Yesterday was Barking Buddies first day taking part in the Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival.
I didn't get to go but mum told me all about it while counting all the coins she brought home and feeding me left over dog chocolates.
The festival is in it's third year now and has stalls from Chocolate makers from all over the Uk, but specifically North West, and you can find anything from chocolate beauty products, cupcakes, chocolate wine, to chocolate shot glasses.
Barking Buddies got some excellent feedback from dogs and their owners alike. Many owners tried the products too and were pleased with the peanut butter cups.
We got some excellent advise from the local businesses and will soon be attending local farmers markets around the North West selling our special dog chocolates.
Now everyone knows that my mum is a dog walker, and I am her trusty assistant. But although dog walking has it's advantages, long walks off the lead, chasing my friends around the park, swimming on a sunny day, it can also be frustrating to be outdoors all day in the cold.
So I was glad when my mummy's friends opened a new dog day centre in Bolton. www.mypetguardians.com is a new day care facility near my home and it offers a huge room for dogs to play in whilst keeping warm and dry at all times.
This week I went to test it out.
The main room is a huge play area filled with toys, tents, tunnels, balls, a dogs dream really and I got to share all this with several other dogs who I was unsure about at first, but they soon made me feel very welcome.
The great thing is that when I was tired I could take a nap in their quiet area on a lovely warm quilt snuggled up to my friends, and Danni would often give us treats when we did clever tricks or behaved nicely and gave her puppy dog eyes.
Danni, the lady who owns the centre is lovely. Her and her husband both have degrees in Zoology, and have worked extensively with doggies like me and other animals. Their own three doggies often come to daycare too, and are all very friendly and playful, which I love.
I don't really like leaving my mummy but when I do I know that James and Danni will look after me and I know I will be safe with them around, yet have a fantastic day playing with my new friends.
When I'm not out walking with my mummy and all our regular walking crew I will be going to dog day again!
Sometimes it is hard not to take offence when people are scared of me because of my breed. Discrimination in dogs is something that occurs very often, and yet usually without good reason.
I am a rottweiler. But I am also a very sweet natured, family loving dog, who loves to play and lick rather than be boisterous or eat babies like some people seem to expect. Rottweilers are just one of the many dogs that get discriminated against because of our breed, and our bad reputation. Others include staffies, and Bull Mastiffs, but our owners know the real us, the big softies.
The newspapers always feature stories about dogs like me savaging children, and being attacked in the streets, but just because one doggy does that it doesn't mean that all of us will. Some people are murderers, thieves, untrustworthy and dishonest but that doesn't mean I am wary of all humans. Every human is an individual with their own unique personality, and us dogs are exactly the same.
Today my own family, my flesh and blood refused to let me go within even a foot of their children. This hurt me a little as I love children so much and I would never even think of touching one to do more than give them a friendly lick to say hello. But people are always worried that I might hurt them, it makes me sad.
Luckily I know that my mummy loves me and knows my true personality, not just the reputation that people have of my breed. Yes I am a rottweiler, but I am also just a loving dog, woman's best friend, and just little old me, Roxy.
