Lots of fun - and a smattering of work - for the House of Mutt team again this year at the Duke of Grafton's Red Rooster Festival in June. The Festival takes place on our HQ doorstep and as the organisers allow 100 dog tickets, they ask us at House of Mutt to come along and man a wonderful tent and picket-fenced area right in the heart of the festival and in front of the verrry beautiful Euston Hall. Tis a hard life indeed!

Rain hammered down but didn't stop play, and loads of dogs and owners came to make use of our agility kit - jumps, tunnel, pool and bending poles - and just to while away the time 'chatting dog'.

While all that was going on, trainer Olivia Turner (www.oliviaturnerabc.co.uk) made the most of the opportunity to work with several of our younger dogs who really benefitted from being able to learn how to behave around and best cope with so many sights, smells and sounds. Such a woosh of festival distractions (albeit often slightly sleepy, morning-after festival distractions!) could be overwhelming for dogs, but to watch Olivia calmly and patiently allowing each one to find their comfort level, process what was going on and positively learn from it, was amazing. So much of dog training is about timing, and it was bliss to be able to sit back in the tent and watch Olivia reading each dog's reactions and timing her responses to exactly what the dog was 'saying' at any one time - a masterclass indeed.

BBC Radio Norfolk clearly agreed, and came over to do a spot. (Clip below)

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