December 1996 – January 1997

It had been decided by circumstance that Jemima would live at Catherines parents house until the house we were buying together was ready. Rosie and Tony were very good about the whole thing if perhaps a little apprehensive. Puppies can be after all be a little destructive and there is of course the toilet issue. Boxes were found and newspapers gathered and on the first night the entrance hall just inside the front door was covered with a tabloid carpet ready to receive whatever may come. Jemimas bed was a box turned on it’s side with blankets folded up and placed inside. The stairs were blockaded, all doors closed and a barrier erected to stop the new inmate escaping into the kitchen. Bedtime came and Jemima was placed in her bed, told she was a good girl, and off we all went upstairs to sleep. Then it started.

The first night is always difficult and any Dog owner will know the sound of those heart rending cries. It’s unnatural really to expect a puppy taken away from it’s family to suddenly cope with being left alone while the rest of the new pack goes off someplace else to sleep.

Within minutes the cries started and for the next few hours Catherine and I took turns going back downstairs to console Jemima and to try to get her to sleep. Whenever I managed to get her to sleep I would quietly slip back upstairs and try to get to sleep myself. Usually within an hour Jemima would wake up and so the process went on all night. The second night was of course the same. Gradually over a period of days the nights got easier but the days more intense.

It was very obvious from early on that Jemima had a fondness for toys of all kinds. We would play together on the floor for hours stopping only when she stooped to goto the toilet upon which she would be whisked outside and praised for being a good girl. Even when there were accidents she would be taken outside and always praised. She picked the idea of going outside for the toilet very quickly and the only accidents were because no one noticed her standing by the patio doors. Walks were a long way off of course as she was still unvaccinated at this point. So the days were spent with me on the floor with various toys playing tug or fetching or giving and giving back. Every toy and game were met with much enthusiasm and intensity. I say intensity because she really concentrated on what was going on. It was again another trait that would stay with her through her life. She was also very persistent and seemed to learn quickly. She learnt very quickly too what she was allowed to chew and what not to chew. I only remember a single attempt at chewing something other than a toy. She approached a bookcase and, glancing over at me with a mischievous look, placed her mouth over a book that was sticking out a little more than the rest. “No Jemima” I said in a stern voice and then looked away ignoring her. She left the book alone and came walking over to carry on playing with official toys. Who needs all these strange items dotted around the house anyway when you’ve got a rope, a squeaky and a ball? Squeakys especially she loved in the early days. She would plant her head on you and stare lovingly into your eyes while squeaking the toy over and over and over again!

One of my favourite memories of Packenham Road was Jemima pacing around me, while I lay on the floor, wagging her tail profusely. I would say “climb the mountain” to her and she would climb up onto my chest via my feet and legs. Then she would lay down on me and flop whatever toy she had onto my face or neck.

Quite soon after Jemima arrived at Packenham Road she did of course need to get her inoculations. When the day came I walked down to the vet carrying her in a towel. Her head bobbed about over my shoulder as she saw some of the world up close for the first time. Everything was of interest. Anything that made a noise got special attention.

Her jabs came and went but life started to change ominously. Catherine and I were not getting along too well. She needed some space from me and I had to stay away. At the time I was confident that all would be well but looking back it was probably a closer run thing than I knew. In any case I would now not see Jemima for two weeks. That was tough.