A Long Doggy Story

[ttfn]

Please bear with me until I have finished posting this one
The most 'special' dog I have owned was Bosun, a 12½ stone Newfoundland dog, pure black, save a small white handprint on his chest. He had the kindest nature I have ever come across in any dog. On many an occasion I have rescued or saved lost/runaway dogs - put them in the car with Bosun - to reunite them with their owners by whatever means were necessary. I have even taken in 2 dogs whose owner suddenly had to go into a care home and kept them for 2 weeks before finding them a lovely new home together. Bosun was always happy to welcome any new 4-legs into his home and share his food, bowls and bed with them without ever raising a hackle. All he ever asked was to be made a fuss of. If anyone ignored him he felt hurt to his very soul. He truly was an incredible dog, majestic in both body and spirit.

If you don't know the breed then let me explain that Newfis are to water rescue what St Bernards are to mountain rescue. Newfi's are the No. 1 water dog - they are the only canine with fully webbed paws to assist them in becoming the fantastic swimmers they are. Their coat is double - try getting that dry with a normal hair dryer and you will be at the task all day and half the night.

[Meg]

A lovely story ttfn, they give us some wonderful moments and memories don't they?

[ttfn]

They have all been my absolute pleasure Wendy. How is Meg this morning?

[boxtops]

Lovely tale ttfn. My sister is flinging herself in some water next weekend in order to be part of a Newfi rescue display.

[Meg]

No change either way, I've tried to coax her with a bit of chicken breast but no joyxx

[ttfn]

Wendy - please see my post on your thread.
Boxy - your sister is very, very brave ;o) but she will have a great time in such illustrious company. Hope wet suits are provided?

[wolf63]

He sounds like a great dog - our furry friends etch something on our hearts that never disappears, we are better for having had such animals in our lives.

I spent the first 16 years of my life begging to get a puppy but my little brother was scared of them. In 1980 my mum arrived home from work one day to say that her friend's son's dog (GSD) had given birth to a litter of two puppies, one had died and we were adopting the other little puppy. She said that he was a bulldog/GSD and we pictured a little bandy legged dog.

My mum, as usual, got it wrong. He was a GSD crossed with a bullmastiff and he just grew and grew and grew. Like Bosun he was a gentle giant and had a great sense of humour.

ttfn - I actually intend to write down some of Hutch's escapades to leave for my nieces and nephew. They might not be interested (when they learn to read) but stories and memories seem to evaporate in our brain as we get older.

My true best friends have always been my furry friends. My parents are both dead and when they died I was upset but when my two dogs and my last cat died I was inconsolable and at one stage had to take time off work.

ttfn - I hope you are doing well. Bournemouth is on my list of places that I would 'retire' to if I win the lottery.

;-)

[society]

Great story Tts! Hope you are feeling better today. x

[ttfn]

Hi society - not bad thanks. Susan - have a go at writing some memories down - I have done so quite a bit the last few months and thoroughly enjoyed so doing. I thought my memory was beginning to fail me but such stories as this one have been simply a question of playing the dvd over again. This was a very long posting but it gave the whole picture and required no embellishment. If it gives one reader a smile then it was all worthwhile. Would you believe that I was once actually scared stiff of dogs?! I have lived all my life in Bournemouth and I would wish to be nowhere else for the surrounding areas are lovely to visit.

[Jan1957]

This made me really laugh. You have a lovely way of telling stories so keep them coming. xx

[ttfn]

Glad it made you smile Jan - have a great weekend ♥

[welshlibranr]

Lovely ttfn! I so enjoyed reading this!............Thank you!..............x

[champipple]

Its lovely, lovely

[JMR27]

I'm so glad I read your story :o) you have a lovely way with words

[RATTER15]

ttfn, a lovely story, there is certainly something very magical about these huge dogs, I see it everyday in our wolfhounds, it really is a great honour to be able to share ones lives with these giant but gentle beasts.

I know my dear Carakeel will now tell her tale of one of her Irish wolfhounds, so funny :-)

[Carakeel]

Oh ttfn, what a delightfull, wonderful story!! I can well imagine how much you must miss your beautiful Bosun! Newfies are wonderful companions indeed and I am sure memories of this most excellent character will live with you forever. I will post the story my ratter15 mentioned about one of my wolfies, Finnegan, who always had us in stitches, but I will post it in a new thread because I don't want to detract from your lovely one about Bosun. We are indeed so privileged and so lucky to be able to share our lives with these most wonderful giants. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this story. I love it! xxx

[ttfn]

Thank you all above - it is nice to share such a happy story. Nice if you were not the sunbathing ladies that is ;o) I sometimes wonder how Bosun and I got away with things as we did! Though my dear companion is no longer here I am still managing to get away with things now, although there is little skin left on my teeth ☺