Memoriam
This page is dedicated to those companions who are no longer with us and who were loved and are now missed.
This page is dedicated to those companions who are no longer with us and who were loved and are now missed.
Bonnie
Dawsholm Gowden Rose
"19th September 2003 to 11th June 2017"
Dawsholm Gowden Rose
"19th September 2003 to 11th June 2017"
My beautiful Bonnie died peacefully in my arms at home in June 2017 having woken me up with a short bark in the early hours. She was a fabulous Dandie who had good looks, intelligence, loyalty and humour. We did a bit of everything together: showing, KC GC Bronze, Silver & Gold awards, more advanced combined training levels, agility, a bit of dancing, tracking, demonstrations and rally. She was even eager to train in her last week on this earth. She was my first Dandie that I bred from and luckily I have her daughter and granddaughter.
She was very much top dog in the pack but she exercised her power with a gentle touch. She had a real presence and other dogs would give her the space and respect she expected. She was standoffish with strangers but over exuberant with friends and family.
Above all she was the most loyal and loving companion whom I love very much. I miss her dreadfully and the house is quiet without her but I have wonderful memories and she is remembered every day and those memories always make me smile. She was a dog in a million.
Run free my beautiful golden girl.
"From fairest creatures we desire increase,
That thereby beauty's rose might never die."
She was very much top dog in the pack but she exercised her power with a gentle touch. She had a real presence and other dogs would give her the space and respect she expected. She was standoffish with strangers but over exuberant with friends and family.
Above all she was the most loyal and loving companion whom I love very much. I miss her dreadfully and the house is quiet without her but I have wonderful memories and she is remembered every day and those memories always make me smile. She was a dog in a million.
Run free my beautiful golden girl.
"From fairest creatures we desire increase,
That thereby beauty's rose might never die."
Tilly
Needwood Tittle Tattle
"9th March 1999 to 29th August 2013"
Needwood Tittle Tattle
"9th March 1999 to 29th August 2013"
Tilly was my first Dandie and made me love the breed. She was a great character with a strong sense of humour. She made us smile every day with her little ways - her favourite trick was to distract the other dogs when there were potential treats in the offing. She would set herself up as if ready to tear around the garden or the house and then just move her shoulders at which point all the others would take off. She would wander across to us as if to say "I’ll have mine and theirs, thanks". She had an energetic stride but it didn’t cover much ground until the day at training she was sluggish and our trainer produced fresh liver cake and suddenly we had a super-charged dog. She was very, very bright and would always happily do an exercise twice then down tools and who could blame her really? She had a wonderful last day on this earth, enjoying treats and activities and her favourite meal. 5 minutes after eating she wandered out into the garden and I just knew so shouted for my husband and we were with her on the lawn as she passed away with me stroking her.
She was a great dog, much loved and much missed.
How all her care was but to be fair,
And all her task to be sweet.
Sir William Watson
How all her care was but to be fair,
And all her task to be sweet.
Sir William Watson
Emma
"Our girl from June 1992 to May 2004"
"Our girl from June 1992 to May 2004"
Emma was a stunningly beautiful silver grey tabby cat who came with our house! When we first moved in, visitors would comment on our beautiful cat to which we would say "but we don't have one". Then one evening as dusk was falling I saw this ghostly shadow coming down the drive. At first, we could not handle her as she was almost wild but over the years she calmed down. She was a fabulous hunter and regularly brought in rabbits that she had caught and these were often as big as she was. When we first brought the Yorkies home, she was horrified but decided that she wasn´t moving out and stayed in the house until a pecking order had been established. When our first Dandie puppy arrived, she was more resigned to the change. She adored Tilly and tried to teach her to hunt (with no success) and loved flying across the garden so that Tilly chased her. Emma, the cat, was definitely "top dog".
Well over 14 years old, she developed a tumor on the side of her mouth and eventually we had to have her put down.
Well over 14 years old, she developed a tumor on the side of her mouth and eventually we had to have her put down.
Even now as the sun sets I get a glimpse of a silver shadow walking down the drive to greet me.
"Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?"
Milton
"Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?"
Milton
Polly
"Our girl from 1996 to 20 January 2004"
"Our girl from 1996 to 20 January 2004"
Polly was a pretty little palomino Welsh pony that was on loan to us from the International League for the Protection of Horses (I.L.P.H.). She had been rescued along with 20 other ponies that were in a horrendous condition and was one of only 2 animals that survived. She did her job as companion to my other horses so well. She was a gentle soul who gave us undemanding companionship and affection every day.
We miss her very much.
"Green be the turf above thee
Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee
Nor named thee but to praise";
Fitz-Greene Halleck
"Green be the turf above thee
Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee
Nor named thee but to praise";
Fitz-Greene Halleck
Lucy
My Special Girl "14 October 1991 to 4 May 2005"
My Special Girl "14 October 1991 to 4 May 2005"
Lucy was a gorgeous dog. She played second fiddle to her litter sister, Katy all her life. She was very sensitive and liked a quiet existence. She came to us as a rescue dog when she was not quite 5 years old and at first she found affection and being stroked very difficult to accept. She slowly became the most loving and affectionate companion. Her favourite time was at breakfast when she lay in my lap and nodded off as the crumbs from my toast landed on her tummy. She was always near to me whatever - if I was out in the garden and the weather was bad, the other dogs would go in the house but Lucy always stayed with me. She got pneumonia and although I nursed her over this, she never really regained a zest or interest in life and then on the morning of 4th May 2005, I realised this was the end, we said our goodbyes and she passed away, cuddled up in her bed in the kitchen. It was very peaceful and although I hated to let her go, I knew it was her time. It was a good death.
I think of her often and miss her dreadfully.
"A faithful friend is the medicine of life"
The Bible
"A faithful friend is the medicine of life"
The Bible
Katy
"Our girl from 14 October 1991 to 23 June 2005"
"Our girl from 14 October 1991 to 23 June 2005"
Katy was a tiny dog weighing only 2.5kg but nothing else about her was tiny. She was definitely top dog of the pack. In her own mind she was larger than a Great Dane. She would take on anything and we once had to rescue her from the jaws of an Airedale she threw herself at. She liked scaring visiting dogs and no matter what their size, they fled in her path. Six weeks after her litter sister Lucy died, Katy became ill and died in my arms within 24 hours. I think she missed her sister and that life was too lonely without her.
She has left a very big hole in our lives.
"O! When she's angry she is keen and shrewd.
She was a vixen when she went to school
And though she be, but little, she is fierce"
Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream
"O! When she's angry she is keen and shrewd.
She was a vixen when she went to school
And though she be, but little, she is fierce"
Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream
Chi - Debonair Gold
"Our girl from June 1997 to October 2008"
"Our girl from June 1997 to October 2008"
Chi was a beautiful 15.3 hh warmblood x arab chestnut mare. She was a unique and complex personality who was a great companion throughout her life with us. She was very bright and like any female needed to be treated correctly! Unfortunately she suffered a serious condition about 18 months after I had her and was written off by conventional vets. A brilliant homeopathic vet worked miracles and although never back to a level where I competed her, she went on to be an excellent horse for two of my friends and ended her days hunting and showing. She could be temperamental and annoying but never scary and she engendered deep loyalty in all those who knew her.
I wish I could find another like her
"It is a wond'rous thing, how fleet
'Twas on those little silver feet.
With what a pretty skipping grace,
It oft would challenge me the race"
Andrew Marvell
"It is a wond'rous thing, how fleet
'Twas on those little silver feet.
With what a pretty skipping grace,
It oft would challenge me the race"
Andrew Marvell