Well, Well, Well

Or ‘Welly’ as Wellington, the Governor’s dog is affectionately known. Welly moved in with us for his Xmas break on December 22nd. Although we had met him out and about, walking in Plantation Forest etc, we weren’t sure how our girls, Smudge and Pippy, would react to ‘the new kid on the block’!

Initial signs were good and he and Smudge played together pretty much all the time. He was unsure of Pippy – he couldn’t understand why she didn’t interact in the same way and he often just went gently up to her without her knowing and watched her in wonderment. A couple of times when Pip was in her spinning mode Welly received a bang to the head! Smudge knows to stay out of the way, but I think Welly hadn’t quite grasped that Pip can’t see. They have all been sleeping in the same room together and they seem to have got on fine – they do set each other off though and Welly has a deep throaty bark – opposite to Pippy’s quite high pitched chirp, so we’ve had a couple of early rises!
We are lucky to have a large fenced garden so they can all play outside – Smudge and Welly have quite a rough and tumble, but they keep each other in their place if it gets too rough for either one. Pippy joins in sometimes too and Welly, now more accustomed to her odd ways, plays gently with her too.
The Governor is back this week and Welly will be returning to grander surroundings at Plantation House. I think he will miss the friendship that has developed between them – particularly Smudge. He and Smudge often lay together on the floor, just touching with the odd playful nip thrown in. He is also expert at getting between us on the sofa and he has no concept of 'there's no room' choosing to lay on top of us or Smudge just to get in with us!
I am sure he will also miss his breakfast – Cereal and milk which he has grown used to having with the girls every morning. He has also enjoyed Bakers Complete, rather than Wagg.
He needs a firm hand and we have tried very hard with him – he’s better than when he first arrived – he doesn’t jump all the time now, but he has a deep rooted distrust of strangers – he doesn’t like anyone new visiting and he makes his feelings very clear! But he can also be very loving and likes to be the centre of attention – not sure who’s made him like that, but I can guess!

It’s been hard work having 3 but I am sure we will miss him when he returns to the Governor’s residence later in the week.
Anecdotally - I have heard from Plantation that he is much better behaved now - Let's hope he keeps it up!