© Vina Shaddick (Elcairn)

The object of the following article is to portray the feelings from a young puppy's point of view when leaving the place where it was born and encountering its first taste of the big wide world and early training. I hope that it gives prospective owners an insight into puppies' behaviour, what to expect whilst puppy is growing up, and so help them to form an understanding, loving bond. But remember no two puppies are exactly the same. Your puppy will develop its own character, which will to some degree be influenced by its affinity with its owners-

When I was nearly eight weeks old I was told that some people were coming to see my sister and I, and would take one of us home with them. I didn't want to go! So when the people came, I shied away even though my sister jumped around excitedly for attention. I hoped that they would choose her, but they didn't - they chose me. Cairns are meant to be brave and fearless but I didn't reel very brave then. And so I was driven away from my home and all the dogs and people I knew and I didn't have an inkling where to. The car drove on and on, I cried and screamed and wriggled and hoped that they would decide that they'd had enough of me and turn back, but they didn't. My new owners tried to comfort me but that didn't stop me missing the folk back home.

It was nearly dark when we reached my new home. I was put straight away into a run, to a spot, which I soon got to know as 'my wee comer'. It would be some time before The penny dropped and I used this spot instead of the carpet and other places indoors.

That night I was cuddled and settled down to sleep in my own bed. I was given a toy puppy to snuggle into but it was not the same as sleeping with my lifter sisters and brothers. At first I whimpered then I screamed at the top of my voice. It was so loud that I even surprised myself. She would have to take me back - or at least comfort me. But all she could say was "if I pick you up you'll cry every night - you'll soon settle in. The next day I heard her apologising to her neighbour who had just moved in. "I hope my 'Gremlin' didn't keep you awake," I heard her say. "How such a tiny puppy can cry so loudly is beyond me." Gremlin was the first of several not nice names that I would be called. I preferred being called Katie. Later I would find out what a Gremlin was.

On that first day, I kept getting under my new Mum's feet, so she fenced off an area for me with my toys, daybed, and my breakfast. But she didn't know how well I could jump. As soon as I'd finished eating, I was out. I frightened the cat and he knocked his food off the stool onto the floor. I tucked in, and received a clawless cuff. The cat was rescued and I was scolded. "You got your just desserts," she said. A very tasty dessert too, I thought. But she still had the problem of keeping me out from under her feet. No barrier could keep me in and any food left unattended was an irresistibly temptation. I could even reach Mum's food by jumping onto the chair. And so I was bought a playpen.

The days passed and I began to love my new home. I had toys to play with including a squeaky dummy, plastic animals, rubber balls and rings. I also had soft cats and dogs and it wasn't long before I'd chewed them into scruffy ragbags and almost chewed out their eyes and noses. I had just set about their eyes and noses with great determination when my mum took them away. "They were only for you to play with for a while to keep you amused," she said, "they have become too dangerous to play with. But she gave me others, so I chewed their eyes and noses... I love chewing anything I can get my teeth around, including the ends of people's laces. The fun is to do it without them knowing-snatching at Mum's hair while she's brushing it and my last party trick was to wreck the room just as she was starting to trust me alone. It's fun snapping at my reflection in the water dish. The more water spilt the better. The same with carrying dishes in my mouth and lapping the spilt food or milk off the floor is wonderful. Now I am bigger I can even reach the cat's dinner and knock it off the stool. In those early days, only my new brother, Komet, would play with me, but later my sister, Krystle, started to play. The more we played, the more we panted - and panting at each other encouraged more play. Mum said that it was a never ending circle. If she pants at me, it's a sign that she wants to play, so I leap up to play with her - and sometimes crash into her face.

Katie

Anyway, time passed and one night I was awoken by her alarm. It was still pitch dark outside when we were put into the dog run. We drove off into the night. It seemed we were going to a place called Uni so that Ross, who I will tell you about later, could collect his degree. But then we arrived at Mum's sister's house. Us dogs were not allowed at Uni and so we were unloaded with my playpen and the dog beds and a bag with our dog plates and food. Mum told her sister that all the food was labelled. My ears pricked up when I heard Mum's sister say, "I've never looked after a puppy before. Now for some fun'! Strict instructions had been given on water allowances to avoid accidents on the carpet. And we had to have leads on when in the garden to stop us drinking puddles and pond-water. I knew I had to keep still for her to put my lead on, but instead I wriggled and squirmed and twisted and it took her an age. Once outside I pulled and dragged and dug at the grass and the flower borders, scattering earth over her feet and getting it all over my muzzle. I even knocked over some flowerpots. I knew that I was expected to spend a penny, but the longer I delayed this the longer I could play about outside. So we walked round and round and I was called 'stubborn' and labelled a 'handful'. But she still said she would have me again.

Two pigeons Koo and Kernel, and two squirrels visit our garden for nuts. I watch from the run or the cat-flap. I used to go through the cat-flap, but I soon found out why this was not allowed when I got my collar hitched on the flap. I would get stuck now I've grown.

Further chapters in the life of Katie will appear at regular intervals