I am a little over 40 but for years have been looking forward to retirement; so I could have a dog. No I thought, I can’t have a dog if we both work full time, I’ll just have to enjoy twin sis’s dog Nipper and plod on.

Vic got Nipper and Paddy from the village pig farm, the folks there breed Jack Russells. One day the year before last, Vic was at school dropping off James when Tracey from the pig farm asked ‘you don’t know anyone that wants a Jack Russell do you?’. It turned out that two had been abandoned at the farm. This had happened before, dogs turning up, sometimes because folks had been shooting in the area and forgotten a dog, which had ended up at the farm. But nobody knew anything about these two ragamuffins with scraggy collars and the dog warden had no information either.

Vic said no…..and then thought of me and mentioned it. Maybe? I had to think it through properly; Vic said she’d help out with most lunchtime walks when I was at work. I spoke to my lovely boss at work who ok’d my working from home whenever needed; this meant a few lunchtimes a week Vic would take Purdey out, others I’d be there.

Blimey, the nerves, the stress, the tension, I needed to know it would work practically – so I could then convince hubby it was the right decision for all of us, which I knew it was; then hope against hope that Purdey would take to being in a house, left for some hours each day, be able to be house trained. Bearing in mind she was a booted out ex-working terrier that someone didn’t want! I thought, surely the comfort of a warm home to stroll round in, even while we are at work is better than being kicked about and sleeping rough in mucky, cold outbuildings?

I was happy about convincing my other half, I knew we had the time, I knew all through his childhood he’d tried to get his mum to get a dog but their accommodation was never suitable (or so she said) and he would love one. But he also needed convincing initially. Also about a month earlier from our decision, hubby’s Ma had died and I somehow thought the focus of a dog would help us all. He said ok. As long as I walked her mostly, he’d take her out if I was away or poorly, that’s it.

Then things got really scary, it was potentially going to happen, I couldn’t think straight or make a decision - I wanted this to work out so much.

Vic’s help and cool head was what were needed. She called Tracey and arranged for herself to go see the dogs first, to judge their temperament and suitability. I was at work that day and a complete bag of nerves, watching for my phone to ring with news and jumping ridiculously when it did. The news was good – great in fact, the best! Vic said Tracey had recommended one of the dogs who was so affectionate and eager to please. We were on!

I met her next and I was so nervous! She was smelly and dirty, had scabby torn ears, her back dews clawed were so overgrown they curled right round in circles. Her muzzle had holey scars on it too. But she was lovely! I crouched down to say hello and she came over, laid her head on my lap on looked up at me. We took her for a short walk, she was so beautiful and agreed with Tracey I’d pick her up for keeps the following morning.

I went home and told ‘Pack-to-be’ all about her; he was his usual gushing self (not). The following morning I rushed out of my bed, dressed and shot to Pets At Home. What did I need? I think I made a makeshift list, I was all for traditional normal length leather lead and collar – proper dog gear!! – got those. I was a right dizzy so and so I can tell you but left with collar, lead, bowls, food and blanket for the bed Vic had lent us.

I drove home, I swear I was shaking, not through fear just raw emotion because I wanted this to work out so much.

I called for Vic and we went for her. We picked her up, new collar and lead on and called at mum and dad’s on the way past. Mum had known what was going on but not Pa. They both looked at us through the kitchen window. I could see Pa say ‘whose dog is that?’ and mum explain. He gave me a bit of a ‘rocket’ explaining how ‘tying’ they were and was I mad as we worked full time? Again I crouched to stroke her and her head went straight on my lap and looked into my eyes. I said we’d made our decision and carried on to take her on a first walk round Church Lane.

We’d got a quarter round when Pa phoned on my mobile to say he was sorry and just thinking of us…and wasn’t she a beautiful dog? We carried on and went ‘home’! To meet Packleader who was so gentle and loving and calm with her. Yes we tip-toed round each other, all three of us, in so many ways I suppose for months.

