Jairkingsly Labradors

So, as you might have guessed, Tilly, Poppy, and the ever-growing Lotties had settled into their new routines. Tilly was enjoying her part-time retirement, while the girls eagerly trotted off each morning to work, where each day brought new scents and people to meet. Unfortunately, Lottie’s French Bulldog friend had moved away, leaving her to sit and wait for her return, though she still had her feathered pals to keep her company.

Once a year, for a week, all three girls would go on a little holiday to stay with a lady who ran a dog boarding service. She had four chocolate labs of her own on a small holding. She had looked after Tilly and Poppy before, but now there was Lottie, the youngest of the pack, which ment she had plenty of “aunties” keeping an eye one her. However, Lottie was more interested in some woolly friends. In a small paddock next to the house, there were four sheep, and Lottie immediately took a liking to them. She proceeded to jump over the fence to investigate further, with all her “aunties” and mum watching on. The sheep were quite intrigued by this furry visitor, but after a while, they went back to munching on grass, with Lottie watching intently . I will add at no point were the sheep stressed as had got the ladies eye watching her from the kitchen window.

Every family had their own Christmas traditions, and ours was to buy a tree from our local forest. Ever since our first Christmas with the chocolate labs, we would make the trip, starting with a walk and run around the forest and finishing with a browse for the trees for sale, and if one of the dogs showed a particular interest in a tree, that was the one we bought. This worked well each year until it was Poppy’s turn. For whatever reason, the tree she chose looked which as the time looked lovely, looked like a twig before Christmas had even arrived. Needless to say, the following year, we opted for an artificial tree! Each of the gos received Christmas presents from us and our close family, we even left a gift for Santa and in later years Poppy and Lottie left him a note! We enjoyed Christmas dinner together, making sure their food was the same as ours, with a few exceptions. The rest of our day was spent lounging in front of the TV.

In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, we met a friend who owned a black Labrador called Wilson. He was roughly the same age as Lottie. Our friends were visiting New York and asked if we could look after him. Of course, we said yes, as we hadn’t made any plans. The day came, and Wilson arrived with his crate for sleeping. He walked into the kitchen, and like a flash, Poppy and Lottie were there, sniffing and licking him. The poor thing didn’t know what to do ans promptly jumped onto the windowsill. We coaxed him down and sat him.on my knee, where he took in his surroundings. Ironically it was Tilly who came and nudged him, as if to say, “It’s Okay”, this is the same dog you remember who didn’t get on with other dogs! /shortly after, he was playing with Lottie, and all was well, a new friendship was made. The first night he stayed with us, he wouldn’t settle in or out of his crate. Our dogs had never been crate-trained , so I think he was a little confused. But after going t “work” with the girls he was soon tired at night and slept like a baby. The day arrived for him to go home, his owners asked how much damage he had one. We told them nothing , to which they looked surprised. As Lottie had been with the french bulldog, for days after she looked so sad, I think it was because she missed her playmate. I imagine she felt like she had been dumped by her first boyfriend!

The year ended with me resigning from my job, which only ment one thing: Tilly was staying at home with me full-time. I often think if she could, she would be rubbing her paws together in delight!