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June 2008
Dear Irish Terrier Friends,

There’s nothing that gives me more pleasure in the summer than packing the dogs (and the canaries) into the car and escaping out of London for a few days. Now that Zuli and Beegie are 11+ they are so easy to have around and are probably much better house guests than I am … well they don’t talk quite as much for a start.

We stayed with a dear friend on the Isle of Wight who has two Cavaliers. The dogs know each other well and we had some lovely walks and chases along the sandy beaches. I kept being told how beautifully behaved my two were which always makes me nervous as embarrassment lurks. Sure enough, on the last walk on the last day when the tide was well out Beegie streaked across the muddy Yarmouth river and consumed a whole loaf of bread that someone had thrown from the bridge for the ducks. She was covered in mud, shameless and unrepentant. We had a very long walk home as she was not fit to get back into the car.

We’ve also been up on the Malvern Hills but sadly missed the Three Counties Show by a few days … a great pity but the dates simply did not fit. Zu and Beegie were very put out because we stayed in a different small hotel from our usual one. Every time we walked passed, which was frequently as it is only a few doors away, they insisted on walking up to the door with tails wagging and peering around trying to spot their old sparring partner the resident cat. They really don’t miss a trick.

We met the new Howard Jones puppy on the May Hill in Gloucestershire. Having given the great champion Montelle Famous Star (Gavin) a home when he retired from the Show Ring, Bea and Jenny (Edna Howard Jones’ two daughters) now have six month old Sally to keep him company. She’s the proverbial little bombshell. Do we just forget how energetic they are? Dear Gavin, who is rising twelve and the most perfect gentleman, is heroically patient with her submitting to rugby tackles and ear tugging with amazing good humour. Perhaps as a superb stud dog he knows a good lassie when he sees one.

On a more serious note, we had a distressing incident in Regents Park when an eight month old Boxer pup out with his fourteen year old owner was attacked and badly bitten by a German Shepherd. I have absolutely zero tolerance for ill mannered dogs and no patience with the lobby which says dogs, often terriers, should be allowed to ‘show spirit’. After seventy three years living with Irish Terriers I have never ever had a serious fight involving one. From the first moment the smallest snarl warrants a push through the back door and a severe ‘out there’ which they hate to hear. We were taught as children to carry a stick while walking the dogs which I still do to this day. A dog fight can prove very traumatising for dog and owner and in any case can lead, quite rightly, to a police conviction.

Early on Sunday morning I was at the City Flower Market looking for bargains when I spotted .. yes .. an Irish Terrier. He was waiting patiently with his family which included a tiny baby carried in a sling. What a joy. It made my day. He proved to be Hector a four year old dog greatly adored and “getting used to” his new baby. He has a great temperament they said, but he’s bored being here with the flowers and missing his Sunday hike on the South Downs.

Now, have a look on the website for the new little book for the children “We’ll call her Daisy”. It is a practical and amusing guide to what to expect when a new puppy takes over the household. I always love the ASBO phase but the Howard Jones’ puppy last week was a great reminder.

Do keep in touch. Many greetings and love to the dogs,

Lucy