Wolfie, a tri-coloured Border collie, black with tan and white markings. She is very striking with her intelligent eyes, intensely focused. Getting a good photo is so easy as she sits quite still, patiently waiting. Asking you to throw that ball just one more time, and then again. Thick fur in Ivory black, the deep tan colours in Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber. Leave the paper unpainted, no paint required for the white stripe down the centre of the nose and her fluffy white chest. I have painted so many Border Collies, each one with their own distinctive characters. Eager and alert, they make the best of companions.
WOLFIE 2007-2018
A proper Collie pup, from a Derbyshire farm, born in a barn on the edge of the dales. Travelling down the winding lanes, she is sick on the journey home, and stinks so badly of farmyards we give her a thorough wash as so as we get back.
“How about Jess? …Kim? A sweet girly name for our new pup?” It is a family discussion about what to call her and I am no longer in charge of the naming process. This is a family dog and I am outnumbered by the boys and their Dad in wanting a more boyish name for her. They choose the name ‘Wolfie’ … hmm? Due to her looking a bit like a wolf of course! So, I turn it into ‘Wolfie-Girl’ just to soften it a little and in the end, it very much suits her character.
Deciding to raise 2 pups together, Wolfie is a companion for Molly. It seems like a wonderful idea, although there are many days ahead when I question this plan! Thinking my young sons will take on some of the responsibility, I soon realise that it will be mostly left to me!
One such crazy moment as I set off out for a walk with the 3 dogs, Lucy the older collie and the 2 pups in tow. Wolfie tugs, her lead snaps and she dashes across the busy road. Managing to keep hold of the other 2 dogs, I frantically follow. Curious to explore a neighbour’s front garden, she will not allow herself to be caught. Then deciding to cross back over the road to explore someone else’s borders and flowerbeds at top speed. Not sure how she has avoided being hit by any traffic, I eventually grab her and collapse down in an exhausted heap in the middle of the pavement, looking up at the sky and asking… ‘Who’s great idea was this?’ With every dog, there is always a day to question the sanity of dog ownership and this is one of those days! One day I will write the book ‘101 Reasons NOT to have a Dog!’
A confident dog that’s easy to train, Wolfie is great to have with the family. Always eager to play, we soon realise that once the ball is thrown for her, she will want you to continue and never stop! An annoyed high-pitched bark will follow if you fail to continue… visitors young and old find it very endearing as she approaches them with her favourite ball. Awww…how sweet, until half an hour later she is still returning and dropping it at their feet. Would she keep on doing this until the end of time we wonder? Forgoing the need to eat or drink? Hiding the ball is the only way, until she finds a replacement in the bushes or a discarded plastic bottle, stick, anything will do, she is obsessed! Visiting children love her, the perfect playful friend.
Wolfie’s puppies arrive a few days early, in the dark of night. The first 2 pups are born easily, we know there could be more. A trip to the vet is required, an injection followed by a walk around the block gets the third one moving. They are so tiny, the pups fit in the palm of our hands. Attentive, she won’t even leave them to go for a wee, the instinct hard-wired to protect them. They soon grow into the cutest of fluffy bundles, exploring the garden and getting up to mischief. Watching them play is a joy. Finding homes, 2 of them go to friends locally so we can keep in touch.
A second litter is expected, although this time, there is just one pup. The labour does not progress leaving the only choice of a caesarean delivery. We label this pup ‘fat pup’ because he gorges himself on all the milk. Meanwhile, Molly becomes so broody, she makes milk for the pup and is desperate to nurse him. Wolfie obliges and allows Molly to have a turn at feeding her pup. He looks like the dad with his large sticking-up ears and as he is the only one, he comes out on our walks zipped up in my hoody. He also goes off for a new life with a friend of mine, enjoying a wonderful life full of mountain walks.
When Molly has her pups, Wolfie becomes ‘Aunty’ and helps to raise them. Lying in the sun, the pups scamper around. However, Wolfie sleeps with one eye open, fully conscious of their whereabouts. It’s like she is playing ‘What’s the time Mr. Wolf’. If they get too close, she leaps up, puppies scattering in all directions!
Outliving Molly her companion by several years, Wolfie continues to enjoy a contented and active life for over 14 years. Her tan markings have faded to white, but she is generally healthy with just some pain medication for stiff joints in these later years. As well as ball throwing games, a daily swim in the lake is a favourite activity, rain or shine, winter or summer. One spring day she is taking her dip in the water as usual and presents me with a stick she has found, dropping it by my feet on the bank of the lake. Nudging it a second time, urging me to throw for her to swim out and fetch it. It’s a beautiful sunny day and all is well in her world.
The following morning, she trots up the garden into my studio, something she rarely does these days, usually preferring the garden. Standing at my feet, looking up, like she has come to tell me something. It’s an auspicious day, the anniversary of my Mum’s death, of the day her pups were born, and of the day we got Charlie. I give her some fuss before returning with her to the house and she settles down in the sunshine. When she struggles to stand, I lift her into her bed. Knowing where we are most likely headed, the boys take turns playing tunes for her on the piano and bring her the best treats. As the hours pass, she gets worse and not better. So, when the fits start, we know it is time to call the vet. Another sad journey, but she is getting so distressed, it is a relief when she is finally at peace. The whole family take part in laying her to rest in the garden alongside her pal Molly, and once again we feel the deep sadness of losing another member of our tribe. Painting her name on a pebble, we place it with all the others. Memories of that last swim in the lake remain with me and when I see a lost ball in the bushes, spirit-dog Wolfie is taking that one home to add to her collection.