G'day All, This subject may have been covered before but it is worth a try. When I sit down to do some modelling I often find our faithful Jack Russell cross terrier, Daisy, near my feet. Most times she is contented just to lay there and `be there', but the caption of the following photo shows that the story can be different.
[smg id=21706 type=preview align=center caption="If you've finished can we go for a walk now"]
Do other NGF members have similar faithful four footed modelling companions, or perhaps have to deal with a dreaded `catzilla'?
Regards, Andrew G.

I have two helpers who are often snoring on the sofa near to me.







Jonny

Years ago motherinlaw had taken my wife and kids to Majorca I Had to stay home to look after the animals, so one day me and Max our dog went down the shed I decided to build the village on my layout ,Max curled up under the layout .I was trying out diferant positions of the buildings as you do ,plus running a few trains when Max started to get restless so I said come on then you go in the garden and I'll go up and get a coffee.It was only then I realised it was 1-45 am in the morning ,,! Dosent time fly when your having fun,the results of Max and my efforts can be seen in my album .
Bob

Here are my "gang"

Rosie - yellow
Ella - chocolate
Oscar - black

Those who have been following my post on the construction of St Michael's church for "Tintern" will already be acquainted with Oscar and his potential as an expert in demolition. Fortunately the two girls don't have the same destructive instincts.

Nice idea for a thread!

These are my two, who don't get to go anywhere near my trains in order to prevent hair-clogged motors, lobbing of rolling stock onto the floor and melting incidents.

This is (another) Daisy, my curious / nosey five-year old female Border Collie who became part of the family at eight weeks old when I was living in Edinburgh, and who has since lived with me in Cheshire, Paris and now Brittany where she has a massive garden at her disposal and seems to be rather happy (infinitely better living conditions than you can have in Paris, both for dogs and for humans). The pedal car was mine when I was a boy and I intend to restore it one day, when I have the time / courage. Like any dog she loves attention, but seems to have understood that she can get more of it by inventing new tricks when I have my camera out.



And this is Plume, our seven-month old female kitten we acquired from a friend. Hobbies include damaging clothes, decimating the local mouse population and preventing me from typing on my keyboard.

Here are some action shots of her getting into the Christmas spirit by derailing the Hornby Santa's Express I was hoping to put under the tree.







JB

Don't have any pets myself but if my brother visits with his gun dog Maddie everything has to get hidden away.  She's a Thoroughbred German Short Haired Pointer, small but incredibly powerful, totally manic and can jump 6' high off the spot...



She's a lovely dog though -never miss a chance anywhere snip-in a pic of her.  She's well and truly a part of the family.

This topic really does invite all the sentimental feelings we have about our pet railway 'assistants'. You asked for it so here it is.

We rescued a racing greyhound (two in fact but only one stayed with us) eight years ago. Her name is Gemma and her racing name is Jamaar Star. So you can see if you say Jamaar quickly it sounds like Gemma.
She won a couple of races in her racing days and then decided she didn't want to chase small furry things any more and so was retired. We got her when she was three and she's eleven now. The most beautiful and friendly dog in the world  (all dog owners say that though).
In her younger days she would race up the stairs when I was upstairs planning or working in the railway room and curl up outside while I was there. She used to sleep in or just outside our bedroom to be close to us. When she got a bit older she couldn't make it up the stairs and once, when she made it up stairs, she fell down and smashed all her front teeth and had to have them all out.
She doesn't go upstairs anymore but is quite happy taking up the whole of our couch or sleeping on a duvet on the ground.
She has a very defined schedule for walks, food, toilet visits, and treats. She gives little whines at the appropriate times to remind you - clever dog.
She has arthritis now and rattles with the pills we give her and she has had more than half her teeth removed (greyhounds are notorious for bad teeth). However, she is a very happy dog, and looks forwards to all her scheduled activities - and the unscheduled ones as well.
Everyone in the area knows her and all the other dog owners give her treats, cuddles and affection.
Anyone who is not going 'aahh how lovely' by now has no heart - here are some pictures.

[smg id=21717 type=preview align=center caption="Gemma running just after we first got her - she could fly!"]

[smg id=21718 type=preview align=center caption="Gemma curled up on the couch - the couch was hers!!"]

[smg id=21719 type=preview align=center caption="Gemma in the garden last summer - looking a bit grey around the muzzle"]

  and  :'(

Boris and Bella below have always tried to help with anything to do with the layout which I'm doing in the garage. Well, Boris tries to help while Bella looks around the garage doing risk assessments. She's doing a working at height assessment in this picture.

They're a bit bigger now as they are 18 months old and still banned from the loft so are allowed to help in the garage. I have to cut some hardboard during the next week so I'll need their help then. This time Bella has her eyes on the flowerpot as she's carrying out a trip hazard risk assessment.

Buki doesn't help so much with the layout these days but she can often be found in the shed wanting to help with the gardening, especially hanging baskets. Expect Bella to arrive soon to check she has the correct COSHH paperwork.

The Shug - Pug cross Shitzu. usually found curled up on the sofa or under my feet.

Picture taken with Nokia Lumina mobile phone.

Our cat Fergie is banned from the layout shed she insist on doing a tour of the layout knocking over anything in her way ,, She also likes pruning my home made trees and chewing the copper wire she spits out the foliage and makes a right mess.
Bob

Following on from discussion elsewhere I was going to start a "Show us your pets" thread but then found this one.  So here are Badger (16 year old Jack Russell cross Fell terrier) and Boris (2 year old basset with a bit of beagle thrown in) both ignoring Dad as he is playing with his toy trains again.