Letters

Photos of Belle relaxing and enjoying garden.

She has settled well and is much loved. She has walks in forest or countryside each morning,socialising most days and lead work nearby each evening. She is extremely lively.We have started to work on aggression with dogs problem. She is ok with calm dogs but lively dogs set her off.Some work with a friend who runs a dog club seems to suggest she doesn't know the difference between playfulness in dogs and aggression. I'm sure calm,patient work will soon improve things. She has bonded well with me and is becoming increasingly responsive in training. It's a shame she was left living with her daughter for 2 years but we are so glad you matched her with us as we have the experience to give her a happy,fulfilled life and she gives us so much pleasure.

Best regards,

Rosalyn

Went, accompanied by our eleven year old , very laid back, large rescued Springer dog, Bramble, to be met by a whirlwind of fur and energy.

After a short walk, we left with two Springers in the back of the car. Finding a near-by nature park, we took them for a walk, Molly on a long lead, Bramble free to stretch his legs after a long journey. Reaching home, Molly tore round the garden, then flew into the house, and came out seconds later with a ball from the dog's toy box. Quickly realising that Molly wouldn't go far if we had a ball,, we grabbed a few dog treats, and headed for local fields. where both dogs were taken off leads. No problems. Without ball or treats, Molly stayed close.

Bedtime - We forgot the warning that Molly didn't like going into the kitchen at night, and she ran into the lounge with Bramble to eat her dentastik, then disappeared under the sideboard. Coaxing and treats were met with growls and barred teeth. In desperation I made a loop in her lead, and the minute it touched her neck, Mollie got up like a lamb and walked with me into the kitchen, straight to the bed I'd shown her earlier.

We have had no problem since. She has her chew, then takes herself to the kitchen, and into her bed.

Next morning, the dogs went to local lakes, where Molly had an unexpected swim when she went for a paddle and the water suddenly deepened. We have had no cause to keep her on the lead from the first day.

Never still, Molly loves sticks in the woods, regularly carrying four in her mouth, and last week a record five, and there are balls everywhere in the house and garden. The other day, she managed two tennis balls in her mouth. Pity that she still rarely gives sticks and balls back to us, thinking it great fun to offer, then turn her head away at the last second.

A week after collecting her, we took both dogs to the kennels, and had Molly trimmed, which made her seem smaller than ever. With long hair and knots gone, a two inch scar was revealed, at the side of a lump on the back of Molly's neck, but the vet assured us, neither is a problem.

A bundle of fun, loved by everyone who meets her, Molly is firmly established in the household. She squirms around on her back, in utter contentment, much to our amusement, constantly ready for a stroke or tummy - rub from anyone with a free hand.

Very small, very cuddly, acting like a three year old, I call her "My little Dolly Dog"

We are so glad that we broke our own decision not to rescue until we came back from holiday. Molly was fine in kennels, where everyone thought she was lovely. She is such a happy little dog, and whilst she and Bramble seem to ignore each other, there has never been the slightest hint of a dispute between them, and they frequently lie together on the rug which Bramble took over when he arrived.

Thank you for letting us have Molly,

Yours,

Margaret and Michael

Hi Ian/Di

Just a quick email to let you now that Buddy is getting on really well and seems to have settled in extremely well. He has been out at least twice every day so is getting plenty of exercise and his recall off the lead is generally very good. He is extremely affectionate and seems to love human company – settling in well not only with me but also a number of friends and family members. He has also spent some time with other dogs (sprocker spaniel, cocker spaniel and shih tzu) and I have had no issues with this either.

All in all he seems very happy and he has certainly brought me lots of joy!

I know that you said his previous owner was asking how he was doing so please feel free to pass this on along with the attached photo (taken yesterday). If you could also pass on my thanks to them for training him that would be very much appreciated – it has certainly made my job much easier!

Kind regards

Simon

Good Morning Ian,

Everything is fine here, Jake has settled in really well and we couldn`t have wished for a better behaved boy. One small accident on the first night but that was to be expected as it was all new to him and us so the nerves maybe got the better of him. He has been to the coast but didn`t get in for a paddle. He loves the local woods and walks and has had a visit to the local Groomer for a trim. He does pull on the lead but patience and perseverance should hopefully pay off. He loves going in the car as I`m sure he knows at the end of the short journey he gets to run free and meet other dog`s. All the other Spaniels in the village meet and greet him on the walks and the local Cat`s know there is a new boy on the block.

Pass on our regards to all.

Thanks again.

Regards Dave

Hiya all at Caessr!!

Just sending a couple of photos of our wonderful Basil who's been part of our family now since we adopted him from you one year ago on Wednesday!! He celebrated his eleventh birthday two weeks ago which we celebrated down in Wales yet again!

As you can see from the pictures, he doesn't let his age get the better of him! Wish I had a fraction of his energy! He puts heart and soul into everything he does!

Everyone he meets falls in love with him, and every day I count my blessings that I'm the lucky one who adopted him!

