change is not always as good as a rest
by Nottsbess from Meadowpark (Bess)

Happy 1992 - that's what Mum says to everybody, so I suppose it's expected.

1991 has been 'different'. The Rachel-puppy I told you about last year has changed into a human now - two legs and tit-bits and no grabby hands - that's quite an improvement I must say. It even says my name properly, and lots of other things too.

The old familiar routine of my year first changed when we went round to DebnDave's on one of our weekly visits, and my old pal Gypsy wasn't there. Raff and I really missed her for a long time, but she didn't come back - Mum knows more than she is saying.

Then one day, one awesome unforgettable day, we went and there was a new puppy - a real, four-legged, fuzzy, doggy-type puppy! I'm afraid I went to pieces, I just didn't know how to cope - when a little thing like that throws itself at you do you move aside, or squash it? No-one had prepared me for this, and I reckoned I'd be in trouble if I squashed it, so I kept out of its way. Hattie, they called her - mad as a Hattie, I said, and a few other choice things besides under my breath. Poor old Raff, he had to live with her, and after he had only just finished training the Rachel-puppy too. This one had much sharper teeth, and she was rougher. She had no manners whatsoever, ate anything that wasn't nailed down (and some things that were) and played like a Sumo wrestler. Raff and I agreed that we were never like that.

I got used to her after a bit - I suppose you get used to anything - but the first time I bounced back she squeaked and rolled over - then bit my leg, cheeky little b**ch! (Well, she is!)

She's nearly a year old now - some said she'd never make it - and as big as Raff. He, poor lad, has just about given up on her, lets her walk all over him, big soft thing that he is. She's a tiny weeny bit more sensible, I think; easier to play with, too, being bigger. I'm not afraid of squashing her now, it's more the other way round, even though I'm nearly eight stone.

I still think they named her wrong, Scatty Hattie would be far more suitable - tell me, do Golden Retrievers ever settle down?

January 1992

Home - Authors -Index - Previous story (Jan 91) - Next story (May 93) - Links - Bernese Books

Other dog shopping - Awards - Old Guest Book - New Guest Book - Contact - Webrings