Linda Lancashire

Hello Readers,

This week I would like to share with you the progress of my two gorgeous miniature poodles, Tallulah and Hilda who adopted me last Valentines Day and have since completely taken over my life, my home, my car and have brought so much joy and happiness to me after the trauma of losing Stanley, my beloved Airedale Terrier.

The Lulas are now nearly 8 months old and their hobbies include running faster than the speed of light, guarding bones and patrolling the garden. Hilda is particularly sensitive to the needs of others and offers love and cuddles to anyone who is feeling troubled, unwell or sad, rapidly turning into the 'Mother Theresa' of the canine world. Tallulah on the other hand is a great entertainer and practises her Salsa routine on a daily basis, which is all very well but I have told her she needs to wear tighter knicker elastic and enjoys sewing sequins on her Ra Ra skirt!! Her main ambition in life so far is to appear on' Strictly come Dancing'.....we are working on it.

They are the most incredible house dogs and need to be because I have had no luck with door bells because none of them seem to last five minutes before the batteries are completely flat ....... must be all the energy circling my bungalow so I have given up and rely on the Lulas to door watch instead and alert me to visitors.

Lead training was the hardest, with having two of them at the same time and it didn’t help when certain 'professionals' told me it could not be done and that I must be mad having two puppies out of the same litter together and girls at that .....!!! How wrong they were ......

Hilda was the worst because she kept thinking she was pulling a sledge over the North Pole and Tallulah was fascinated by bicycle wheels, so it was a nightmare taking them both out.

With a little help from my friends, tips and ideas from my lovely readers, who have kept in touch religiously and been there at the end of the phone and e mail, I think we have finally cracked it.

They are trotting on their leads like two very elegant French ladies and have become very good on the field at 'recall' and retrieving the ball or any other foreign object that flies through the air!! Brilliant in the home and I can honestly say they have never chewed any furniture or damaged any table legs. They do however enjoy tearing tissues into tiny strips, running around the house with a loo roll in their mouth and skilled at emptying shopping bags.

We are often asked by people who enquire as to what breed of dog they are because they haven’t had the traditional French Poodle cut.....instead, after looking through reams and reams of doggies hairstyle books etc., I have opted for the 'Teddy Bear' look and it suits them fabulously.

They go to an excellent Doggy Hotel and Grooming Parlour called 'The Bed and Biscuit Pet Hotel' in Eastwood near Heanor and there is a great lady there called Sharon who does a sterling job of making my Lulas look like Paris Fashions.

Denise Garrett, who is the owner of the Bed and Biscuit and has exhibited her Champion dogs with great success at Crufts many times, took me under her wing and helped me enormously where training was concerned. We have since become friends and I know that my girls are safe in her hands when I have to go away from home or if I need advice or guidance with any concerns I may have.

The staff there are brilliant to say the least and take great care of the dogs that board there and something you may find particularly interesting is that they also do a great Day Boarding scheme (like a day nursery for dogs) that means you can leave the dogs in the capable hands while you and your family have a carefree day out knowing that your pets are being well looked after.

If anyone reading this is looking for a good Doggie Hotel, Day Boarding and Grooming Parlour the telephone number to ring is (01773 719641)

Fate also waved its magic wand back in March when a very nice lady who has since become a friend called Lyn, came to visit me and offered her help in walking the Lulas as it was easier with two of us at that time. But on a darker note, when my favourite Auntie was diagnosed with terminal cancer and passed away last April, it was Lyn who was there to help me when I went to say my last farewells ......... it was that quick.

The Lulas are like two 'Maiden Aunts' (Hinge and Bracket come to mind) when my grandsons come to stay or we go to visit. They love playing with the boys but at the same time are very protective and guard them with their life.

I would like to thank everyone for all their help, support, emails, texts messages, letters, cards and support over recent times as I feel I have made some great new friends as a result and probably wouldn’t have had if the Lulas had not come to stay

Do you remember I told you I wrote a letter to the universe asking for a new dog ..... well, my wishes have been granted, tenfold, beyond my wildest dreams.

Thank you Lulas, thank you universe and thank you everyone.

Love and light as always

Copyright © Linda Lancashire 2004-2010