‘Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend.
Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read’.
Attributed to Groucho Marx
My family said I shouldn’t “at my age”. If my friend Abigail hadn’t found the advert in a local paper this summer I might not have done it. But she did and I did.
On the morning of July 7 I jumped in my car to drive to Smeeth in Kent to meet a remarkable, eccentric Englishwoman, Amanda Marfleet, owner of dozens of award winning horses, 13 llamas and 18 years of canine midwifery. Amanda is a local legend in the equine / canine world.
On arrival she welcomes seven eight week old puppies and me into her farmhouse kitchen, where literally thousands of rosettes adorn beams in the ceiling. As the little puppies and a dozen multicoloured tennis balls tumble into and over each other, the tiniest fluffiest runt of this litter, (a ‘redhead’ like me once upon a time) chooses my foot upon which to curl herself into a ball…instant puppy love!
So, it happened. Woozle is the newest member of our family. Her father, a miniature apricot/red poodle, and mum, a small silver Labrador (she is becoming more Lab than doodle), she has the intelligence of her mixed heritage. Woozle is not, as some would believe, a reference to the Winnie the Pooh story about Hephalumps and Woozles.
I first heard this word as a child when my mother used it to describe my messy bedroom and chaotic situations generally. Perfect for a puppy I thought. So Woozle lives up to her name in turbo-charged ‘zoomies’ but for one so young she can be calm, thoughtful, ultra-acutely, insatiably, sensorially curious as she sniffs her way in the long grass on the marsh, and across on the vast sands at Camber meeting dogs of all shapes and sizes all of whom she seems to trust after a few sniffs.
In the high winds and waves this week she loved catching puffs of sea foam. It’s heart-warming to see how my puppy reacts to humans with unconditional enthusiasm and excitement. The first time since the birth of my own children I have a daily routine of regular meals, playing and ‘training’ that is both grounding and joyous at this stage of life.
We have both been to school recently on Sundays. Treats of ‘high value’ are definitely the way forward at school. We passed the Wag’n’Bone puppy classes in Wittersham with flying colours last weekend. My social life is also changing: I get invitations to lunch if I bring Woozle. She really needs her own diary now as she’s managed to win the hearts and minds of four adoring ‘aunties’ who are vying for play dates with her. ‘Top Dog Auntie’, Abigail, is especially smitten, generous with her treats and imaginative adventures, for which we are grateful.
Groucho was right, when Woozle sleeps (puppies do sleep a lot!) I read. It’s been a great summer for lots and lots of books. No TV for two months and as the autumn mists roll down the valley here my furry friend is curling up beside me on the sofa (I caved in on that one!) With any luck her teething and the ‘terrible teens’ will soon be over and she’ll be a delightful young adult dog by Christmas (!?!)
Image Credits: Susan Benn .