My Dogs
Life with My Dogs
All my dogs live as part of the family. Sometimes, things get a little crowded on the sofa when several dogs decide at the same time that this is undoubtedly the best place in the house. But honestly, that’s all part of the fun!
I’ve worked from home for many years, long before COVID came along, so we spend a great deal of time together. We share our lives in and around the house, and of course, we love getting out and about as well.
During the long summer evenings, you’ll find us in the woods almost every night. At weekends, we regularly head to the beach or set off on an adventure in our campervan. We usually combine overseas dog shows with holidays, giving us the opportunity to explore new places and enjoy the countryside along the way.
All my dogs travel with us in the campervan. They absolutely love it and are always eager to jump in and come along. Whether we’re heading to a dog show or off to a forest where we’re guaranteed to come home with very muddy paws, it makes no difference to us. Being together and enjoying new adventures is what matters!
A New Chapter
After more than thirty years of sharing my life with six Old English Sheepdogs, and sometimes even nine, the house suddenly became very quiet.
Of course, I knew that Shanti, Vince and Chanel were growing old at roughly the same time. In recent years, my canine family had become something of a retirement club. And how I enjoyed my oldies! They reached wonderful ages, and I’m so grateful for all the years we were able to share.
Nevertheless, the setbacks during that period, and especially the sudden loss of Dwayne, took me by surprise. And there I was, in 2022, for the first time in 35 years, with just one OES by my side: Dior.
The house was quiet. Very quiet. Yet, at the same time, it was a special and rather pure period in my life. A time to pause, to come to terms with everything that had happened, and to reflect on the future. What would it look like, and how did I want to shape the next chapter of my life with dogs?
The future felt like an uncertain puzzle that Dior and I had to piece together. Fortunately, I also had my lovely Joep, Nelly and Winny, who live with wonderful friends and remain very much a part of my canine family.
Even so, Dior and I missed the bustle, the companionship and the presence of our dog family enormously. The house felt empty.
After several months of grieving, I gradually began to feel excited about the future again. I contacted my friends Matteo and Nikolas to ask about their breeding plans. To cut a long story short: there’s no such thing as coincidence! A very special litter was on the way, and at the end of July 2023, I drove to Calabria to bring Grazia home.
It was the beginning of a new chapter, one I was looking forward to with all my heart. And as if that weren’t enough, Hercules came to stay with us for a few months too!
Looking Ahead with Confidence
Today, the future looks bright again. There are new plans, new adventures and plenty of exciting things to look forward to. I hope to breed some more lovely litters of wonderful Youandi OES in the years to come, with the same love and dedication that have guided me throughout more than 35 years of breeding.
Because no matter how quiet life may sometimes become, sharing it with Old English Sheepdogs remains something truly special.
And thankfully, there is still so much to look forward to!
