So today Mortimer is one year old although there were times we didn't think he'd make it! We'd had him three days when it looked like he'd swallowed a champagne cork that he'd found out on his walk. Six hours at the vet and £300 later (pet insurance hadn't kicked in!) he was fine. Then there was the incident earlier this year with the Advocate. And then this week. No I haven't told you about him picking up a scent and disappearing in the orchard. For nearly an hour. Fortunately a kind lady with a very well behaved Golden Retriever found him and took him under her wing until she got us on the phone. Of course Mortimer thought he'd had a great start to the day with a new play mate!
Looking back at the photographs it's amazing how much he's changed. This was the first week we'd had him - at four months old. What a cutie!
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| Why can't I eat it? |
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Leaping & jumping was something he did from the beginning and probably something we should have curbed earlier as he still does it. Which for a stranger having 30 kilos plus of black dog hurtling towards you can be a little disconcerting! The only good thing is that he is a very friendly dog and would never deliberately hurt anyone.
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| I'm sure I can jump higher |
The first few months were full of new experiences for Mortimer. As we lived on the coast the sea was one of his first.
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| Sea puppy |
The next excitement was the heavy snowfall in December. This was greeted with huge enthusiasm and great disappointment when it thawed.
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| So cool! |
Highlight of his first few months was when his best friend Molly came to stay. Molly was the first dog he met after leaving his breeder and has become his substitute mother. She, I have to say, has great patience as he always wants to play and has a habit of pulling her back leg and chewing her ears. This photograph was after a long walk on the beach.
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| Shattered! | | | |
It was this photograph that made me realise just how much Mortimer had grown. When we first got him we didn't have a walk without someone saying "look at the size of his paws - he's going to be a big dog". But when he's with you all the time you just don't notice, well not until you realise that where once his chin only reached to the coffee table it can now rest comfortably on the dining table!
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| Dog wrestling |
Although he grew up as a salty sea dog he loves grass, we didn't realise how much until we took him for his first walk across the Sussex Downs and he ran and sniffed just for the sheer joy of it. Now we live in a house with a lawn the first thing he does each morning is go out and roll on it. Sometimes he makes little snuffling noises as though he can't get enough of it.
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| Smell that country air! |
Now I do find taking photographs of Mortimer very difficult. There are two reasons -one he seems to be camera shy and as soon as it appears he disappears. Secondly most of the photographs are taken when we are out on walks where inevitably he is out in front and therefore most views are of his, how shall we say, hindquarters! So yesterday I took him into the garden with strict instructions to behave for this birthday photoshoot. We had a couple of diva moments but on the whole he wasn't bad!
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| Is this my best side? |
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| About to eat the camera |
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| Looking like a yokel |
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| Nothing wrong with a bit of bling! |
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| Maybe you'd prefer this angle? |
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| Well if you will leave pegs on the lawn..... |
P.S. Thanks to all of you who follow Mortimer - please stay in touch and leave a comment or two.
