The big day finally dawns

21 March: Two months' worth of research, countless telephone calls and emails, and endless vetting (both ways!), finally saw us settle on a prospective blue roan litter from a recommended and respected Kent breeder (a show judge no less!) who had two boys to chose from.

After a minor detour up a one-track lane (soddin' SatNav!!) we arrive outside the breeder's house. I can hear barking and I feel decidedly silly to be so excited at my age. Off with the shoes, on with the disenfected hand wash, and we anxiously wait while the pups are fetched from their mum.

Immediately we fall in love with the larger of the two boys, with his jet black ears and white head, and tiny rasping tongue and razor sharp baby teeth, which, by the way are now making short work of my toes. But it is the squeaking that has us sold. Then he widdles on my lap and it's a done deal. Just how will we get through the next four weeks until we can come back and take him home?

A new beginning...

After the devastating loss of two rescue cocker spaniels, within just 13 months of one another, we have taken the plunge and decided instead to 'start from scratch' and adopt a puppy. Rescue dogs have meant the world to us for years, but adopting them in middle age, with all their inherent heath issues, can mean you get to spend too short a time with them before having to say goodbye.

So this will be my blog of bringing up a cocker spaniel puppy…