LOLA JANE (LOLLY

Just to let you know Lola seems to be settling in fine. Her nose is still not terribly wet yet but she ate her dinner, has been sleeping a lot, follows me around everywhere (which is no problem at all) and not a sound out of her last night - whether she stayed on the bed we had bought for her or not I do not know, but we both kept our ears alert and nothing. Having said that she seemed very pleased to see me this morning. I have also taken her out for short walk, just around the block to get her used to the area, and I will build this up over the next week or so. She is an absolute delight, thank you so much. On registering all the documentation today, discovered that she shares her birthday i.e. 21st August with my husband, Kevin. How good is that? I am spending the morning with her today until Kev gets home and then he can take the afternoon shift as it will be nice for us to both have a bit of time with her on our own. She seems to be well trained and highly intelligent, she understands everything you say to her and does not seem to have been mistreated in any obvious way at all. Her coat is in lovely condition and she loves being handled and petted. I am sure we are probably overdoing the petting but that will all sort itself out once she knows she is staying. She, obviously, comes up to us for attention, but that is just insecurity. We have told all our doggie friends and already people are suggesting walks etc once she has had a good chance of settling in here. We do hope she will be as happy with us as we are with her. Anna

ONE WEEK ON

It has been a really busy week, and I really hope from Lola's point of view, a good one. She is so adorable, Kev and I are besotted with her. She does seem to have settled in very well and she has met my mum (every day this week so far).

I have taken her to see my friends who have a beautiful labrador called Sam (similar age to Lola) and who actually live in our old house. She had a whale of a time with them, another lovely dog to play with and 6 adults to make a fuss of her and we walked there and back (only about 20mins walk but good exercise) so again we were familiarising her with the area.

We have tried, and I hope successfully achieved, the right start to her new home. If only she could speak.

Someone has lost but we have so, so gained a beautiful doggie.

UPDATE ON LOLA JANE (now known as LOLLY)

We couldn't be happier and I hope (and I believe) Lola (sorry Lolly) feels the same. She has settled in so well - she can be quite stubborn and persistent and we are probably a bit too soft, but that really isn't a problem and she is an absolute love. She has met so many of our friends they can't believe we've only had her for just over 2 months. I can't imagine our lives before her or without her. Kenin and I cannot thank you enough for making us think about the age, we were worried about her being older than we had wanted as you know, but we have no regrets. My mum enjoys her company and she has us in bits with some of her antics, she is quite a character and she is so pushy about affection - not a problem to either of us or my mum. We have a had a few social events so my mum has been doggie sitting and the stories she tells us when we get back and go to collect Lolly after being out for a few hours are amusing.

She is great on the lead and I took her to the park the other Saturday and let her off the lead for the first time. No way was she going to run off and my friend who does dog training was very impressed with her and remarked on the fact that Lolly is really intelligent and said how good she is with other dogs and that she is able to suss out other dogs with their body language - she is very social around other animals and loves people to bits. Am looking forward to when I have two of my god daughters to stay, they will absolutely love her - will be lots of cuddles and sitting on the sofa watching tv.

Will send some photos (I haven't learnt how to do the digital stuff, perhaps when the kids are here I can learn and send some updates).

Take care and much love
Anna, Kevin & Lollyxxx

MORE ON LOLLY

Anna says " I can't tell you what a difference she has made to us and we are so grateful you made us not hold her age against her. All our friends and god children call her 'lovely Lolly' and she really is part of the family and although she is a Retriever in so many ways she is different from Cassie which makes it easier. We do occasionally call her Cassie but quite honestly that is a compliment and she seems to answer to any name.

CATCHING UP (FROM ANNA)

Just to let you know that Lola (Lolly) is well.

I think she has discovered water - up until now, she has not been particularly bothered (unlike our previous dog Cassie who absolutely loved it and the dirtier the better, we were convinced she could have been a hippo in her previous life). But I wanted to share a lovely moment with you. I took her to Marble Hill (an English Heritgage house with lovely grounds backing on to the River Thames) on Sunday with a friend of mine who has rescued a Labradoodle called Sasha, about 15 months old. We were walking and talking and there were loads of other dogs, mainly black labradors, walking with their owners. We came upon a really big puddle and Sasha dived in, followed a little cautiously by Lolly and then 4 other black labs. It was absolutely wonderful and looked like a bunch of kids in a swimming pool having a wonderful time, splashing around with their mates. My friend Jen and I just laughed!!! It was a moment I wished we could have kept on camera as they all had such a good time and they were so happy.

It is at times like that I am so grateful that we have another dog. We could not ask for a more happy, well behaved (when she wants to and most of the time she does) loveable dog. We both (and my mum also) feel that someone has spent a lot of time with her, training her and she understands so much, not always wants to respond as she should but Kev and I are really a bit too soft, not that for the most part that is a problem. I can't really see any signs of her being mistreated and she is so trusting and very good with other dogs, so no social problems. I would say the only thing she is a bit pushy with us and my mum, not however, with any of the kids, they all think she is wonderful (which she is). So again thank you. Cant' believe that in May we will have had her a year. I remember how nervous we were, but not a day goes by when we don't think how lucky we are.

©2006 Irish Retriever Rescue UK