<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The colour of this 17 month old Cockerpoo is officially apricot. Her muzzle and the ends of her ears, obviously derived from her spaniel lineage, are brown. Pippa has such a gentle touch; it feels like being brushed with a feather when she greets you in the street, unable to contain her excitement of meeting someone she knows. However if you visit Pippa at home you soon find out that her touch is somewhat heavier as she jumps up to welcome you.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/SoRX8s2aH9I/AAAAAAAAAO0/1uSCN9clqHk/s640/Pippa146.jpg" border="0" width="640" height="481" /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Pippa came from a Lincoln breeder at the age of 8 weeks and was chosen for her size, temperament and for the fact that she does not shed any hair. Pippa is a well behaved dog, especially for her age. She walks well on a lead and responses to commands; if her owner stops to talk, Pippa will sit down without being told and waits patiently until it&rsquo;s time to move on. Her Middlesbrough trainer has obviously done a good job with her and with her owner too, of course.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Full of life at all times, Pippa is just at home on the beach and especially on the moors which she gets to at least once a week. She is not at all afraid of going in the sea. There are no problems giving her a bath or drying her with a hair drier. When she comes in from a walk she will sit on the mat and raise each paw in turn to be wiped, even when she is dry and not dirty at all.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">At home Pippa has the run of the house and looks very comfortable curled up in an easy chair; her colour blends in well with the fabric of the chair, so well if fact you might not realise she is there. Although she has a basket and light duvet, Pippa will sleep anywhere including on the bed.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Pippa has a &lsquo;tuggy&rsquo; rope and a soft elephant toy, but what she really likes is to play with a tennis ball. She will bring it to you and if you are seated, and not paying attention, she places it between your knees. You are expected to play. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Pippa thinks all dogs should play and chase her; she is in her element when the dogs from another Yorkshire village come to visit. The fun she has in the garden with Poppy, a Westie, and Morse, a black Labrador is hectic. However they will take time out to be photographed on the garden seat.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 200%; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/SoRX9Oy4rSI/AAAAAAAAAO4/yAS2T8HLKks/s640/Pippa147.jpg" border="0" width="640" height="478" /></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">If you think that Pippa looks a bit tousled you should see her scamper in the snow and how her coat collects little snowballs which dangle from her fur.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For such a friendly dog you may find it strange that she is not keen on being cuddled unless that is there is something she is not sure about.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Pippa&rsquo;s identity tag, in addition to her name and telephone number in case she&rsquo;s lost, also contains a request &lsquo;Please scan me.&rsquo; This will let people know that Pippa is micro-chipped as well. If you meet her you would understand why you would want to take her home with you. Perhaps it is appropriate that she is fed on dry mix by James Wellbeloved.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">When anyone approaches the house called &lsquo;Pippins&rsquo; she will be heard to bark and will be seen dashing along the inside of the front bay window. Is it a warning or just her saying that she is ready to play? </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">No, she&rsquo;s making sure you know that this Cockerpoo is Lady Pippa of Pippins.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">{Last of series to be transferred from the old site - new dogs to follow in future months}</span></span></span></p>

<p><em><span style="font-size: medium;">As the dogs v cats discussion has started I thought it was time to give this piece an airing. I like dogs - check out&nbsp;my blog&nbsp;category on Dogs</span></em>. <span style="font-size: medium;"><em>It would set the scene for this instalment if you read 'Dogs of Troy' first. [Other instalments will follow at intervals}</em></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Deer Trail Hounds</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" align="center"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sam and Maxie</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When we, the former &lsquo;Yellow Labs of Troy&rsquo;, arrived at our new home at Deer Trail our impromptu excursions were curtailed (now that&rsquo;s a nasty word to some dogs but we have a pedigree); we were corralled, behind the house, inside a compound with a solid wire fence too high for one-year olds to jump. The ground was even too hard for us to dig our way out. It was much more like a prison to keep us in &ndash; unlike the Troy electrical pet-fence that we could just bound through and pretend that we could not get in because the shock was <em>much</em> too strong for such young pups.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">&ldquo;Our&rdquo; compound at Deer Trail was surrounded by five acres of grass land containing the house and a deep lake not appreciated by Sam, though Maxie took to it like a Labrador to water. Sam would still only wet his ankles and occasionally his knees. A further five acres of woodland at the back of the property made up what was to be the domain of the group that were to become the &ldquo;Deer Trail Hounds&rdquo;.