Another question from me! :D

We are uping sticks and moving out of london in the new year, house all found and soon to exchange - is very exciting! Mark will be working from home at least 2 days a week, but i am going to have to commute into london or oxford - depending on who gives me a job really ;). The area we are moving to is semi-rural berkshire, and into a semi detached house - and the only property whixh looks over our garden is the one we are attached too. The garden cannot be seen by the road, and we are getting a 6 foot close pannelled gate put in that can be locked externally.

On the days that we are both at work i would like to be able to give the dogs free run of the house and garden, and a dog door will be fitted.

I am a little worried about the dogs being stolen - for those of you who dont know i have SBT's. Mark say i am being silly as no one would be able to see the dogs unless they came right up and peered over the gate... but i am concerned - but then again i dont want to have to leave them locked up in the house.

Any ideas, am i being sensible or silly?

Sorry Cleopatra. but be concerned. Over the last dozen years we have has two attempted dog thefts, and we are away out in the country. The first time the thieves actually broke in, the second the dogs were in the paddock - but I was at home both times.

Around here its usually working sighthounds/lurchers that get stolen, but I gather bull breeds aew 'popular' in other areas After the first theft attempt I for a bullmastiff. She was very gentle, but looked the part - and since the recent attempt that is one reason (apart from the fact I adore them) that I'm so glad that Mari has offered me Brett.

A reminder that Brett was to guard sighthounds in scotland

Hi Cleopatra

I would not give them the free run the dog's could be stolen that also
would leave the house open . I have heard they even drug larger dog's to get them
now .Pat xx

Hi Cleopatra,

I live in Berkshire (just outside Maidenhead) and there have been problems with stolen dogs in the area. I have a dog door, more because I like my old lady to be able to get out at night for a wee. When I go out during the day, I put the dogs in and the cover over the door unless my neighbour is home and I shout to her and she keeps an eye.

Have you considered a dog walker or asking your new neighbours if they would let them out for a bit?

Also which part of Berks you moving to(just being nosey)!

regards
Kim

Quite close to you really! Inbetween Maidenhead and twyford... cant wait really, though long completion date cos our flat proving a b**ch to sell! Probably one of the most stressful things that i have had to deal with , ever!

Didn't think dog walkers would be that prevalent in berkshire, dahling!

x Alex

Totally off topic but glad to hear some one else is going through hell moving house!!! :D We sold our house 6 weeks ago and the chain above us are all ready to exchange, it's just the people buying ours and their buyer that are holding things up. So long winded and tedious isn't it ?!

Its absolute murder! Problem was we made the mistake of finding our dream house before we were actually ready, and before we had an offer on mark's flat!

We have agreed on a long completion date, and exchange is still a fair way off, as we made the offer less than 3 wekks ago, and i think there may be a few minor problems with the land registery, and luckily her solicitor is even slower than ours! But sorting out bl**dy morgages, surveyors, solicitors, moving dates and trying to get marks flat sold, and on top of that trying to ind a job i think i am going to pop! :D

Where are you off too?

We're off to Melksham in Wiltshire, a little bit quieter than Bristol! nearer my sissy too who is due to pop a sprog at christmas! :D
The house we're buying doesn't have as big a garden as we do now, but it backs onto a playing field and then open fields so the kids and dogs will think they've gone to heaven. Lackham college isn't far either so i might get back into my horse studies, stop myself from becoming completely brain dead!! :D I'm really excited ,but also stressed up to the eyeballs :D

Hey Julie,

Thats not so far away either... quite trip up the M4, and you can come and meet the little sod in person!

Just want to sell marks flat then i can start to actually get excited, at the moment it is all STRESS - you dont know anyone who wants to buy a lovely flat in london do you?

xAlex

I'm not that far from your new house then Alex. I live between Wokingham and Reading, about 10mins drive from Twyford.

You'll have to let me know when you're over here and we'll get together for a coffee or something :)

Fiona
x x x

Hi,

Let us know when you move we will all have a get together to welcome you?

Also in the local paper that you will get they are always advertising dog walking (people with refs and so on).

In the mean time if you need any help with anything please ask.

Kim
xxx

Thanks Fiona!

Your probably about 20 minutes away from where we are going (fingers crossed), but you're off to canada soon aren't you?

watch out though i may actually take you up on that offer! ;)

We're not going for a while yet!! So you'll have plenty of time to come round :)

Fiona
x x x

Fiona,

Are you moving abroard???

Kim

We're off to Winnipeg, Canada in a few years - hopefully, fingers crossed and all that. A lot depends on how my mum holds up over the next few years - if she gets ill again we won't go.

Fiona
x x x

Hi Kim,

Excellent! Just got to find someone who will happily get slobbered over by my 2 "devil dogs" :D!!

Just need everybody to send good selling vibes in the general direct of SE1 so that we can actually start to get excited about moving! Which should be happening in early - mid january...

Hi Alex,
My last dog was a Staffy and I was always terrified that someone would steal him and use him for fighting. As you also live in South London, no doubt you already know that illegal dog-fights are prevalent in the area. At least you'll soon be moving away, but I'd still be very wary.
If you do decide to let them have the freedom of the garden get the smallest possible dog-flap as it has been known for burglars to use them to gain access to the house.
My Staffy used to squeeze himself through the cat-flap somehow~I was always waiting for the day when he'd get well and truly wedged but luckily it never happened.
Good luck with selling the flat,
Regards
Michele