence, I’m sitting here on my own! - the ‘boys’ preferring to play in the garden over nursing duties. Nothing ever quite excites the hounds like the prospect of going on one of our Club walks. They seem to anticipate this monthly outing well before Frankie and I make any move to prepare for the journey to the walk’s venue - I’m pretty sure neither one keeps a diary or even has clear sight of calendar in the kitchen! So how do they know?

On the morning of any walk they appear to bolt their breakfasts even more ravenously than normal and then constantly eyeball us for any indication that their collars and leads are being taken from their hooks.

Excitement reaches a crescendo when we prepare the car for the journey.

It is our great pleasure to give dear Jean and Cassius a lift to the walks. On these occasions, both Nico and Pablo accept they will not occupy their regular travelling space in the 4x4 - the large boot area, which on these trips becomes Cassius’ domain - but instead are relegated to the rear seat which has to be shared with Frankie or, if she is really unlucky, Jean. She being Nico’s favourite travel cushion!

Jean has told us that Cassius also knows if it is a Club walk’s day and barks the moment we drive into her road.

Cass is afforded the dignity of processing up the car ramp which he sometimes attempts a little too determinedly and in rushing misses his rear footing and almost falls off. This is watched by our two hounds looking over the back seat. Neither dog showing any objection to Cassius taking over their travelling space.

Most journeys to the walks take place in lovely peace and quiet, save for lovely Jean who keeps us up to date with the latest news (mostly about Poldark) and local canine gossip, but occasionally this is interrupted by one or other of the hounds whining as we approach the venue.

On our drive home it is a different matter. All three hounds, most often wet, or muddy, or tainted by fox, or all of the above, lie contentedly sleeping. The only noise being their rhythmic snoring, sometimes in unison, which is lovely to witness.

I do recommend our walks to all those members who have not yet tried them, and to those who have not attended one for a while. Please give them a go. You and your hounds will love it!

During the recent Easter weekend I heard the loudest crashing sound coming from the sitting room. I dashed in to find Nico - looking a bit sheepish - next to a large heap of fallen books.

I had earlier placed my sole Easter egg on the top of a row of books, well out of reach of any canine interference. The inevitable happened.

Still, I’ve only got my shelf to blame!

editor@bassethoundowners.org.uk Drawing courtesy of Sheila Tyson ©2015