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Squirrels frequent the woods, but cheat by climbing trees. As you might expect from the Deer Tail name, those big brown animals and their fawns used the woods and our grounds. We could do little more than learn to bark at them in the hope they would go away. They treated us with such disdain only moving when they thought they would. They even had the cheek, when we were in the house, to climb the fence to our prison compound to raid the food feeder that we could not reach, either by standing on our hind legs or by jumping in the air. We have never understood why he who feeds us never fires his gun at them although we heard that she who feeds us will leave him if he does.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">From time to time we were treated to trips in the motor car. On one famous occasion we were smuggled into a &ldquo;pet-free&rdquo; hotel. We did not like it there and howled all night to go home to our compound and the beds we knew. Any way Sam was frightened by lakes so Great that they made ours look like a little puddle.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At home we still slept in the cages brought with us from Troy, but now the gates were left open and we could roam at will in a huge room they called the garage. All the doors were shut at night; just one was left open during the day and we could escape into our compound to chase those damned squirrels and bark at the deer.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 27pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, when we were two years old, the pre-Gem era came to an abrupt end &ndash; and all because we had eaten our way through our stock of food!</span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size: medium;">While we were in the USA in May Sam my daughter's blind dog had to be put to sleep, I have just received this poem from her:</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/SoRbCU4YhqI/AAAAAAAAARg/h7IDIhYxESg/s512/Sam%20Jan%2009.jpg" border="0" width="384" height="512" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <span class="mceItemObject" classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> </span> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Georgia;">Sam Was My Good Boy</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Sam was my first dog. He was such a good boy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Good? Maybe not&mdash;at least not at his first home in Troy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">The words &ldquo;come&rdquo; and &ldquo;no&rdquo; and the electric fence meant nothing to him.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">And he was a lab, yet he couldn&rsquo;t fetch, retrieve, or even swim.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Sam was my first dog. Okay, maybe he was &ldquo;kind of&rdquo; good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Chasing deer in their new home, he and Moo would escape through the wood</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">They&rsquo;d come home with deer parts, possums and the occasional mouse<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">And traipse their big dirty paws throughout the whole house.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Sam was my first dog. But he really was good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">He never fought for food, chewed up shoes, or rolled in mud.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">When the new rescue dog, Jack, tried to eat his food and bite his nose--he didn&rsquo;t mind.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">When Jack was sick, it was always Sam who would lie with him&mdash;he was SO kind.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Sam was my first dog. And, YES, he was a good boy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">From the day we chose each other, he brought me so much joy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Even when he went blind and had to live in the dark,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">He still took himself for walks and played, and, boy, did he still love to bark.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">Sam was my first dog. He was good and I love him still</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">He holds a place in my heart that no one will ever fill.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" align="center"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Sam&rsquo;s Downfall</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">The door in the kitchen at the top of the spiral staircase was closed. The staircase leads down into the basement. A counterweight on the door ensures it closes after anyone descends..</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">Day 2 of our trip to my daughter&rsquo;s home; my wife and I had been left in charge. I was refreshing my memory on birds of Michigan, my wife was in the kitchen.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">The sound of a crash and my wife exclaiming, &ldquo;What was that?&rdquo; brought me into the kitchen. We knew at once that Sam, my daughter&rsquo;s 13 year-old yellow Labrador, had nosed the door open enough to fall down the staircase.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">[Long time readers of my blog will know that Sam is blind.]</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">I reached the bottom of the staircase without it seemed, touching any step. It was a sickening feeling to see a bundle of yellow on the basement floor.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">After my wife had switched on the lights I could see that the yellow bundle was Sam, sitting on his haunches. He hadn&rsquo;t made a sound.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">With my encouragement he stood up and started to use his nose too explore the surroundings.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">To our relief there was no harm done; Sam allowed me to lead him out of the basement door to the grass outside to take him to the dog flap in the garage door. Now he knew where he was. Inside the house he just lay down and slept the rest of the day.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: ">The staircase door has been oiled and a heavier counterweight added.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HcW1R2xVTKA/SoRbCU4YhqI/AAAAAAAAARg/h7IDIhYxESg/s512/Sam%"></a></span></p>