‘Happiness is a warm puppy’

“Happiness is a warm puppy” — Charles M. Schulz

I know that some of my readers are eager for an update on Aimée, the blenheim Cavalier King Charles spaniel that I brought home at the beginning of September last year. She was three months old then; now she is nine months and growing into a beautiful dog.

Here’s how she looked then. She was so tiny that she was smaller than my cat!

And here she is now:

She has a wonderful temperament: gentle, patient and sweet-natured. Right from the start, she has been an incredibly laid-back puppy. 

She has so many funny habits, and watching television is one of her favourite things to do. But she is very particular about her choice of viewing: only nature documentaries and dog programs will suit. 

Planet Earth II, the latest BBC documentary presented by David Attenborough, is quite a hit. She sits bolt upright, her eyes transfixed by the lions and zebras wandering through an African savannah. If she sees or hears anything particularly alarming — the screech of a tropical bird, or a grunting grizzly bear — she barks in response, her tail wagging.

I’m overjoyed that she has become best friends with my cat Kitty. One of my main worries about getting a puppy was upsetting Kitty, but there was no need.

Aimée grooms Kitty’s ears for her, and the cat happily climbs into Aimée’s bed for a snuggle, purring all the while. Kitty likes to follow Aimée on walks and if the pair have been separated for a while, they rush to greet each other by touching noses. So, cats and dogs really can be friends!