Vilmorin Winter Desire at Alhiker - Gemma
Gemma was my second ever beardie. She had great personality. She was an excellent guard dog, on one occasion seeing off a drunk who memorably got too close to me one day whilst out for a walk! "Its all right misses, call off your dog!" being my memory of her grumbling loudly at him to keep his distance!
Gemma could help herself to food that she wasn't s'posed to have- she ate the lodger's curry. it had been left on the hob on a slow heat for his return later that evening and when he got in, there was a nice clean saucepan still on the hob. The lodger later remarked that he'd had no dinner & I was silly to have left the hob on, with a clean saucepan on top of it!
On christmas, the presents were already wrapped, and bagged, hidden on top of the dresser, and lounge door closed. Gemma got in, and managed to climb the dresser to find every single chocolaty present and devour it. she didn't even have the grace to be sick or ill (chocolate is toxic to dogs!)....
Gemma had two litters, the first to my boy Flash. Flash's first proving litter. It was a disastrous liaison, with every single one (bar Tass, who had a broken tail!) having serious white mismarking. Tass went to live with Rob and Jen who have become our very great friends. I did not keep a puppy from this litter even though it was my intention.
I learned a lot this litter and life's cruelties - especially about finding the right homes for "your babies", its lot more tricky than it would ever appear, despite careful checking etc. Several of these "babies" seemed to be on long pieces of elastic through no fault of their own, or mine! My eternal thanks to the Southern Counties Bearded Collie club rescue, and Margaret Fletcher, for all their help and understanding. The rescue coordinators do wonderful work helping distressed beardies, what ever the circumstances.
In memory of "Barclay"- I had to have put to sleep aged two, to save him further suffering. To "Minnie and Scamp" who came back home to me with 16 cross breed puppies between them, and the darling who had an electric fence as her only companion...
God bless the people in life who take on rescue dogs and nurture them, you are truly angels.
The second litter was much better, there was no mismarking this time, and finding the right homes was less stressful. We had a visitor who came to look at a puppy, but fell in love with Gemma instead! The visitor explained that she had just been diagnosed with a life limiting illness, and that she preferred an older dog, and so Gemma went to live with them. Gemma was adored and spoiled rotten as their only companion dog, and in return she protected and guided her poorly owner throughout their lives together. Gemma died a very old lady well into her 18th year.
Gemma could help herself to food that she wasn't s'posed to have- she ate the lodger's curry. it had been left on the hob on a slow heat for his return later that evening and when he got in, there was a nice clean saucepan still on the hob. The lodger later remarked that he'd had no dinner & I was silly to have left the hob on, with a clean saucepan on top of it!
On christmas, the presents were already wrapped, and bagged, hidden on top of the dresser, and lounge door closed. Gemma got in, and managed to climb the dresser to find every single chocolaty present and devour it. she didn't even have the grace to be sick or ill (chocolate is toxic to dogs!)....
Gemma had two litters, the first to my boy Flash. Flash's first proving litter. It was a disastrous liaison, with every single one (bar Tass, who had a broken tail!) having serious white mismarking. Tass went to live with Rob and Jen who have become our very great friends. I did not keep a puppy from this litter even though it was my intention.
I learned a lot this litter and life's cruelties - especially about finding the right homes for "your babies", its lot more tricky than it would ever appear, despite careful checking etc. Several of these "babies" seemed to be on long pieces of elastic through no fault of their own, or mine! My eternal thanks to the Southern Counties Bearded Collie club rescue, and Margaret Fletcher, for all their help and understanding. The rescue coordinators do wonderful work helping distressed beardies, what ever the circumstances.
In memory of "Barclay"- I had to have put to sleep aged two, to save him further suffering. To "Minnie and Scamp" who came back home to me with 16 cross breed puppies between them, and the darling who had an electric fence as her only companion...
God bless the people in life who take on rescue dogs and nurture them, you are truly angels.
The second litter was much better, there was no mismarking this time, and finding the right homes was less stressful. We had a visitor who came to look at a puppy, but fell in love with Gemma instead! The visitor explained that she had just been diagnosed with a life limiting illness, and that she preferred an older dog, and so Gemma went to live with them. Gemma was adored and spoiled rotten as their only companion dog, and in return she protected and guided her poorly owner throughout their lives together. Gemma died a very old lady well into her 18th year.