The books have been read, the concerns worried about, the electrical cables tidied away, and so it was time to fetch Venn, aged 8-weeks, home to Coed Cae.
There were a few sad moments to start the day, reflecting on the loss of Tess and how the impending introduction to the family signalled a new adventure that did not include her. However the day did not afford us the luxury of much time to dwell on the past: we had guests needing breakfast and a two and a half hour journey down into mid-Wales to get the lovely Venn. We also needed to be back for 5:00 p.m. to meet incoming guests, so timings were going to be tight.
A bright sunny morning boded well and we were off, reaching the breeders’ by around lunchtime. Venn’s parents, a small muscular and silky coated Cocker with blond-streaks in a mullet haircut (Think Henry from Neighbours) and a working Collie from the farm met us at the back door, where the family were just about to settle down for Sunday Lunch. Oops! The necessaries were attended to, Venn had a quick meal, and we were back on the road.
Being conscious of the need for early socialisation, we stopped at a pub about twenty minutes down the road to grab some lunch. Being at the wrong part of her vaccines, Venn needed to be off the floor, and so enjoyed the first of hopefully many pub trips from the perspective of a large cardboard box. She was very much the centre of attention in the pub garden and got plenty of fuss, while Kip circled around hoping someone would throw a ball.
We got home without whinging, accident or sickness from any of the gang, which given the ages of the group involved, I take to be a pretty good sign. Once on home turf I took both dogs onto the lawn, and Kip got her first proper look at the curious little bundle that we had brought home. She was slightly unsure at first and a bit hesitant but interested enough to let Venn have her ball which is highly unusual.
We scatter Kip’s food on the lawn to slow her down when eating, and to make it a bit more interesting. Venn was allowed to join in (again unexpected) and found biscuits that Kip had missed, which also bodes well on the sniffer front.
I think we are going to be ok.
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