✍️ Postcard from Otto ✍️
“I just wanted to say hello again and thank you!
It was my birthday this week and I am a big, sensible (ha, ha!) six now. (Mum says I am not so sensible when I spring up to get apples off the tree!) 🍏🍎🍏
I have been in my new home for 2 years and am very, very happy here – I enjoy lots of lovely long walks and get plenty of cuddles 🥰
I am just back from my holiday in the Outer Hebrides – I loved it there, running free on the beaches. 🏴The Scots called me a “bonnie” dog (which I think means rather handsome!)
I love hearing stories of homes you have found for my fellow Springer Spaniels and how you also help make them better if they need treatment.
Thank you NWESSR for all you do!”
One year ago I swapped palaces and have had an eventful time bringing my new staff up to standard. It is still a work in progress as even this update is a week late because my butler went away for the weekend and left me with the under-butler for my gotcha day.
Anyway, let me tell you about the last year. The summer was great I was getting to know my way around the palace and grounds. I spent time explaining to my staff what was expected of them. I designated the local park as Royal but allowed others to continue to use it as I am humble at heart and like company when I walk.
In the autumn my staff took me to a private hospital, and I had a sleep but woke up with a scar on my tummy, the butler said it was a necessary procedure whatever that means. Anyway, I took a few weeks off my hectic schedule to recuperate.
Unfortunately, after my recuperative I realised that my staff were not performing to standard, so I took them to see Jan @DogWerx for some training. This worked incredibly well, and they are now trained to the whistle, 2 peeps and they look for instruction, lots of peeps or using the “come” command and they run over and sit by me. Whilst they are good, I do have to demonstrate this on a daily basis to make sure they remember the commands. The one peep ‘stop’ command is still work in progress.
Having mastered recall and attention I now allow my staff off lead in the local woods. They are doing well but only manage 5 miles of walking per day, so I must run around to make up the distance. However, they are proficient at laying scent trails which I humour them by following and searching for treats.
My staff are well behaved in cafes and pubs which make life easier. I took them away to the Lake District at Christmas and they were very well behaved. So much so that I took them back in February. In June I booked a cottage in Devon with 3 acres of paddock for them to explore. Heading home I stopped in the New Forest where they became extremely excited and wanted to explore; however, I kept them on a long line because the wild ponies.
All in all, this has been an excited year. I have settled into my new palace well; the local shop keepers show their respect for me with treats and my Royal park and woodland provide excellent access to exercise. The staff are shaping up nicely and with continued training will have jobs for life.
Thank you NWESSR for managing my move so well and for finding such a suitable palace with attentive and trainable staff 😁🏰🏰😁
✍️ Hello folks 👋👋
My name is Harvey, and here I am with my older brother Toby. I am 10 and he is 12!
Two years ago I was adopted from NWESSR and became part of a loving family 🥰
I’m very proud to announce that I’ve now been awarded my Kennel Club Silver Award 🥳 I’m now now working towards my KC Gold Award 🥇
I’m a very good boy, and a very happy Harvey indeed!
Love and licks xxx
Hello! It’s me, Harry. I can’t quite believe it myself, but today I am three years old. Apparently that means I’m all grown up now… though I still think zoomies are a very serious and important activity.
I wanted to write to tell you how happy I am. I’ve learned so much since I found my way home. I love my house—every cosy corner, every comfy spot, and especially the places where the snacks live. I love my walks, with all their exciting smells, important messages left by other dogs, and the feeling of the world opening up in front of me. I love playtime too—running, chasing, tugging, and being just a little bit silly.
And my doggy friends! Oh, I love them so much. They’ve helped me learn how to be brave, how to share, and how to have fun just being me. Every wag, every sniff, every happy greeting reminds me how good life is now.
Most of all, I want to say thank you to NWESSR for rescuing me when I needed it most. You gave me a second chance, even before I knew how much I needed one. Because of you, I have a safe home, kind humans, full food bowls, warm beds, and a life filled with love. You didn’t just save me—you gave me my best life.
