The dogs in our lives – Part one!

When Julie was a child she desperately wanted a dog. Her mother wouldn’t allow her to have one as her mother had had bad experiences with dogs that had come into her life, needless to say they were older dogs that had come with baggage.

Julie revelled in helping with her aunts dog, Bobby, very much a Heinz 57,  who had one blue eye and one brown eye. It was a very sad day when Bobby was no longer around.

At the first opportunity after marrying young, their first puppy was purchased, a border collie, perhaps not the best choice of breed for a first dog but certainly an animal that gave  much and taught  much.

His life spanned 15 years and, as far as Julie was concerned, was the baby of the family, Julie never envisaged having children.  So when she found out she was expecting her first child she was filled with apprehension as to how he would accept the child.  That apprehension was totally unfounded.

Julie was fortunate to have a very short stay in hospital and came out the day after giving birth (something unheard of 30 years ago) but that’s her, she never runs within the box!!

After giving a lot of thought on how she would introduce this extra addition to Shep (not a very original name I know) who was 7 years old by this time and very set in his ways, she decided a casual quiet way would be the best.

Julie greeted him in her usual way and then placed the carry cot with the new little baby girl in the centre of the wooden dining table, she then sat quietly nearby and observed.

He used his sense of smell in the first instance, sniffing all around the table, he couldn’t reach the carry cot but made no attempt to raise up on his hind legs to get a better look.  10 – 15 minutes passed perhaps less, with Julie sitting quietly observing and Shep taking in the situation, then the baby made a whimper. He stood stock still and it was a penny dropping moment, almost as if he said to himself ‘Oh! that’s what it is , a little human being!’

Julie knew from that moment that they would have no problem with him, and they never did, their second child arrived 2 years later, again no problem, the children were never left alone with any of the dogs, someone was always with them, but there were never any worries whatsoever.

By the time Sarah arrived Shep had grown very old and was nearing the end of his life, a very hard time, saying goodbye was a hugely difficult task. They then went onto bringing two more dogs into their lives, a little blue Merle border collie x corgi who they named Holly and about a year later, a large black and white border collie who they named Sampson, Sampson’s Father had been the Surrey & Sussex Champion so he came from good stock.  He was great at rounding up the rabbits and chickens, but that’s another blog.

Years passed, life took different turns, Sampson became ill and at the age of 11 needed to go to doggy heaven, a year later Holly was diagnosed with a tumour on her lung and also needed to go to doggy heaven.  It was decided within the family to have a break from having dogs, this didn’t last more than about 3 months.  Walking into an empty house with no dog to greet them was awful, so the decision was made, they would get another dog, but this time they would rescue one as there are so many that need homes.

Then came Leo!!! Read more in the next family blog until then have a great time and take good care of yourselves.