On a cold early December day six (six!) years ago, I drove up to Castleblayney to see a breeder's litter of new tri and blenheim pups. They were just over three weeks old and though there was the cutest, outgoing little tri, I wanted a blenheim, and the puppy that I knew I wanted had a very large head and was burrowed into the puppy pile. Here he is, on that visit:
I collected Jaspar on new year's eve and couldn't believe I had my little guy -- I used to spend hours looking at pictures of cavaliers and reading about the breed in anticipation of getting my own. Now he was home and on my lap!
He was special of course from the day I chose him, but it would take the passing of time for me to realise how very very special he is. Many experienced dog loving people feel that while you can have a bevy of wonderful dogs, only rarely, you experience the amazing pleasure of owning that once in a lifetime dog that seems to know what you think, where you communicate almost telepathically.
That is Jaspar, for me.
When I thought about what I wanted in a dog -- well, Jaspar has fulfilled every one of those hopes. I love all the dogs, but Jaspar and I are a team in a way the others aren't. I have never had to work to train him -- half of what he knows he figured out by himself from context. He is always just perfect, for me -- yes, he is my ADD (attention deficit dog) and he can be hard work (he is just too darn smart and active and such dogs are a challenge and need things to do!) but I adore him and never am as happy as when we are on a long long walk in each other's company, or driving somewhere together, or sitting by the fire as I read.
He and all the others had a nice meal of beef this morning and I took him for a special walk to the Phoenix Park, just the two of us.
I can't believe he is 6 -- he always seems like my puppy -- and he more than any of them makes me wish dogs lived til 20 or 30, as their lives are too brief!
He's the dog in my avatar and a very special boy.
:hppybdy:
I collected Jaspar on new year's eve and couldn't believe I had my little guy -- I used to spend hours looking at pictures of cavaliers and reading about the breed in anticipation of getting my own. Now he was home and on my lap!
He was special of course from the day I chose him, but it would take the passing of time for me to realise how very very special he is. Many experienced dog loving people feel that while you can have a bevy of wonderful dogs, only rarely, you experience the amazing pleasure of owning that once in a lifetime dog that seems to know what you think, where you communicate almost telepathically.
That is Jaspar, for me.
When I thought about what I wanted in a dog -- well, Jaspar has fulfilled every one of those hopes. I love all the dogs, but Jaspar and I are a team in a way the others aren't. I have never had to work to train him -- half of what he knows he figured out by himself from context. He is always just perfect, for me -- yes, he is my ADD (attention deficit dog) and he can be hard work (he is just too darn smart and active and such dogs are a challenge and need things to do!) but I adore him and never am as happy as when we are on a long long walk in each other's company, or driving somewhere together, or sitting by the fire as I read.
He and all the others had a nice meal of beef this morning and I took him for a special walk to the Phoenix Park, just the two of us.
I can't believe he is 6 -- he always seems like my puppy -- and he more than any of them makes me wish dogs lived til 20 or 30, as their lives are too brief!
He's the dog in my avatar and a very special boy.
:hppybdy: