adventures

'Lucy and the Glass Door'

Lucy unlike Honey has less than perfect eyesight and the only way to get anywhere is at lightening speed because there could be food involved! One sunny day as she was doing her patrol of the garden, nose down, ears dragging and hoovering up every spare bit of dew and leaves whilst in search of food, she heard the ‘biscuit tin’ rattle, ears flying, tail waggling she launched herself towards the house and straight into the glass patio door. With a yelp of surprise she tried again -

‘Biscuits but something is stopping me getting to them’

Alarm added to her yelps - rushing to her rescue and opening the door a rather sad little lady limped in. She still doesn’t know what a glass door is so it is vigilance rather than Lucy’s eyesight which prevents further squashed noses!

Dribbles and Matthew’s Revenge

Dribbles was a very shy scardy cat, after being mistreated for the first 5 years of her life she was rescued by Emily and led a very sheltered existence in Emily’s room where she had her food, toilet tray and a comfortable bed with Emily to protect and love her.

One day whilst Emily was away at University her brother was sleeping in her room. Now Matthew loved Dribbles but got rather fed up with her taking her ‘toilet’ in the morning then shooting out of a rather smelly litter tray into his bed, snuggling under the covers leaving Matthew to gasp for air!!!! This was the day he decided to get his revenge, patiently waiting for Dribbles to finish her ‘toilet’ and dive under his covers he took his revenge by making his own rather obnoxious smell under the covers where Dribbles was just relaxing to go to sleep!!!

Honey learns to ski!

It was the first time Honey had ever encountered snow. Delicately lifting her paws one after the other she stepped carefully up the steps to the garden flinching each time she sank into the snow. Shaking her head and ears at the snow flakes falling around her and a quick inspection with her tongue revealed it was cold but mmm tasty. Honey then proceeded to carry out her usual inspection of the garden, check for pigeons, eat some more of this new white stuff, when she saw her sister Lucy making a dash for the kitchen. Deciding this was the call for food she launched herself in hot pursuit of her sister towards the steps. One thing Honey didn’t know was that snow needs care when walking in it! Her paws had barely touched the top step when her brakes failed her. Sitting in an attempt to stop moving she only succeeded in travelling faster down the steps and on into the house wall! Crash!!!! Not the most dignified way to go for breakfast but with a shake of her body and flick of her long fluffy tail, a quick covert inspection to see if anyone had noticed, she carefully proceeded into the house.

Sophie and the Bumble Bee

Sophie like all cavaliers loves to investigate everything - one of her favourite pastimes being smelling flowers! One particularly hot summer’s day she was even more zealous than usual investigating and smelling the flowers when with a great big yelp she came running indoors and proceeded to wail pitifully. Whatever was wrong? She was acting as if she was dying, the cries got louder and more heartfelt. I held her face and noticed her nose was growing! No not Pinocchio style but getting fatter and fatter. The little black button now represented a small black golf ball! Looking even more carefully there was the offender - a bee sting right on the very tip! Carefully removing it her cries turned to soft whimpers, her lovely brown eyes imploring me to tell her what had happened. A quick trip to the vets and with one of the painful injections which needed another cry and cuddle she finally started to quiet down - then complete silence and recovery - the cookie jar was opened!

The Lamb Bone!

Now anyone who knows Cavaliers well knows they are naturally very gentle and not aggressive or given to biting, unless accidentally at play. That is until ‘The Lamb Bone’.

Lizzie and her sister Sophie were as gentle as Cavaliers come, expecting everyone they met to pet them and they in return would let their ears be snuggled or offer the odd lick. They had never growled at anyone or anything - until ‘The Lamb Bone’.

Sunning themselves in the garden Matthew decided to let them share the lamb bone that was left over from dinner. With wagging tails they approached the object being offered, noses twitched and then they changed….. Bristling with anger they both wanted possession of the bone exclusively. Sophie clamped her teeth on the bone and Lizzie in frustration clamped her teeth into Sophie’s ear. Fur started flying and Matthew decided he had better intervene and remove the offending lamb bone. This was the final straw for Lizzie still denied a portion of the bone, she clamped her teeth into Matthew’s thumb and Sophie in turn bit Lizzie’s tail. Matthew ran into the house with the bone and 2 dogs dangling from it in mid air! Finally some cold water made them lose their grip and they growled and hovered waiting to get ‘The Lamb Bone’ again. But we had learnt our lesson and the bone went into the bin. Gentle loving cavaliers reappeared after a biscuit and talking too - we have never offered a lamb bone again!

Lizzie Takes an Unexpected Swim

Ahhh... this move to the country was suiting Lizzie so well, walks without the lead, so many new smells and exciting places to investigate in true ‘Cavalier’ fashion. She could run and chase with her sister Sophie to her hearts content! Suddenly she came upon a road with lovely green grass on one side. Not the usual sort of road but her owners were calling her but Lizzie decided this was all too much fun and pretend she couldn’t hear them. Chase! They were running after her telling her to come to heel but this was too much fun, she would just have one more run on that bright green grass then she would go back. SPLASH! Lizzie came struggling up - she was swimming, how on earth could that be? What Lizzie had thought was grass was blanket weed covering a rather deep and smelly pond. Luckily her owners pulled her out and feeling very silly, smelly (which was nice) and wet Lizzie trotted home on her lead for the first time looking forward to her bath!

