I have my nose, nostrils that twitch and curl, The scent of another dog, it’s a girl, She’s healthy, vital, I can sense, She’s bouncy and young and a little intense, Was she here yesterday? Or was it the day before? The scent has gone away a little bit more, Now my masters hand twitches on my lead, Pulling me away just as I heed….
Ah! and here’s the scent of a man, Old and quite a bit frail, His gait is slow and it drags Slow along the pavement, He’s a bit infirm and his scent is fading So he’s not got long, If I see him I’ll give him a lick A bit of love from my soft tongue, A bit of affection one being to another, So please let me smell, it’s the way I can tell, all about you and the world around us.
The most special dog I ever met Is named Rosco He’s a Lagotto Romagnolo Italian water dog But surprisingly doesn’t much like water!
His scruffy and unkempt Because he is petrified of brushes and combs He likes to prop up walls And scrape himself along Rough walls for scratches His clever solution to not being brushed
He doesn’t like other dogs at all Whether they are tall or small He avoids every one of them all He’s frightened of noise He’s frightened and of bangs
Afraid and timid he’s nervous Stubborn and wilful He likes the beach And is happy to drag you to within it’s reach But then he wants to roll and play And doesn’t want to leave the beach all day
He loves his home He loves to roam Loves his bed and When within it’s reach Will happily drag you back home
When out and about He knows where he is Knows where the car is And will take you back directly
He likes to sleep And he likes to play But will happily sleep the day away He doesn’t want to get up early at all
We wander from place to place At a fast and steady pace To meet new, interesting people And are forced to learn quite steeply
What does this new dog like What do they love and enjoy What tricks should we employ To keep them safe and occupied Amused and oh so satisfied
Do they like to sniff every day Like a ball and quick play Have some soft and favourite toys Some foods that give them joy
What is the house like What do we need to do Where do we find things How does the stove work
What’s around every corner Can we walk safely and alone Taking the dog off the lead Such an important activity to run and go wild daily Just like a small wild child
So dog sitting is our hobby It keeps us active and fit It makes our brain work just a bit Some play golf? Some scrabble We like neither we like a ramble Across the fields, sands and more Each day so different from before
So why do we dog sit you may ask It keeps us busy challenged and sometimes dizzy with laughter too As dogs can be so amusing in what they do
Affectionate and fun our house and dog sitting days will continue, Sometimes we feel they’ve only just begun
We met Duke the Labradoodle for the first time in September 2021 when he was still a very lively mischevious puppy. Into everything and stealing any food, phones, clothes, shoes or anything else he could find. Suffice to say that he could be quite a handful, so when his owner told us she was thinking of getting another Labradoodle as a companion for Duke we were a little hesitant at first. However, the owner quickly persuaded us it was a good idea.
The very next time we went to Wales in summer 2022 to dog sit, we found the new puppy in residence, lovely red Ruby who was just eight months old at the time. Having been introduced properly Duke and Ruby got on very well from the very first day, Duke being very gentle at first with the very small puppy, and then rushing around the house chasing each other and jumping on and off the furniture, which is allowed where they live – lucky dogs. Of course walking and playing in the fields is fantastic for both dogs as they can chase each other till they are tired out and then sleep together when they return home. Ruby although a lot smaller than Duke and still a pup, rules the roost and if Duke gets too boisterous she nips his ankles and steals his bones! He tolerates all of this with great humour, tolerance and forbearance enjoying having someone to play alongside daily.
So as they say in Toy Story when the road looks rough ahead, you’ve got a friend. It turns out the owner was right of course and getting Duke a friend was and is indeed the best thing she could have done. It has improved Duke and the owners life immeasurably to have little Ruby join the family, she has indeed made it a warm and welcoming home, she’s always ready to cuddle and to play any time of day or night.
