I seem to do a lot of apologizing for a late post at the moment but life has a habit of kicking us when we are down at present. This last fortnight has been a tough one and this is a rather sad post though there is a bit of a laugh at the end. Last time I wrote about Chloe, our oldest dog’s, failing health. I am very sorry to say we lost her last Monday following a stroke over night. She hit her head and was obviously disoriented and in distress. We called our vets who were wonderful – so kind, professional and caring. Caroline, the senior vet, came out to us and spent two hours making sure Chloe was as comfortable as possible and passed away gently.

The other two dogs, Cynthia who is Chloe’s daughter and Charlie, her grandson, had a chance to see her and understand what had happened. We have always tried to do this when we lost an animal as it makes it easier for them though both dogs are still looking for her around the house. We have left her bed and blanket down so her scent fades away slowly. Cynthia is fairly stoic but Charlie has taken Chloe’s loss quite hard and needs a lot of extra fuss and attention. He has always wanted to look after the oldies, first Saffy and then Chloe. When they went out he would follow and stand guard and he licked their eyes and ears clean if they let him. He’s now trying to do the same for Cynthia though she’s really not keen yet.

Chloe came to us over ten years ago to have a quiet few years in retirement. If anyone has read “Puppy Brain,” the chapter on Mary Beth’s arrival is based on actual events. Her owner, Claire, adored her but knew she was getting sad and felt left out as she was not going to shows any more. Claire is Cynthia’s breeder and approved with how we had taken her in so suggested we might be a nice home for a few years. “Is there a warm space on your couch?” is how it is normally put. Be warned – it is a real compliment but that is what is actually being asked!

We agreed to try for a few weeks. Who knew we would have ten wonderful years with this character. She settled in, was accepted by Cynthia and our Tibetan Terrier Saffy, even making friends with our cat Trevor. Cynthia accepted the role of alpha dog somewhat reluctantly and when her puppies arrived even scolded Chloe when she tried to take over. This was a good thing, as we don’t think Chloe would have made such a calm and firm leader of the little pack.

A retired show dog, Chloe had taught a number of young handlers the ropes. In fact several years ago one of her “graduates” won the Bitch Challenge Certificate for her breed at Crufts with Chloe’s granddaughter. This year Chloe’s great grandson won the Dog Challenge Certificate so she is the founder of a venerable dynasty. When I was challenged by the dog club to try it myself she steered me skillfully to something acceptable, though not at Crufts of course. As I’m dyspraxic and totally inexperienced I never thought I could get around a ring without tying us both up in the lead but somehow I managed. Thank you, Chloe!

Chloe was slowing down but she still had many of her lovable (and less lovable) habits. For almost eleven years we had to remember to lift the bath mat, as she found it irresistible and peed on it at the slightest opportunity. Nowhere else inside, just the bath mat. She could scent small animals’ burrows and taught Charlie to pee on their doorstep. She would do “zoomies” around the house and loved to run around in the snow and rain before demanding to be dried and lifted onto the couch. For many years she would greet us with a toy when we got back from shopping and she would often try to steal a quick bite from Charlie’s dinner until we fed her in a different room. In contrast she would lift anything she didn’t want out of her own bowl and drop it on the floor in disgust. The house is very quiet now without her claws clicking as she paces around or her shouts whenever she wants to get down, be lifted up or be let out. She had a lovely gappy grin when happy and had recently developed a taste for ice cream. She was an extraordinary and huge personality in a tiny little body.

We have been watching Crufts this weekend and although I’m not a great fan of gun dogs I was quite taken by the Duck Tolling Retriever. I misread the caption and was sure it was actually a Duck Trolling Retriever, and wondered how that worked. Imagine (read this as if spoken by Ray Winston) – “Hello little duck. You are a really ugly little duck you know. No-one likes you. Follow me and meet some nice men with guns…” Ah, the joys of dyslexia.

And it has finally stopped raining so we no longer have to drive into town whilst playing that great winter game “Puddle or Pothole?”

Thank you for reading, I hope you are enjoying this better weather and here’s to the arrival of spring.

Jennie