Sorry I haven't been on recently to post, I do come on every day but I seem to have 101 things to do away from the computer now that half an hour is about all I manage to catch up on everything.

Anyway, I thought I would update you on Darcie (aka, Farty Darcie and Funny Face )

She is doing really well and she and Paddy go everywhere together, although sometimes her exuberance seems to put that look on Paddy's face as if asking for 5 mins peace but he is very good with her and he is still quicker than her in fetching things, but he I am sure given a few years.....

We have now got her to accept strangers within 15 to 30- mins by asking them not to make eye contact and completely ignore her. When my mum came to stay to house sit for us, (we couldn't face putting her in the boarding kennels, it would have set her back so much....Paddy loves the place but she would have hated every second) she was glued to my mum within 15 mins of her coming through the door and even when we returned she still stuck with mum (I think it was because she was slower on her feet, no quick moves) She does like a door to run through just in case she needs to leave in a hurry though, but time will probably sort that out.

Darcie rarely barks unless she is startled by, say, a bang of a door if the wind catches it, and is still jumpy but so much better. She does have a tendancy to tear things up at night; the cat knocks things off the counters (not that she should be up on them anyway ) and Darcie finishes them off. So now we do a routine check round the kitchen before going to bed My Slimming mag was the last thing, one of the first was a pair of slippers which I had left on the floor. It looked like a dead sheep all over the kitchen when she had finished

To be honest, we rarely walk them on leads, but just pop them in the back of the car and off for a walk cross the fields, so her lead works leaves much to be desired, but I like my arms one length and my knees in one piece, as she has a tendancy to walk under your feet a bit.

Her confidence is gaining to the extent that she has decided she is not a keen friend of the cat, although she doesn't hurt it, but does barge it out of the way, guarding her food or water or toys, but is never aggressive. The cat just trundles off not overly affected by it all which is a relief. She is also desperate to get hold of my chickens and my baby chicks (the size of an egg cup) are very scary indeed

Every day she does something to make us laugh and today was no exception. We were out in the garden throwing a toy for them both to fetch for a while, then we sat and had a cuppa. The dogs just tootled around, the toy ignored until....wait for it........ a pair of butterflies dared to hover near the toy and Darcie ran at them guarding the toy....I cried I was laughing so much.

Here is a clip for you, (hope it works)

It's that smile in that last photo that does it for me, I can't wait for Petra and Graham to see this, I defy Graham to watch it without wiping a teeny weeny tear.

That scared petrified little dog the last time I saw her is no more, well done you guys, you've done wonderful things with hre.

Thank you for giving her the patient home that she so needed and as for the slimming mag, good girl Darcie
Life's to short go get yourself a bar of chocolate, Darcie obviously knows best.

She is looking great by the way, she has really put much needed weight on and is looking really muscular now, she's blossomed in every way.

Cath - she looks amazing
Her and Paddy look like they are getting along just great

I'm so pleased that she has settled so well - I'm sure with the time and patience you are giving her, the barking at strangers and strange noises will cease completely

She is such a lucky girl to have found such a wonderful home