Jairkingsly Labradors

Tilly was living her best life with hydrotherapy sessions galore, now that she had the pool all to herself. I had cut my working hours to three days a week, and wouldn’t you know it, Tilly decided her workweek would match mine too! She’d hide behind the chair, trying to avoid my husband and Poppy as they headed out for the day.

One sunny day, I decided to clean my car- a rare event indeed! 😂 With our large wrap-around driveway, I parked at the front to access the water tap and then moved to the side for electricity. Over the hedge, I heard a lady chatting away, probably to her dog or child, saying “You’re beautiful, aren’t you? Just out for a little walk.” I went inside, and Tilly was basking in the sun. Each time I checked on her, she was happily sunbathing. But then, she vanished! I panicked, checked the house, and there she was, lounging in the neighbour’s garden at the bottom of our road, clearly chasing the sun. I called her back and in true Tilly fashion, she took her sweet time. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was the one the lady was talking to! I caught her again trying to escape, but she wagged her tail as if she was checking on my car-cleaning progress.

A similar escapade happened with both Tilly and Poppy. The side gate blew open in strong winds, and Tilly kept nudging me as if to say, “Let’s go outside!” I told her the door was open, but she’d leave and return moments later. She did this repeatedly until I got up, onl to find she was alerting me to the open gate! I praised her, and both she and Poppy were safely in our garden. Our security cameras later revealed they had enjoyed some freedom before Tilly’s intervention. I must stress, theses were isolated incidents; our dogs’ safety is always a priority.

Tilly bacame my constant companion, from the weekly shop to car trips – she was always by my side.

Poppy, on the other hand, was still dealing with phantom pregnancy issues. Our vet suggested two options: spaying or having a littler of puppies. Since she was a show dog, spaying meant she couldn’t compete anymore. We consulted the breeder, who recommended a litter. The decision was made: a litter it was! 🙀

We chatted with the3 breeder, knowing her reputation for breeding Labradors, with Poppy being a prime example. Before proceeding, Poppy needed her hips, elbows and eyes scored by a vet to predict any future issues. The appointment was set, and if you know anything about Poppy, nothing is ever straightforward! She was given a small dose of anaesthetic for her X-rays, and the vet said they would return within a few minutes to let it work before walking her across. Turns out, Poppy had fallen into a deep sleep, so the only way to get her there was by stretcher! I can only imagine what the waiting room thought of her! Her X-rays went well, but waking Poppy was another adventure. She continued her deep slumber, and after several checks and about 30 minutes, she finally woke up!

With Poppy’s results in hand, it was time to find a suitable sire for her puppies.