As lots of folk have been asking "has he grown" so I thought I'd gather a few comparative photos of Dougal

from the time we first saw him to more or less the present . . . he's been with us at this stage about three weeks.

Dougal at 4 weeks old (31/8/18)	At 8 weeks (28/09/18) with Chris.	At 11 weeks (17/10/18)

He's getting to a weight where you have to start thinking how to pick him up rather than just lean down and scoop him into your hand.

The vet weighed him at 6.5 kilos . . . but he's more than that now !

He's been out in the garden running with Dylan so we thought we'd tire him out with his first, slightly longer local walk.

It's a lovely day and our friends Pat and Mike are over in The Lakes, along with our daughter and grandson.

This is the view they admired, looking down Crummock Water and over Haystacks to Great Gable.

They were interested in how the bottom garden has developed

so there's no better way than to go down the steps and sit and contemplate the surroundings.

Grasmoor forms the backdrop across the valley and here in the paddock the fruit trees are just starting to turn colour

. . . those whose leaves survived a slight sheep invasion and the recent Storm Callum.

Dougal seems up for a walk . . . his first real outing in his young life.

Coincidentally Pat was also here in 2014 when Dylan took his first longer walk out.

Bilbo and Boris check out the reflections on the pond . . . the water levels are high after the recent rains

and it seems that the water weed will need clearing back as it has grown rather too well.

- - - o o o - - -

Time for that walk . . . and a group photo to record the moment.

Cathy, Pat. Alexander, Mike,and Ann

The full walk that included the lake would be too long for the puppy as a first outing

so Mike and myself decided to let the others go on, and to head back home a shorter way with Dougal.

The main party and the other three dogs head on down to Crummock Water.

Dogs prefer sticks as they haven't learnt the art of skimming stones . . . but they will chase them occasionally.

The water level is high after recent rains and even the large stone next to the beach is under water.

The calm waters and slight reflections will be spoilt for a short while.

Family photo showing Alexander has well exceeded his mum and our friend Pat in height.

"You want me to stand here in the water just so you can get an extra photo ?"

With the lake level up to the top of the dwarf wall it means there's at least an extra foot of water in the lake.

- - - o o o - - -

Meanwhile Mike, myself and importantly Dougal had taken a shortcut . . .

We passed a neighbour's house and called in to find it full of family.

Dougal takes turns to talk to each of them . . . first Jane and Peter.