We obtained Jasmine from the Briarfields animal sanctuary at Lisacul, Roscommon
in October 2003. Despite the fact that we were looking at over
a dozen puppies, she immediately pushed herself forward in the crowd and
started licking at each one of us in turn (Imelda, Sorcha, my Mother and
I). She was difficult to resist and a payment
of €50 secured her. She is a cross between a labrador and a collie and was about three months
old when we obtained her. She is the friendliest
dog I have ever met. To this day I have never heard her growl, or show any impatience at any of us, or anyone
else she has been introduced to and yet when she is on "guard dog duty", you would have to be a very brave person to approach her.
(click on pictures to obtained
larger images)
She went through a chewing stage in the early days and quite a few
household objects became the centre of her attention (hose pipes, cycle
seats, etc.), however she knew she had over-stepped the mark when she
started munching on my giant chess set pieces.
I am not sure whether it was the cross words, or the kick on the backside, but she never did it again.
Luckily, the chewing phase has been
over for some time and we never come across chewed items anymore. She
grew up with Lofty and Jessie (cats) and treats all "introduced" cats as
"honorary dogs". However, she considers
any uninvited cats wandering over our property as
"fair game". She has always had a special fondness for Jessie and on many occasions we have seen them walking
around the farm together.
She has a bad habit of jumping up and holding on to the ponies tails.
To say that they are displeased at this treatment, is a bit of an
understatement. I am surprised that they haven't managed to give Jasmine
a well aimed kick, but they often go out of
their way to chase her if they see her coming. Jasmine is friendly with the goats, chickens and rabbits and struts around the
farm with me during the morning and evening rounds,
when we are checking all the animals, as though she is also their parent.
Since 2004, Jasmine has also
expanded her “doggie” skills and on occasions
when the rabbits have escaped, if she hears the command "where's the rabbit",
will frantically start sniffing their trail, chases
after them and brings them back to us by the scruff of their necks.
Jasmine, like all dogs loves chasing games, fetching
objects and playing "tug of war" with sticks. Strangely (for a labrador), she is not too enthusiastic about water, She doesn't
mind paddling and rain, buts hates swimming and hose pipe spray on hot days!
She stays overnight in my mother's porch,
but wont go into any cottage unless she is "invited". A neighbour
once remarked that she is a "lady with manners".
