Chester A Show Cocker Spaniel Hearing Dog Puppy Comes to Stay
I am a volunteer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and look after these puppies when their full time socialisers go on holiday instead of putting the puppies into kennels. I had the pleasure of looking after Chester a 9 month old black and white Show Cocker Spaniel for two weeks. He arrived on 9th July 2012, complete with all his baggage that a puppy needs for a two week stay.
Chester A Show Cocker Spaniel Hearing Dog Puppy Comes to Stay
When his socialiser left, he was naturally a little upset and cried a little and sat fixed to the window – hoping that she was coming back. After a little walk and some play time, he appeared to have forgotten her, and was now bonding with myself – he was like my little shadow and followed me everywhere.
He was absolutely adorable, and very affectionate and friendly, and loved to sit on your lap and enjoyed plenty of cuddles. We went on some lovely walks, despite the awful weather, as the two weeks he was with me, it rained every day, and we got absolutely drenched every time we went out. Being a water dog, he was impossible to get dry and no matter how long you tried with towels, he just would not dry, so I had to resort to using a hair dryer. It took a little while to get him used to it, but once he did, he seemed to look forward to it every time we got in and would sit on my lap for ages whilst he was being blow dried, but even that took ages before he was eventually dry.
We are walking distance from an area of Dartmoor called Henlake Down and this is reached from our house by walking up a farm lane. Now at this time of year it should be lovely and dry, but all the time Chester was with me, with all the persistent rain, it had turned to about 6 inches of mud, (just like the middle of winter), so he not only came home wet, but muddy as well. He met Henry (our neighbour’s Golden Retriever) who I walk on twice a week, and they got on very well, although Chester wanted to play, but as Henry is getting on a bit, he just wanted a peaceful walk.
On the only dry day we had, we decided to go over to Wembury Point which is not far away to have a nice coastal walk. It was lovely to actually come home dry, and no towels or hair dryer was needed on our return.
Chester loved his play time with his toys, as seen in the video clip below.
The two weeks went very quickly and Chester’s socialiser picked him up on 22nd July 2012. The jet stream which had been hanging over the UK for weeks, finally decided to move, and out came the sun, and from torrential rain every day, summer arrived and a heatwave ensued, which would have made looking after Chester a whole lot easier. However I really enjoyed having this sweet little hearing dog puppy, who hopefully will go all the way and make a lovely a full time hearing dog, but if he doesn’t make the grade will make a perfect companion for someone, as long as they have plenty of cuddles to give!!!
Please take a look at my other entries for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
What a sweet little pup Chester is! I love that you care so much for dogs (as you know, fellow dog lover here!) and that you work with hearing dogs for the deaf. How incredibly wonderful and rewarding! Thank you so very much for stopping in so I could read all about your love of dogs (and donkeys!) and learn little pieces of you 🙂