Observing her we realised she hated a raised foot, the sight of anyone with a stick too. She’d had a rough life so far that was certain.

When we got her on the Saturday, she came with me easily into the house to meet Pack – quite trusting already, but scared too. In the afternoon we had to leave her home alone to go food shopping. She had been on my knee most of the time up until then. What would she do? She was a rough, scared, stinky ex-working dog but obviously so grateful for warmth and love. How would she be in the house? We went and it was funny, when we got back it was Pack who said, hang on…and went to sneak a peek round the back into the kitchen window. She was curled up in her bed! We were relieved and all going from strength to strength.

We’d decided on the name Poppy…or so I thought. When I took her out on day one I kept re-enforcing her name. When I came back, Pack admitted he wasn’t too keen on the name after all. We spent just about every minute of every hour of the Sunday following (until the afternoon when I came up with her name) going through every name, word, trying to find the right one. So did our family!

I thought of Purdey as I was leafing through a country magazine at the time (Purdey make shotguns) and thought too of the New Avengers, a favourite programme when we were kids. And it suited!

We didn’t bathe her for a few days despite her unique ‘outdoors aroma’. I didn’t want to potentially distress her with putting her in the bath, so we put up with her original smell.

Purdey was behaving impeccably, well only the odd toilet accident at home, very rare and she was still quite subservient but growing in confidence too. We had roast beef on the Sunday and she mainly remained in her bed in the kitchen – just – while we ate.

There were lots of signs that she had been kicked though and quite a few people she came across she took an instant dislike to. I think this maybe made (and stupidly still may make) me a little too soft with her and think, ‘oh she has issues because of being ill-treated’. Then again maybe I’m just thinking of her – one thing I’ve learned over the last one and three quarter years is I’m no dog expert. I’m no natural and probably a little too tuned in to the welfare of Purds from a human point of view rather than knowing the right doggy way to react in situations.

We went walking a couple of weeks after we got each other, on the River Aire bank near us. It’s a steep bank and a huge wide, flat-calm river. It was early evening, I’d spent many hours bird watching up there by myself and seen my first kingfisher and oystercatchers there. By now we’d got an extender lead for Purdey, I’d still not dared to let her off the lead, her preciousness was making this a huge leap for me.

Anyway, this evening I was so happy, she was dashing about on her long lead and I just sat myself down on the riverbank to enjoy the moment. It was beautiful warm spring weather and as soon as Purds saw me sitting down she stopped! She stared for a minute and then raced over to jump on my knee and lick my face, as if she was checking I was alright! We sat there together looking at the water, it was perfect. Just perfect.

A few days later in the afternoon, my friend from the village happened across us in the same vicinity, with her Westie Rory. She said to me – ‘go on Joey, let her off the lead’. With the encouragement, I did. I tried to keep calm and loved seeing her run free. Purdey was good; I kept telling myself she has no reason to run away from or want to lose me….be confident! It was very nervy but fantastic. Boy she raced and raced! Since then we’ve had our ups and downs on walks; the couple of times she’s happened across a dog and they didn’t suit each other, she’s had a ‘fly’ at a few. We’ve also made great doggy (and human friends). Only the other day Purdey, Nipper and Paddy saw Spike (JRT) and all three raced as fast as they could in the field to meet him (and Ann and Jack his owners); they looked like racehorses going for the line!

I’ve since binned the extender lead except for on beaches when away. She no longer cowers but lets me kiss her belly and is full of love for me and Pack. She breaks wind on me without admonishment, just amusement! If she starts to limp when we’re out
I feel sick instantly at the thought of her being injured or in pain. I can’t put into words what she means to me. She is still very barky and usually aggressive with other dogs on the lead. I still try to do my best for her, do bits of training at home and in the field; treat driven training mainly works well. We passed our Bronze KC training badge recently which I never thought we could achieve. We passed this thanks to luck, some work and plenty of cheese! We are all so lucky to have each other.