For many years I had adopted older dogs as they were more difficult to rehome. After losing my German Shepherd 'Fame' in June 2002 I decided that my next dog would be a puppy I could train from the start.

 

In February 2003 I adopted Brecon. She came in to the sanctuary I worked at, as her owners were unable to cope. Brecon

had been brought from an advert in the local paper and was delivered all the way from Wales. Unfortunately her owners hadn't

realised that what they were getting was a typically scared and unsocialised puppy from a puppy farm. Brecon was 12 weeks

old but had no experience of living in a house and knew nothing about the outside world at all.

We started attending a local dog training club in March 2003. Brecon progressed well and passed her Puppy Foundation, Bronze,

Silver and Gold Awards in the Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

Sadly, I lost Brecon in March 2016.

 

 

 

In November 2003 Arnie arrived at the sanctuary as one of a number of 8 week old puppies rescued from a local small holding. The puppies were very inbred,

unsocialised and in poor condition. Unfortunately it was discovered that Arnie had very severe heart problems (caused by inbreeding) and was given a life

expectancy of only 6 - 12 months.

No one was willing to adopt Arnie so I decided to take him home and give him a lovely life for however long he had.

We started attending a local dog training club in January 2004 and Arnie passed his Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards in the Kennel Club

Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

At 12 months of age Arnie was found to have more or less cured himself - much to the amazement of his specialist heart vet, and was then given a normal

life expectancy. With his new lease of life I registered him with the Kennel Club calling him 'No More Dicky Ticker'. We started to compete in Obedience

competitions where he won over 50 rosettes, a Beginner class and qualified Beginner Excellent before he retired in 2011.

The owner of the small holding that Arnie was rescued from was later convicted of animal cruelty and 37 dogs were removed from

their care. I lost Arnie in July 2014.

 

​

 

Luka arrived in February 2010 through a friend of a friend, after their dog had an unplanned litter and it was proving difficult to rehome the puppies. Luka was

the first puppy I had that was born and raised in a home environment and what a huge difference it made! Luka was a friendly confident dog who took pretty

much anything in his stride and I often used him as my demo and stooge dog in my training classes.

I had Luka with the intention of training him for Obedience competitions and we did well, winning through the classes to become Class C only and gaining a

qualifier for Championship Class C. I lost Luka very suddenly in October 2020.

​

 

Jiffy came from a breeder in Wales in October 2014. He is from pure sheepdog lines and is a very strong and determined boy. He has been quite a

challenge but we’ve worked hard together and are a real team now. Jiffy won through the obedience classes and he is working Class C with one qualifier

for the Championship Class C under his belt.

 

 

 

Posie came from a well respected breeder of obedience collies in June 2019. She is from obedience, ISDS sheepdog and working trials lines.

She attended her first obedience show in July 2021 and had a very successful first year winning out of Novice and Class A and has won 2 Class B’s

so far. She is a lovely girl who is very eager to please.