So here I am, three years old, growing up, growing braver, and growing happier every day. My heart is full, my tail is always wagging, and I promise to keep living the joyful life you helped make possible.
With endless wags, sloppy kisses, and all my love,
Harry 🐶 💙
Hi 👋👋 just an update from me, Oakley (formerly known as Oake)
I have now been with my new family for 15 weeks and so far I have been on 3 holidays!!!
I had a week in a cottage with the younger hoomans and their dog. We went on lots of lovely walks, I swam in the river, went to the pub (often), went on a train and a ferry. I also saw some deer right by the cottage.
I have also been away twice in our motorhome – it was great. I can sit and look out of the window, watching sheep and horses. I have been to the beach and swam in the sea. I have also been to lots of National Trust places – there I go on long walks and have ice cream! 🍦
Mum says that I am getting better at walking nicely on my lead – I don’t pull as much as I used to. I have met lots of new doggy friends on our daily walks. I like playing in the garden and helping mum dig up the plants, and chasing flies x
“Otto is the most loving, calm and cuddly dog when he is at home and just wishes to be close to us. Outdoors we are lucky where we live in that he has plenty of places he can run free, (away from roads and cats!) and he is great off leash and his recall his good.
His food allergies/diet are all under control and he has a beautiful, soft glossy coat and super curly ears. He had his annual vet check this week and got a clean bill of health, in tip top condition the vet said.
We leave him in a small local boarding home while we go on holiday and he always returns with a glowing report and gets on well with other dogs there. He has a real sense of mischief and fun and certainly keeps us on our toes when he runs off with things he shouldn’t have!”
We love getting updates on our NWESSR Springers, and this one is no exception 🥰
✍️Hi, Murphy here, just checking in after a year with my mum and dad.
I am loving my new life. I get to go lots of lovely places every day. The river is my favourite, I would stay swimming and fetching for ever but mum says I can’t, I don’t mind cos the rest of the walk is great too. Soon we are going back to Scotland 🏴 where there is a giant lake right there, I can see it from the window and get to swim all the time!
At home I play fetch the ball on the field which is great fun! Playing with balls is my very favourite thing.
I love my family, especially the little people. When they visit , well, they are great fun, 5 little people to play with 😍
I have just had my 9th birthday but I am still learning. I have learnt that all food is not for me! And that not all things are toys, I’m told quite often that some things are not toys and I can’t have them but mum gives me something which I can have instead.
Apparently, there’s never a dull moment with Murphy. I think that’s good cos everyone says it!
Ooh, we have another update from Gus in his new home ✍️✍️ He’s told us:
“My human has bought a Smart watch; it’s recording over 14000 steps a day. As you can see, I’m keeping him busy, and getting a little tired later on in the day too 😴
He has bought a whistle and I run to him when it sounded. I get treats that way! He’s booked a private training lesson, and I’m interested what he is going to learn from that. 😁 The life jacket he ordered is yet to be delivered; I think he’s planning a short break by the sea later in the year.
I’ve met more dogs and humans.
Here’s a photo of me on my bed – 08:55am!!”
“Hi, Milo here. I’ve been with my new family for a little over a year now and I’ve been having a great time. My mum wasn’t best pleased at first as I pulled her over and broke her arm (whoops) but she loves me regardless. After this they made sure I now walk on the lead much better I have been on lots of adventures in different parts of the country and I love where I live in the countryside with lots of birds to chase – my favourite thing. I have learnt lots of new things and as I am a gundog I have been to gundog training and have certificates to show off. I especially liked the scent training which my nose is perfect for. I even won the most handsome lad in our village fete and got a rosette. I LOVE going to the pub and meeting new people and doggie friends. I also love the bus where everyone seems to love me too. I am so happy to be where I am and thanks to Wendy for introducing me to my new family”
