Tuesday 25 February 2014

Poppy and Saari

Posted by Rosie


Poppy and Saari
Our two dogs Poppy and Saari often get a mention in the blog.  They are the very best of friends and they often become best friends to our gite guests too so I thought it might be a good time to tell you a bit more about our canine friends. 

We had Poppy in England before we moved over to France.  She was a Battersea dog  and came to us at 5 months old, a bundle of lead-pulling energy who loved the boys from day one (they  were very young at the time).  She only once chewed a toy of theirs but this did not mean she was a paragon of good behaviour - she simply preferred door frames, chairs, tables and seat belts - FIVE seatbelts to be precise.  She did eventually grow out of this chewing and now rarely pulls on the lead either thank goodness.


Poppy
When we moved to France we said one of the first things we would do was get a companion for Poppy - maybe something a bit smaller, a young rescue dog perhaps?  Hmmm - enter Saari who arrived with us from the local dog refuge - 7 weeks old and small .... but with legs and feet that obviously meant she had some growing to do.  The refuge said she was part Alsation and it wasn't long before we worked out that she is also half Husky.  She loves the snow (so not a good winter for her so far), detests the rain and is frightened of the hoover, men over about 50 (although she can overcome her fear here), ladies in yellow coats, all men in hats, the vet - no she is terrified of the vet, the smoke alarm when it pips, Dr Who toy screwdrivers that buzz, party poppers ..... the list goes on.  She is big but she is NOT a brave dog!

Saari

They are great dogs who I think I can safely say have a first-rate life here at Eco-Gites of Lenault - they have space to run, innumerable paths to be walked along, rivers to play in, beasties to chase (when will they work out that squirrels can climb trees and they can't?) and of course each other.  Sometimes they are a complete pain to have around - they steal food, they moult (especially Saari), they fart, they sometimes refuse to come home but we would never be without them.

They are the very best friends today and they became the very best of friends from the first day we bought Saari home:

Best Friends
I originally wrote this post nearly 4 years ago.  Sadly we lost Poppy to cancer just a year later.  Since then Saari has had doggy friends come to stay and we did have Harry for a while before he, too had to be put down.  Today, however, we are heading off to look at a rescue dog.  Saari loves company and whilst no dog will ever replace her best friend, Poppy we feel that as she gets older (is she really TEN?!) then a canine companion will help keep her younger.  So our search has started.  

ANIMALTALES

27 comments :

  1. Waht a lovely story! You are blogging so much at the moment Rosie, where do you find the time?

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    1. Thank you Phoebe - well I can't do much in the garden at the moment (although I did do loads yesterday) and housework can always wait can't it!

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  2. Ah, a lovely post and tribute to your dogs and their friendship!

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    1. Thank you, Jocelyn - in the 6 years we have had them both they have never fought and the worst that has been between them was a little growl from Saari when Poppy was wearing her "lampshade" and walloped Saari who had been fast asleep.

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  3. Love the photo of the boys sleeping on your dog :) My daughter has a 5 month old Bedlington x Springer and they are such good companions :)

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    1. Tom is particularly fond of Saari and both boys know how lucky they are to have such lovely friendly dogs.

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    1. Thank you Sally - Saari is really photogenic but Poppy less so (despite being very beautiful) - all too often you just get 2 eyes and a lot of black!

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  5. Aww this is such a lovely post. I love Labs, we had a pedigree one when I was growing up and when he died we got a rescue Lab/Collie cross that was scared of the milkman. Very fond memories and my 3 YO is called Poppy! Saari is gorgeous, such a beautiful dog. They look like they make fabulous companions and I'm sure all the guests love them too. Thank you so much for sharing #whatsthestory (Linky Tools is working again this week - yipee!)

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    1. Thank you Charly - Poppy is our second Lab. She is Pedigree but I think my first one had a bit of Collie in her. Having guests here for 3 weeks a while ago was fun when their 2 year old daughter was also called Poppy - much confusion was had during their stay! Luckily we haven't had any guests called Saari ... but we have had plenty of guests who have wanted to take both dogs home with them!

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  6. What a lovely post x love the pictures too x cute x

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    1. Thank you - they are really rather cute even if I do say so myself!

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    1. Thank you - they are fast asleep behind me right now and one of them is snoring loudly!

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  8. Would love a dog (or two) as we've always had them and I'm the only one in our family who doesn't have one now. As I work though it just wouldn't be fair. Looks like your dogs have a great life!

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    1. In that case Christine you need to come over here for a holiday and "adopt" our dogs for a week ;)

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  9. awww what a lovely story, i love the fact that they get on so well. the photos are so lovely.

    thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments .. it lovely to have you linked up x

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    1. Thank you Jaime for commenting. Will try and link up again this week too - great linky :)

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  10. Your Poppy could be our Stanley - they look very alike, and our boys do that too, lie on him and he doesn't bat an eyelid!

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    1. Labs are such good dogs with children and she has taught Saari to be just the same!

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    2. Perfect for young children such good natured dogs!

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  11. Brilliant, it's good to see that they are best friends. I love the photo of the kids lying on poppy, she doesn't seem to mind at all!
    I would love a dog at our house but think my husband would have an objection, he can just about tolerate the cats!

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  12. I hope you're successful in finding a new friend for Saari, i've heard it gives an older dog a new lease of life having a younger one around #animaltales

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  13. What a lovely post! I grew up with labs too. My #AnimalTales post is all about dogs. For practical reasons we are currently dogless but I don’t think it will be long before that situation changes!

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  14. Oh good luck, hopefully you will find a suitable dog mate for Saari, we look forward to seeing photos! #animaltales

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  15. Can't wait to meet your new dog in a future blog. What a life you've given Poppy and Saari, they looked like great friends #AnimalTales

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