He certainly is one in a million and thank you so much for getting us together!!! It truly was love at first sight!!

Hilary

Dear Ian, Di and all the lovely people at CAESSR,

We thought it was high time we let you know how Bailey (adopted in March 13) and Ria (Fostered in November 14) are doing. Bailey is an amazing, loving, bouncy, noisy, adorable cocker spaniel, who loves his food, long walks and cuddling up on an evening, we cannot imagine life without him, thank you so much for allowing us to have him.

Ria is a little poppet, who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? She walks beautifully on the lead (she had never had a lead on, and was very frightened to start with), gives a paw for a treat, and copes with cars and traffic now really well - I don't think she had ever seen cars, bless her. She is still a nervous, worried little dog, but has come on in leaps and bounds, and is so loving and obedient. Her health has not been too good the last few weeks, we knew she had had a double Mammary strip just before we got her - her blood tests are now showing bone marrow suppression, and she has blood in her urine. The vet prescribed strong antibiotics, and she is eating and drinking and wagging her tail. She has been x-rayed and scanned, and they are clear. We have our fingers crossed for her, and she is being carefully monitored. It is a pleasure and an honour to give her a home, and we will do the very best we can for her, for as long as she has with us.

The photo attached was taken on the moors near us a couple of months ago, would it be suitable for the calendar please?

Many thanks, best wishes and love

from Mark, Pam, Bales and Ria xxxx

Hello again

The months are flying by and summer has finally arrived!!

No more wet towels, muddy paws and that doggy odour which fills the house, (so I’ve been told)!!

In May we went on holiday to North Norfolk where we stayed in a beautiful cottage which was surrounded by meadows. The living room had patio doors facing onto the meadows and, one evening, I was fascinated by the strange looking creatures which were flying back and forth. Mum told me they were bats, which didn’t mean a lot to me, but they were fun to watch.

We had some lovely walks through the countryside and, as usual, my nose remained on the ground where I sniffed to my heart’s content!! The nearest dog friendly beach was just two miles away, and it was lovely being able to scamper around feeling sand beneath my paws. I even managed to summon the confidence to paddle a little in the sea, although I avoided the waves!! I actually barked at the incoming tide in the hope that the waves would go away and the sea would become calmer; maybe I thought I was King Canute of the dog world!!

This morning Mum and I were in the garden and she decided to take some strawberries off the strawberry plant, big mistake!! I saw her lift the netting which protected them from birds, (and me), then when she went indoors I put my head underneath and pinched one!! When she returned to the garden she knew that I had been cheeky due to my strawberry snout. I certainly know how to wrap her around my paws!!

You will see from the attached photos that I have a new chum whose name is Tarka. He belongs to our neighbour and we happily bimble along together on our walks. My nose is always buried in the leaves trying to forage for tasty morsels, whilst Tarka delights in chasing squirrels who inevitably avoid him by scampering up a tree.

I have been told that, due to my exhuberant nature, I shall be attending agility classes from next month!! I am not sure what that will entail but apparently there will be a range of courses, (does that mean food courses)!! for me to jump over and go through. Sounds too much like hard work to me but I do like to please my parents!!

Anyway, there is movement in the kitchen which only means one thing, dinnertime!

Cheerio for now

Love Mia xx

Hi Di & Ian

We went to a fun dog show in Bircham Newton on Sunday July 5th.

We put Tilly and Lucy in for a few categories, and to our delight, Tilly got a First in the best looking bitch class, and a Third in the veterans class, Lucy got a third in the Family class. Photo of the proud two attached.

A good day was had by all and the two of them and us are still recovering.

Tilly is still doing ever so well despite her loss of sight and hearing problems. We now have a bell on her collar so we can keep track of her in the gardens.

Hope you have a good summer, Lucy & Tilly certainly are.

All the best

Alan

Hi Ian and Di

It is now just over 2 years we have had the pleasure of looking after Lucy. She has such a wonderful temperament and is currently laying at the side of me watching me type, I keep getting a paw tap on my arm for a bit more fuss.

Lucy has been on her travels again in the caravan, (Kidderminster, for walks along the Rivers Severn, Stour and Shropshire canal, Huntingdon, by the River Gt Ouse, and have just returned from a 4 week tour around Cornwall right down to Lands end.)

She has had a wonderful time running around dogs permitted beaches, jumping into rock pools and sandy bays. She met other friendly dogs and they played together for some time. The beach looked like a JCB had run-a-muck. Lucy went to the dog groomers when we got home, they said she made the bath all sandy.

We are going to Northumberland coast in a few weeks time so Lucy will be on the beach again. She knows when we are getting ready to go out in the caravan, she takes her toys in as we are loading the caravan.

Thank you for her appearance in the CAESSR Calendar (December) our friends all like the photos of the Spaniels in the calendar.

Lucy still has her twice a year check up at the vets and they say she is in good health and has a lovely glossy coat. She has long walks in the National Forest that surrounds use and loves looking for rabbits etc.

Best Wishes

Andy Jan & Lucy