Spud the dog would like to hand over this Sundays post to Freckle
Freckle is a fire investigation dog, working with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
Freckle was out and about today at the Emergency Services Open day which was in the beautiful Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, here are the gardens on a colder day.
Freckle has some dandy little shoes (with Vibram soles to boot) to protect his paws when the going get hot or rough. (Spud would like a set so he doesn’t get friction burns on his pads when playing ball in the yard with Tom)
Though at £75 a set, Spud can just go and play ball in the field, as tennis balls are cheaper to fund.
Freckle was not the only sighting of a Springer spaniel, there were a couple of hungry hounds with the Derbyshire Cave Rescue display,
I don’t imagine they are cave rescue dogs, but I’m happy to be corrected, I suspect they were just in it for a free lunch.
Uphilldowndale 
My Sweet Pea would look too cute in those red doggie shoes, but since they cost more than mine do… 🙂 Besides, she only investigates the contents of her food dish — no protective footwear required.
Having been at a wedding this weekend I realise I am well and truly out of touch with the world of shoes and the dizzying height of fashionable heels!
Thanks for such an interesting post, good photos and informative links.
I have great admiration for all rescue services people and their dogs.
I hope that Spud enjoyed his day off! xx
Why not? I bet they could be very useful down a cave, for sniffing out bodies same as anywhere else. I await other readers’ comments with interest. My son started to train our pattercock as a tracker/sniffer dog, but it all came to nothing. Instead, I am thinking of using her as a Reading Assistance Dog in my lessons.
http://firstnews.co.uk/news/dogs-help-kids-to-read-i7604
I think the rope ladders could prove a bit tricky for a pooch. It has been suggested Spud could be a PAT dog, visiting hospitals nursing homes etc. But I think he’d need to be obedient for such a job!
Those little shoes are so cute. I’ve seen (up close, ahead of a Royal visit) a Springer sniffing for explosives, and what stuck in my head was the absolute enthusiasm of the dog, throughout. They are an enthusiastic breed, mind you.
The shoes would keep the Cowboy from accumulating ice balls during winter walks. Their cost would keep me from accumulating groceries.
That is a win, win situation!
Hope he’s not frightened of cats like this one !
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18454988
Hi Stuart, I saw this on the local news, poor thing… I hope it doesn’t spoil his search and rescue CV 😦
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