The one thing that dogs love to do is go for a walk.  You know “walkies”. Time out and about sniffing, running, hooning and saying hello to the neighbours.

This is Mason all collared and leaded patiently waiting for the off.  He was having a bit of a wait though as today was a day that the mere mention of a walk sent Fortnum into a deeper and deeper sulk.

The sort of teenage sulk that is hard to shift.

Admittedly he was lounging around comfortably on his sofa in Domestic Executive HQ but nevertheless, the rain had stopped, the sun had come out and Mason and I were ready to roll.

But Fortnum didn’t care.  He was quite happy where he was thank you very much.  You can just tell from the look in his face and glint in his eye that’s what he was thinking.

I tried my best encouraging voice to cajole him off the sofa to come play.  But no, he wasn’t budging.  He dug himself deeper into his blanket.

Even when I started to threaten I’d give all his treats to Mason, big basset wasn’t bothered.

Now all the training books tell you that it’s important your dog knows whose leader.  So I used my most authoritative voice – “Fortnum, come on, we’re going out”.

Hmm, you can tell I was commanding his attention.  Not.

Eventually I managed to get him off the sofa albeit with loads of grumbling.  If you’re wondering what little basset was doing whilst Fortnum was acting the fool, here he is.  No sense in wasting some good lounging sun.

Finally Fortnum made it to the veranda but the effort was almost too much.  I could tell it was going to be one of those walks.

The sort of walk where Mason leads the way.

And Fortnum malingers every step of the way.  Big bassets favourite tactic right now is to hang around at the top of hills and slopes waiting to run like a maniac all the way down with a completely clear run.

Hanging behind also means he can stop for a drink in the muddiest puddles.

Mason’s such a clever basset.  He knows what he likes and enjoys his walks.

It can be a frustrating time walking sometimes but I’ve come to learn that bassets will only keep a pace up if they are chasing a person on a bike or they’ve got wind of a scent and then they are trapped in their own world where they pay no attention to anyone, and least of all me.

Even big basset enjoys his walks when he finally gets out.  It’s just the thought of having to get up and put one paw in front of another.  But who can blame him.  There I times when I’m snuggled up on the sofa and would rather stay there than drag two hounds out for their daily constitutional.  Especially when it’s blowing a southerly gale.

But fear not, it’s only a northerly gale coming in tomorrow – deep joy!