We enjoy looking after these two boisterous dogs and usually take them out walking once or twice a day which keeps us fit and them exercised. They love to swim in the rivers, play on the beach and walk on the cliff sides in Wales. Recently Duke spotted an Adder which luckily enough didn’t bite him as he jumped away quickly, he immediately turned round to see if Ruby was safe, which she was. So he is protective of her as well as enjoying her friendship and play. Two dogs can indeed be easier to look after than one, especially if mischevious and in need of stimulation.
We’ve looked after lots and lots of Labradors but none so sweet, loving and eager to please as the lovely Ella.
She’d start each and every day, after her breakfast, of course, by lying flat out tummy upwards to the sun, rolling around, eagerly lapping up the suns rays. Then quietly wait by our sides for a walk, just longingly looking into our eyes from time to time lest we forgot she’s there! Eager to walk she might pull on her lead, just a little, at the beginning of the walk but once there, she’s off the lead running freely, finding somewhere to sniff and to submerge her body in the canal, then she’s the happiest dog alive. A forest walk is her delight sniffing the flowers, scents and herbs along the way and looking far and wide at the scenery. Well behaved and quiet she’s welcomed by everyone we met, whether it’s at a winery, cafe, restaurant or in the little shops, she travels well in the back of the car and loves, like most dogs, to be included in everything we did.
Ella loves to play ball and will seek out old manky balls wherever we went as well as search long and hard for balls in the garden when hidden for her. She missed her natural vocation as a lifeguard because every single time I went swimming in the basin she stood by watching carefully that I didn’t drown, never straying from my side the entire time I was in the pool.
Ella is a throughly delightful Labrador and we throughly enjoyed looking after her in the French Alpilles.
Eadie is a four year old Maltipoo, and the very first Maltipoo we’ve looked after and got to know throughly. She’s a sweet gentle natured dog who is also quite feisty when it comes to walks and bigger dogs, which she definitely doesn’t bow down to. A big dog in a little tiny body Eadie has a lot of spirt. She pulls on the lead and wants to walk faster and faster with a great deal of energy for such a small dog, and a surprisingly big appetite especially for chicken which she adores. After a walk and usually a bath, as she’s white and it never stopped raining so she was generally brown or black after her walk, she’s more than happy to watch the people pass by at the window and go crazy when anyone resembling a postman or anyone in a hi-vis jacket passes by. She sleeps in her crate by the bed but as she’s a cuddly girl she loves a morning lie in and a long leisurely cuddle in bed. We were very taken with Eadie Rockets and I wrote a little poem in her honour here it is –
She flies through the air With the greatest of ease After a ball or a toy How ever it pleases
She wakes up each day To think just of play She’s happy to cuddle And loves a mucky puddle
She licks and greets Everyone she meets Loving all dogs and people alike She never takes fright
Whether big dogs or little She’ll greet them all With a wide open mouth and a long curly tail
And wriggling around Her joy is profound At everything she’s found Whether in the air or on the ground
Cairn terrier Lettice is a six year old small white dog and is a very calm, collected lady. We had never looked after a Cairn terrier before and found her to be an absolute treasure. She’d happily sleep in the lounge on top of the settee watching the world go by. If anyone comes to the house she does let you know with a very soft gentle bark.
She loves her walks and picking up sticks for you to throw and would occasionally let you know that you must throw the stick! On one occasion we took her to the beach which she throughly enjoyed racing around in the sand. A lover of people and other dogs alike she’ll happily sit by your feet or on your lap if your out and about. For those of you on the look out for a calm, peaceful, loving dog I’d definitely recommend a Cairn terrier especially if they are all like little Lettice.
1 Mar 2026
0 CommentsMinka
Making all the people I see smile, is my life’s true purpose
Including all who pass me by to stop and stay awhile makes me oh so joyous
Nothing ever really upsets me but bells and blasts make me oh so very nervous
Kindness is my moto and I’m so gentle to all
Abundant, soft and fury I’m Minka the Aussiedoodle