Lizzie’s Mom

Meet Lizzie’s Mom 'Lara'. Yes, alright, I am sure you have noticed that she is quite a lot larger than Lizzie, and yes she is a Labrador - but try telling that to Lizzie! 6 weeks old and a bundle of fluff Lizzie arrived in our house with her sister Sophie, they were frightened, cold and scared. Where was their Mom, their brother’s and sister’s, their comfy basket? Enter Lara, quiet and gentle Lara, who walked over to the two scared puppies and offered a comforting lick and a big wag of her tail.

“Ah” thought Lizzie “security!”

From that day on Lizzie decided Lara was her Mom! She ran to her when she was scared, needed a wash or just to play and Lara was more than happy to help! So whilst you may think that they are rather strange it just goes to show as long as your Mom loves you that’s all that matters!

Lara's Story

Lara was chosen at birth to be one of those lucky Labradors whose mission in life is to be a guide dog. Born of sweet hardworking parents she adapted to her training programme really well - then the ‘problem’ arose. Sadly not a little problem that could be overcome, but a big problem, that no matter how hard she tried she could not get over. Lara was afraid of traffic! She knew all the correct way of walking, ignored everyone unless she was told to or she was at play, pooped only on very rough ground to the side of paths - she would have put it in her own doggie bag if her paws would have let her! But when it came to the roads hers knee’s started to knock and instead of leading she lagged behind, trying to shelter behind anyone’s legs that would let her! Day after day, week after week her trainers gently persuaded her to walk near the roads and traffic but it was to no avail - her birth certificate was stamped…

Lara - Reject!!!!!

But all is not lost… Lara was found a very happy home and became ‘Mom’ to Lizzie and Sophie, she is still afraid of traffic but it doesn’t matter anymore!

Lucy has a crisis!

Lucy as you may know is a retired ‘champion’, having done very well in competition, her breeder decided to let her retire after having several puppies - also aimed for stardom. She had led a pampered existence and no-one ever passed her without giving her a pat and some praise, she was beautiful - and she knew it. She wasn’t bigheaded - but having won CC’s it was a fact!

But retirement - oh dear no-one had prepared her for this. First it was a new home and owners! Then walks and playing but no ring walking, no being inspected, no praise or admiration - what had happened. Lucy fell into a deep depression, head on her paws, eyes brown and sorrowful she starting crying. It was only a little whimper at first, but then she liked the sound and added a quiver in her voice, then some very heartfelt loud yaps. This she decided would keep her occupied all day and night! Her owners thought different!

Enter the ‘Lady to make you happy’! The lady came into the house and Lucy watched from under the table curious as she knew they were talking about her as they kept looking at her. There were tuts and smiles, paper and some interesting smelling objects being passed around. Yes, you’ve guessed, she was a dog behaviourist, and she spotted straight away that Lucy needed a new goal in life!

First it was the ‘Kong’s’ filled with titbits and lovely creamy stuff which Lucy adored and spent ages trying to get all the bits out. Then a few days later the cup with a bit of carrot underneath, Lucy loved pushing this around the floor until the juicy bit of carrot came out. Next came the treasure hunt, her owner was in the garden and dropping bits of biscuits, rushing out with Honey hot on her heels, Lucy began searching and finding all the little bits of biscuit.

Finally Lucy felt happy and no longer wanted to cry all the time. But more was to come, deciding to have a sleep in her room a few days later she noticed a lovely comforting smell, like puppies and warm milk, Lucy didn’t know it was a diffuser giving the comforting smell she only knew at last she was totally happy and busy again!

Lucy and the new coat

Lucy loved walking and meeting new people and friends, but she hated the rain. Rain made her beautiful white patches on her coat and paws dirty! Her ears got wet and then they hurt when she was combed and worst of all she hated being cold! Honey would rush out for walks no matter what the weather but Lucy decided enough was enough and she was going to put her paw down and go on strike - wet or cold - she would not walk.

Her owner at a loss to make Lucy walk decided there was only one answer - the dog suit! Sophie had loved her waterproof suit when her arthritis had got bad and cold days made her back ache. Philly likewise enjoyed her suit when her arthritis made her legs ache, it kept them warm and dry. So Lucy was made her own waterproof suit, pretty in pink - Lucy chose it herself!

At first Lucy wasn’t too sure, the rustling sound worried her and the fabric made her walk stiff legged, then she noticed Honey was wearing a coat in green that flattered her lovely red hair. Lucy looked down at herself and noticed how good her fur looked next to the pink and taking a step outside stopped suddenly - it was raining! About to sit down and refuse to walk Lucy noticed she wasn’t getting wet and the wind wasn’t making her cold! Setting off after Honey she realised why her owner had put this suit on her and how glad she was, no more wet and dirty fur and ears, she could walk at anytime and still stay beautiful and warm!!

Honey and the Television

When Honey is relaxing with a nice chew or biscuit filled Kong there is nothing she likes better than to watch the television at the same time. Unfortunately Honey hasn’t realised it is a television and is convinced it is a window to the outside world. Any animal on the screen sends her scurrying round the back of the television and when she can’t find anything she returns to the screen and barks at it loudly! This is Honey’s other problem - as she is deaf she can’t hear herself bark and therefore she yaps then squeaks! When we laugh with amusement she turns indignantly to face us as if demanding what is so funny. One day she may get lucky and find a tiger or elephant behind the television - but I don’t think it will be for a very long time!