My Mate

She is an old lady now, none of the four of us are quite sure how old, even the Vet hedged her bets, but we think we have had her for around fourteen years.
She still pulls on her lead all the way round on her walks, still barks and ‘struts her stuff’ by her biscuit bin and still scatters the food out of her bowl across the kitchen floor as though she is looking for one particular nugget amongst dozens.

She races upstairs to be first to the bed and turns from Jack Russell to Great Dane as she stakes her claim.
People passing the front of the house still get a good barking at although they probably don’t notice, by the time Gussie realises and barks they are long past.

There was a time when with her speed she could race across the lounge, up onto the armchair barking and startle the Post Lady, now she just lifts her head to acknowledge the Post Lady’s cheery wave.

Gussie remains great company and great fun.