I have loved dogs for as long as I can remember, and dogs have loved me. Most days, I came home from school with a dog in tow. Despite begging my parents to let me keep one, they constantly refused until I was 14 years old.
My parents promised I could have a dog if I raised the money from doing a paper round, and that is what I did to pay for my first puppy, Kara, an 8-week-old German Shepherd.
I didn’t do the worst job training Kara. She turned out okay, apart from a pulling habit.
After that came Carrie, a tiny Shetland Sheepdog. Later, Penny, a wonderful liver and tan Doberman pup, joined us.
A year after Carrie died at 14.5, I got my first adolescent rescue dog, Cassie, a labrador/whippet. Her story is one I will save for a blog post, as it was an incredible tale and a beautiful journey with the dog who became my ally through life.
Minnie, a 2-year-old rescue whippet joined me and Cassie.
Then, I met David in 2002, who became my fiancé in 2004, and we added Ellie to our family, a rescue labrador cross collie.
The next dog in 2011 was the one who changed my path. Poppy was a 7-month-old black Weimaraner Cross rescue. Her reactive behaviour wasn’t immediately apparent as we lived in a small village and didn’t see many people when out walking.
Poppy’s behaviour was extreme. Her trigger distance was around 300’, where she would lunge and bark loudly.
I tried the services of local trainers but they had no idea how to manage Poppy’s behaviour.
Mostly, they knew how to teach a dog basic behaviours but weren’t able to advise on modifying and rehabilitating a dog that was fearful, lacking confidence, impulsive, reactive and out of control.
Poppy was a big dog and pulled me onto the ground three times. After I broke my ribs, I decided enough was enough and started training as a dog behaviourist with Sarah Whitehead of Think Dog.
I won’t go into the entire story here because I plan to write a blog post about Poppy. The effects of the training were transformational and positively changed my relationships with dogs forever.
In 2013 came Pepper, a English Setter/Pointer from a Spanish rescue. She was David’s girl. Then Luna joined us in April 2015. Luna is a pointer cross from Cyprus. I got her because she looked so much my Cassie in the photo online.
I lost David in a cycling accident in 2020, and our four dogs were my anchors. I would never have gotten through it without them, especially Poppy, who kept me laughing with her comical antics.
Many people let me down and abandoned me when I most needed support.
My dogs never disappointed me and hung in even when I sat howling on the floor with grief. That’s why I openly admit to preferring dogs to most people.
I lost Poppy tragically in October 2021.
In 2024, I have two dogs remaining, Pepper (12) and Luna (10). I’ve been walking local dogs for a few years and recently began offering behavioural services and dog sitting. So, here I am, ready to meet some new dogs.
Every reactive dog I help is my legacy to Poppy. I will love her forever and remember her as the most frustrating dog that shared life with me, but the dog that lassoed my heart forever.