Who do you spend the most time with?

Over the years that question has changed many times. As we proceed through the decades it changes from parents to school friends to work associates. We may marry so it our partner or our children through the crucial years of our lives. Children leave home, marry and we may become secondary carers for our grand children. Grandchildren become teenagers so you see less of them. Your parents grow old and end up in a nursing home due to dementia or other infirmities and eventually they leave forever and you are once again just you and your partner.

My partner died nearly four years ago and although we had a full life while together and I still had a full life after he died,my daughter took it into her head I needed company. Enter Miss Winnie the Pooh Beggs, a Cavoodle puppy ,as black as a stick of liquorice.

Was I happy with this tiny black fluffy blob. I was not, as I like to travel,to be independent and did not want the responsibility of an animal.

The first few months she lived up to her name Winnie the Pooh and pooed everywhere but where she supposed to. I enrolled her in puppy school after 8 weeks and realised I was not alone in my frustration of rearing a puppy. After many sleepless nights and nights I would just burst into tears through lack of sleep and toilet accidents,something changed. I read multiple articles on puppy behaviour and suddenly I realised Miss Winnie was doing what all dogs do she was learning and growing up and it had to happen in its own time. Like a child she required time,patience and time to adjust to her new environment.

Two years later I have the perfect companion who is both intelligent and super loving. She has become a brilliant guard dog. Apart from the times I cannot take her out with me because Im out on business< shopping or visiting friends who are not well she is always by my side.

With a dog you are never alone,always loved and you get the best cuddles and dug up bones covered in dirt to share.