A winter holiday for dogs

Penny's blog has been quiet the last week or so, because we've been away at a dog holiday resort, at Tarra Valley. We've been there before - Best Friend Holiday Retreat. One of the relaxing things about the Retreat is that there is no mobile phone or internet coverage at the cabins. It forces you to take a break from the human world and concentrate on enjoying the company of your dog. Dogs must be with their humans at all times.

Walking in the local area in winter is wonderful, because it is unlikely we would encounter any snakes, so we can head along narrow paths we would normally avoid in summer, and we don't have to worry if the dogs veer off the main path, as Penny is doing in this shot.

It was windy and cold, but that was invigorating, if we didn't mind slopping through water. The humans tried to stick to the edges of the paths, but the dogs loved wading through. It's strange that at home Penny won't even walk on damp grass if she needs to go outside to wee, but on walks she loves to get her feet wet.

The wintry beaches were usually deserted.

Seeing she lives in a one-dog household, it's good for Penny to be part of a canine pack and mill around with her friends back at the cabin.