Letters

Hello Ian, Di & John,

Well we have had an interesting and challenging week with Jakey. You warned us that he was lively, even boisterous - and we weren’t sure what to expect. When we met him at Ann’s - he certainly was lively, jumping up at everyone and everything, pulling on the lead and generally all over the place. His tail was bandaged and he was wearing his protective collar to stop him chewing at his tail. After a 3 hour drive back, with a couple of stops en route we welcomed Jakey into his new home.

A trip to the vet on Monday morning proved challenging - open surgery at Skeldale (“The Yorkshire Vet”) and the TV company were filming too (watch out for him on the next series). The waiting room was packed and Jakey certainly made his presence known, jumping around and trying to say hello to everyone in the vicinity. New dressing applied and wound all checked and clean, we set off back home.

Jakey is loving his walks, and as the week has progressed we have established the pecking order in the house and he now knows his place. By Friday evening Jakey was much calmer, and he is now much better at greeting us, and strangers with affection, but without the jumping up (most of the time). He still gets very excited at the prospect of a walk, having his harness put on, or when we play with the ball - he is very good at playing fetch! He also loves playing seek and find in the garden, which seems to stimulate his brain, while the long walks chasing after the ball give him the physical exercise he needs.

Just one week in and he has really settled down well, not the lively and boisterous boy we picked up last Sunday. Now just a loving and affectionate pet, a pleasure to be around. We are still working on getting him to sit calmly in a pub garden, but he is certainly much more settled than we could have imagined last week. Here are some photos of Jakey, as I write he is sprawled out sound asleep across Jerry’s lap.

Thanks for introducing us to Jakey! We’ll keep you updated on his progress. He’s back to the vet tomorrow to have his stitches removed.

Lisa & Jerry

Hi Di and Ian,

Hope both well?

As asked little update for you.

After a busy 3 hour journey with Dexter in the front jumping up and down, we made it home and after a week Dexter is starting to settle down and getting into our routine. We have been out on many walks and built up courage to let him lead for first time last week. And blimey what a quick dog. He loved the freedom and chased the birds out of the long grass for what seemed hours. We still got to work on his recall but knows where we are.

Merlin is also starting to play with him but Dexter knows he is the boss.

Hope to get him into gun dog classes next month as he is showing good signs he would be a good dog at this.

Few photos for you and as big files will send in a few separate emails. Will send more updates as we go.

Kind regards

Duncan, Lisa, Merlin and Dexter

Hi Di & Ian,

Just to let you know Fleur is getting on great!

Issues with barking settled within two days and recall is progressing really well :-)

She's a very bright, sweet little girl and she's fitted in so well at home!

Thanks so much for everything again,

Claire & Mike

Hi john and everyone at CAESSR

Just thought we would update you all on how Marley is settling in.

It has been a week since we picked him up from the kennels and he was brilliant in the car coming home. He wasn't sure of our garden on his first day but now runs around it flushing all the birds out of the trees and eating all the heads off my plants ! We had a few sleepless nights at first but he has now settled in really well. He is such a lovely boy and one of the calmest springers we have ever had. We are still having a few mishaps in the kitchen when I get up in the morning he doesn't seem to know "hold it in until I unlock the door" !! But we will get there.

He is having 4 walks a day and he walks lovely on his lead, he is a credit to his previous owners who have trained him not to pull on the lead. We have a few issues when out walking with people that want to stop and talk to him he just growls or barks but he is getting lots of socialising and he is improving daily. He doesn't have any problems when we meet other dogs.

He had his first shampoo in the garden last weekend and he absolutely loved it and he loves being brushed

He is a little thief having had a full cooked chicken in his mouth which he managed to get from the back of the worktop, pinched a pork pie today and has just pinched my daughters toothbrush and then sat showing us his teeth - I think it was the taste of mint that made him pull a funny face .

He has not been left on his own yet so don't know how he will be when home alone as he likes to be close and he follows us everywhere.

He is absolutely lovely and considering being in a strange environment he is behaving remarkably well. We love him to bits.

Thank you

Janice, Paul, Natalie and Emma

Hi all at CAESSR

Thought I would send photo's of Jamie enjoying himself in and around the many of his favourite lakes here in Normandy. He doesn't need any encouragement from us, he's in as soon as he has finished investigating the surroundings - sometimes to cool off - but mostly for the heck of it as he's a good swimmer, not like our 2 previous cocker's who were water shy. Also a photo of him and a French friend on a long and complicated walk which at the end, we didn't know who was most exhausted - humans or animals!

He loves travelling in any vehicle, can be embarrassing if somebody opens their car door - he's not shy to make friends - and is very well behaved normally apart from not really liking children. He seems frightened by them, their sudden movements and noise, seem to worry him so we are careful when walking in public places. He has got used to regular visitors at the house with young ones so there is improvement. We wonder if the previous owners experienced this?

Best wishes

Jennifer, Joseph & Jamie

Hi to all at CAESSR,

We have only had Tilly for one week but she is already totally part of the family. After a very nervous beginning when she wouldn't eat or drink and kept watch on us all the time in case we disappeared, she now joins in everything, loves everyone she meets and every new experience. We haven't had her off the lead yet because of her stitches (they are coming out on Friday), but she has had long walks with us on the lead. Yesterday we took her up into the Berwyn hills and she loved every minute of it. I am attaching some photos for you and will send more in due course.

John and I can't imagine why we ever dithered about having her, she is very very special and will be much loved.

Penny & John

Dear Ian,

As you can see Bonham is in fine health and has grown into a wonderful family companion with bags of character. The picture is typical of him whether in the mountains, rivers or coast where he loves to swim, chase sticks and cones, always returning with a whistle. He is such a well mannered family dog who is impeccably behaved with both young and old and enjoys the company of the family, especially on long walks in the woods, hills and countryside.

Warm regards,

Mark and Linda