Hound dogs

This weekend Lizzy has been looking after her niece and nephew. This morning I joined them for a short walk in Milton Park, where we spotted a muntjac, lots of sheep, a red kite, two swans and a small flock of wigeon.

But the biggest excitement was to come. The public footpath passes close to the hunt kennels, and today the hounds were being exercised. Initially they were quite a way off, but as they came towards us the hounds spotted us and bounded over to greet us. They were all very friendly, but very large! 

Luckily J & A have grown up with a dog, but poor little A, who's only four, found it a bit overwhelming to be surrounded by about forty dogs, many of which were taller than him, and he had to hide his face in Lizzy's coat. J loved them and wasn't fussed even when one exuberant hound knocked her over. I had a great time too - although I found that it's quite a strain to have a foxhound put both its paws on your shoulders!