Took Brân for a walk on his own for the first time last night. We went down the lane, which was all a bit scary, lots of strange sights and smells. Met a couple of the neighbours dogs, which was a little scary at 1st , but they were very friendly and then it was play time !!!!

Went a little further down the lane on the lead, and then off lead into the woods. Which was all fine , until we came to our bit of the wood. We went through our gate and down into the wood a bit. Spotted some big scary cows in the field next door and ran off !!!

I was too busy looking at the new born calf to notice which way he went , so by the time I had realised he wasn't by my side, I had no idea which way he went.

I wasn't too worried as my part of the wood and fields are all fenced in, so there wasn't much chance of him wondering too far, but it was really scary after 15 minutes of me whistling and shouting and him not appearing. I started to panic a little and having stupid visions of him being trampled by the irate mother of the calf or going down an inhabited badger hole

Eventually he popped out of the undergrowth, at which point I picked him up and give him a big hug. I think that was more for me than him ! From now on , Until he's learnt his recall, I won't be taking my eyes off him !!! Phew !

I am so glad that Bran came back and was ok

Really glad Bran was ok, it's always a worry when they go for their first walks off-lead.

It is such panic when they go missing. So pleased he returned safe and well, hopefully none the worse for the outing.

I bet those 15 minutes seemed like a lifetime. So pleased you got him back safe and sound.

Recall? when you manage to teach him it, can you teach Murphy it!

We went to our football field tonight, there was a group of teenagers there playing football, not a match, just for fun, so I headed towards them and then let Murphy off, thinking once he has sniffed their bums and said hello, he won't bother after that and we can continue, ha ha, after introducing himself, we carried on and he went back. These lads are all travellers, nice kids, they don't travel, they live on a local site and their families have been around years, infact my hubby has taught most of them to drive. They do think they are a bit special, you know, teenage boy thing? Well they didn't look that speciall all hanging from the goalposts screaming in fear when Murphy decided to charge and join in the football, he loves football!

I did have to laugh thinking to myself "you aren't the big boys now"!!!

Glad little Bran came back, been there before and it is a bit worrying after the first 5 minutes, Murphy did it once in pursuit of a muntjac he was gone about 15 minutes too.....the muntjac won and so did the vet!!!

They are good at putting the fear of God into us. So glad that he is safe. It's funny that after owning dogs for years we always have something to learn from them. Bran reminds me of Freddie - he used to do the same

Recall ! What's that ? Is that when your dog returns to you when his name is called - If its convenient, & there's nothing more interesting elswhere ?
Glad all turned out well,& hope Bran didn't enjoy his lone exploring too much. You wouldn't think that we would have much of a problem with hiding Deerhounds ,given their size, but er YES we do.

Thats soooo funny, pity you didn't take a photo that would have been a good one for the album.Pardon my ignorance but what is a muntjac ?

What a silly duffer Bran is. Glad he returned safe and sound

Follow this link to see what a Muntjac is, the oldest Deer known, introduced in this country at Woburn early 20th century.

They have nasty fangs that cause dogs alot of damage.

www.bds.org.uk/muntjac.html

Thanks Lurch, very informative link. We see deer almost every day , but not the muntjac version thankfully.