Over the years we’ve had many and varied working dogs come and live with us, under lots of different circumstances – bounding Buddy, pocket rocket Polly, our beloved Lily, Roxy and her many pups, including the marvellous wonder dog hyperactive psychotic Pippa…
When we decided to pack up our lives and travel around Australia for our honeymoon we unfortunately had to sell Matt’s pride and joy, the incorrigible Pippa. She was out of a litter of pups by our friends Kelpies – Roxy was her mum, Max was her dad. Sadly Max was killed in the Black Saturday fires, along with some of Pippa’s siblings, Roxy was very badly burnt. Our little Pipsqueak had a bit of a story, a lot of spunk, she was the first real pup Matt trained from scratch. He spent hours with her in the yards with our very motley crew of sheep, over, back, over, back… I would run her on the Ythanbrae hills on the motorbike, boy could she run. Saying goodbye to Pippa was really hard for Matt, and although we had a love/hate relationship I may have shed a tear when she was sold. Tess and Pip had been pups together, they were our ‘babies’.
Fast forward almost two years and we were dog-less (well, other than Tess!) Matt doesn’t really need a dog…and I was very reluctant to take on another Kelpie pup – they are a lot of work. Full. On. Despite the clear instructions of ‘no more Kelpie pups’, last week Matt came home with a photo of a black and tan Kelpie pup on his phone: “She’ll be here on Sunday“. Apparently he has a problem with clear instructions.
And so we welcome ‘Bella’ to the crew – she’s five months old, apparently has good working parents, was free to a good home, what could possibly go wrong?!
Angela says
Ooh I long for a puppy, but probably more of a Tess-like one I think, what sort of dog is she? Hope Bella settles in well 🙂
Emma says
Tess is a Kings Charles Cavalier cross Cocker Spaniel, with a bit of poodle thrown in as well somewhere. She’s the perfect dog!
Angela says
Thanks for that, yes she looks perfect!
Ali says
what a cute smile she has!
Fashionista says
She is gorgeous! My childhood was filled with kelpies and they are my favourite breed of dog along with the blue heeler. With a face that cute she will worm her way into your heart.
Liza says
Gorgeous pup! You will never get a more loyal dog then a Kelpie plus their energy is infectious 🙂
Emma says
Yes I do love them…just at this age they’re full on! She has only gone to work with Matt three days and she’s already very loyal – amazingly so.
Anne says
Argh nothing worse than a dog that barks all day, other than one that jumps all over you and well all those other bad habits they can have. I hope she settles down and quietens down.
Emma says
She jumps too! Although, we did get a VERY exuberant three year old kelpie once who jumped like a maniac and we cured him so I’m not too worried about that. She’s still quite young and excitable! Plus, didn’t go to work today so was howling with sadness!
Sharon says
Oh yes, what could go wrong?! She must go with matt every day 😉
Emma says
This is the first day she’s been home as Matt’s preg testing…she has BARKED ALL FLIPPING DAY! No matter how much I yell at her. Bloody dog…