You should know that we are three forty something women with a motley assortment of dogs:

• Pi - Beagle
• Bob - Collie/Lab cross
• Molly - Border Terrier
• Ted - Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross

They are all family pets and all semi-trained. It is this fact which leads to so many of our outings ending up as a complete fiasco.

Some of our walks are along familiar and regular routes and some are virgin turf. It doesn't seem to matter to the dogs whether they've walked a route a hundred times before or never in their lives - they always find ways to entertain or embarrass us, make us worry or despair. 

Autumn is in. Days are getting shorter. Dogs still need walking.