The Walks

HELLO!! Toby reporting for WALK ONE. Very exciting. Very foresty. Very sniffy.

We went to Bagley Wood in Kennington — a HUGE ancient woodland. Five hundred and fifty acres!! I don’t know what acres are, but it means big, and big means MANY SMELLS. I approved immediately.

The moment we arrived, I said: TREES!! BRUSH!! NATURE!! I launched into my duties: rooting around, sniffing under logs, shoving my nose into leaves, investigating all Important Forest Happenings. There were so many things to inspect that my tail couldn’t keep up.

But then — HOLD ON. We discovered something incredible: REDWOODS. Real redwoods! Like the giant ones from San Francisco (I have never been, but I am certain I would enjoy the smells). They were tall and impressive and made me feel like a very small but very mighty explorer. My humans were shocked. I sniffed them carefully to confirm their redwoodiness. Verified.

Bagley Wood is owned by something called St John’s College, which I assume is a pack of humans who love trees (good taste). The forest felt ancient and peaceful and full of secret dog knowledge.

I ran. I zig‑zagged. I rooted in brush piles like a professional woodland detective. I discovered approximately nine thousand sticks.

It was a perfect January adventure: quiet, magical, and packed with the BEST smells.
Walk One complete. I am an expert forest dog now.

 HELLO. Toby here. This was WALK TWO. Very important. Very official. I took it seriously. Mostly.

We went to Cothill. It was sunny but cold — the kind of air that makes you want to zoom. So I zoomed! Then I sniffed. Then I zoomed again.

The walk was about 2.5 miles, which is apparently “enough.” I disagree.

First important thing: SMELLS. So many. Other dogs (at least seven, maybe one million). Fox. Possibly ancient swamp creature. I needed to check all of them. Thoroughly. My human kept saying, “Toby, come on.” I was coming on. Just… diagonally.

Second important thing: MUD. Everywhere. Deep. Sneaky. Wet. I do not like wet feet. I tried to step only on the dry bits. There were not many dry bits.

HORSES. We saw horses. Very tall dogs. They stared at me. I stared at them. I wanted a closer look but my human said no — very disappointing.

It was a brisk winter afternoon and the sun made everything bright and exciting and full of Important Information. I may have pulled slightly. I may have tried to follow three Extremely Urgent scent trails. I regret nothing.

Walk TWO complete. 48 to go. I am ready!

HELLO. It is me again, Toby. This was WALK THREE. A classic. One of my favourites.

We started from my house (MY territory). I was extremely zoomy because I had already done one walk but that is obviously not enough for a Strong Young Athlete like myself. Anyway — we set off toward town, which is FULL of exciting things like birds and smells and people who always say, “Oh what a handsome boy!” (Correct.)

The Thames was looking very river-y. Lots of ducks. Geese too — the big honky ones who pretend to be brave. I said hello politely by trotting towards them at full speed. They flew away though. I wonder why.

There were pigeons. SO many pigeons. They do not appreciate my friendship either. I try to greet them every time and they always scream and take off. Very dramatic birds.

Then we reached one of the best places in the entire world: The Dog Spot. A café just for ME (probably). They give me a puppycino. I love puppycinos. I love them so much I wag my entire back half. My humans say I get “way too excited,” but I disagree. There is no such thing as too excited.

In town I met MANY PEOPLE. They all smiled at me. Some gave me pets. I offered my whole body for additional pets. I pulled a bit. Maybe a lot. But there was so much to see! So much happening! So many potential new friends!

It was a perfect walk: smells, birds, treats, and my fans (the public).

Walk Three complete. Let’s do this one again!

HELLO AGAIN. Toby here, reporting from WALK FOUR which was in a Very Special Place: grandpawrents’ village. The Grandpawrents adore me. They say things like “oh he’s such a good boy” even when I have just tried to zoom through their kitchen.

Inkberrow is a tiny village full of fields and old buildings and approximately one million new smells. I did a lot of sniffing. I am a professional.

On this walk we passed a VERY old church — St Peter’s. My human said it is from the 13th century. That is older than all my toys combined! Outside the church were two sheep. One white. One black. We stared at each other. It was intense. I think I won but the sheep did not confirm.

Then we visited a place called the Millennium Green. Very grassy. Very sniffable. Also: MOORHENS. A whole family! They were tiny and fast and extremely interesting. I watched them closely. They pretended not to be impressed by me.

The countryside walk was long and beautiful and full of adventure. Also full of pats from the grandpawrents who told me I am “such a handsome boy.” I wagged so hard I nearly fell over.

Walk Four complete. 10/10.

HI YES HELLO. Toby again. Walk FIVE! Peep O Day Lane! This walk is basically a long parade… featuring ME.

It’s a cycle path, which means there are many cyclists who zoom past. I try to say hello but they are very fast. I respect their speed.

There are also walkers, and sometimes they have dogs too! I want to greet everyone but my human says I can come on a little too strongly sometimes. How can I help it though when there are so many potential friends right there??

Sometimes there are cows in a nearby field. Cows are enormous. Giant sniffer-beasts. I get as close as I’m allowed and say hello politely (with snorts and full body wag). They stare at me. I stare back. It is a respectful exchange.

We make a loop by turning onto Stonehill Lane. This part is EXTRA exciting because we pass by a riding school. Horses! Ponies! Chickens! So many creatures! These horses are even taller than the horse-dogs we saw at Walk Two. Chickens are small but speedy. I love them all.

The whole walk is about staying alert, greeting everyone, and pulling just a little (a lot) because there is ALWAYS something happening.

Walk Five complete. I remain the most enthusiastic participant in this challenge.

HELLO YES HI. Toby here. This was WALK SIX and it was a big one. A National Trust day out! I did not know what that meant, but when we arrived, I knew it meant EXCITEMENT.

The moment my paws hit the ground, I said: NEW PLACE!! NEW SMELLS!! NEW FRIENDS?? I pulled VERY responsibly (not responsibly) because there was so much to investigate immediately.

My humans brought something new: an extendable leash. A magical rope that let me zoom up to FIVE WHOLE METRES away. FIVE!! I could sniff a bush over there while they were still walking slowly over here. Incredible technology. Highly recommend.

We started exploring the grounds and I was BUSY. Busy sniffing. Busy zig-zagging. Busy being an explorer. I was basically on a crucial mission of national importance.

Then we reached The Big House. Mom got very excited and said something about “Pride & Prejudice” and “Netherfield Park” and “Oh my gosh look at the windows!” I do not know who Pride is. I do not know what Prejudice tastes like. I do not care. I cared about SMELLS!

We did a full 3-mile loop around the grounds. There was MUD. SO MUCH MUD. Mud on the paths. Mud in sneaky puddles. Mud trying to touch my paws. Normally I am anti-mud. But today? Today I was too excited to be dramatic. I pranced right through it like a brave muddy warrior.

At the end of our great adventure… DOGGY ICE CREAM. Cold. Delicious. Perfect. I licked the bowl clean. Then checked it again just in case more appeared.

Basildon Park: 12/10. Muddy. Sniffy. Stretchy‑leashy. Ice‑creamy.

HELLO — Lils reporting for my first walk of the challenge! 

Well, what a Day! 

I normally go walking with Lola but today was something a bit different! My humans took me the VEE - E- TEE's in Cholsey. 

I was a very brave soldier. A syringe about half my size and afterwards, I was offered a treat! 

Normally, I will do anything for a treat. Treat eating is my thing, but I very politely said, the very cheek of it, not on your nelly — Everyone was most surprised! 

Anyhow, after the injection, we went for a trot around Cholsey Recreation Park. It is in Station Road and is a lovely big space with a playground, skate park and a football pitch. 

I was off the lead and trotted along quite the thing. I was wearing my blue harness, which I love. It matches one of my human’s coats and that is why he bought it for me! 

Anyhow, it was a bit chilly. I sniffed around and did a little bit of jogging. (Not too much, just enough to gain my appetite back for my next treat.) 

I am not sure about wet grass, and I have to lift my paws in a certain way to walk. It is funny because sometimes my humans think I have a sore paw and then my favourite human carries me – haha – It is my best trick ever! 

Anyhow, back to my story. 

After a bit of time, (it felt like I had walked around 10 miles by this point), I ran up to one of my humans and pawed them. He knows that this means that I need a carry, so I did the rest of my walk being carried like the Queen I am.  

The humans had exercise and I didn’t have that much — hee hee! As I often say, why have a dog and bark yourself!  

We got home and I had a nice sleep on the way. I had my tea, did some barking and fell asleep! 

And that was my solo walk. Phew, exhausting!   

Love 

Lils 

Hi, Lola here! This is a 25-hectare wood situated in Headington.

This was a great walk with my best friend, Amina. To start with, I jumped into her van, and we said a big hello! I have known Amina for over 7 years, and we have great fun together!

I like wearing my yellow harness as it doesn’t stop me from jumping. When I am very happy, I jump and put my front paws on my human’s shoulders. It always makes her laugh!

Anyhow, Amina and I started our walk, around some roads and back through the woods through Peppercorn Avenue where we saw some other doggy friends! Loads of sniffs and logs and jumping and fun!

Amina and I walked really nicely, and we caught up with all the smells of the wood. Creatures we see in the woods include squirrels, deer, foxes and lots of birds. I am not interested in birds but my human says that there are woodpeckers, blackbirds, robins and at least one Jay.

I smiled when I got back home. My smile is infectious! I said cheerio to Amina and her human. I had my tea, fell asleep and dreamt of the woods all night!

Until next time! TTFN.

x Lola 

It's Lola again!

This walk was fabulous as I was out on my own with my humans. I told my main human by putting my front paws on her shoulder that I was happy to be out and that it was fine to let me off for a big run. She started laughing again. My human thought otherwise. Could this be because when she has let me off lead before on another route on this walk, I tried to get on someone’s canal boat!

 Anyhow, I persisted and eventually, I was let off the lead. I ran like the wind and jumped and smiled. I am a very fast runner. When I went to dog agility (a story for another day!), I was one of the fastest dogs there! I am built for speed and after a good run, I am ready to relax again. Normally on my own sofa but often, the car will do!

There were deer in the distance but I was so busy doing my loop runs that I didn’t even notice! Lots of sniffs, logs, jumps, squirms on this walk as well as something called daffodils. I don’t care for daffodils but my human says that they are very pretty.

Anyhow, after my walk, I went to a pet shop. I thought about the doggy pick-n-mix in the shop but I was very well mannered and didn’t eat any! I had a good sniff of some of the other bits-n-bobs in the shop and we left with some Peanut Butter Crunchy biscuits. (I didn’t get a chance to eat any as the Bookends scoffed the lot. (I am keeping stum as to how they got them but it was very clever and they outwitted our human!)

Anyhow, signing off until my next Squirm.

Luv,

x The Worm (Lola)

Hello friends, it’s ME, Toby, back with another excellent walk to report! Today’s adventure took me to the Court Hill Centre in Wantage and let me tell you — it was a GOOD ONE.

The weather was beautiful and sunny, which is my absolute favourite for sniffing, exploring, and generally being my magnificent self.

Before we even properly began the walk, I felt it was important — no, ESSENTIAL— to leave my mark. I found a lovely patch of daffodils and added my contribution. Apparently this was “naughty,” but I think the other dogs will want to know!

Not long after that, we came across something extremely interesting — the remains of a DEER! My nose lit up like a Christmas tree. I tried to investigate, but I was not allowed. Something about it being “gross” and “Toby, absolutely not.” Humans are NO FUN sometimes.

The walk took us through some cosy woodsy bits, full of earthy smells and crunchy acorn shells under my paws. Then it opened out into wide, breezy fields, which are perfect for taking in a million SMELLS.

Soon we wandered around the perimeter of Segsbury Camp, an Iron Age hill fort. I felt VERY heroic and ancient, like perhaps I was once a great dog warrior guarding the land.

After all that exploring, we went back to the tearoom at the Court Hill Centre, where I was rewarded for my hard work with a doggy ICE CREAM. Cold, creamy, delicious, and entirely deserved.

Lots to sniff. Many places to pee. Would rate 10/10.