After my mother died in late 2004, and then losing my two beloved dogs within weeks of each other in early 2005, I was devastated.

I'm sure every dog owner has said "NEVER AGAIN - it's too painful when they go."  I even went out and bought two lovebirds and a hamster.

Nine months down the line I was missing a doggie companion.  Then I heard about a 7 month old Labrador X girl who was being rehomed so I said "OK, I'll take her", but it wasn't to be - the family changed their minds and kept her.  That night I bought the local paper and saw an ad for two Scottie pups aged five months.  I phoned up and the breeder arranged to deliver the wee boy on the Saturday.  So Macduff came into our lives.  A typical Scottie, a wee bit dour, very reserved (at first), and obviously not used to being cuddled a lot!  As I was still working (part time) I enrolled him in dog day care two days a week.  He loves it and his best buddy is John the Chocolate Labrador. 

At first Mac was definitely a man's dog and was almost always found lying beside my partner, Iain or any male visitors to the house.  Then I got broody again and Eilidh, the Jack Russell, came to live with us, aged six weeks, in 2006.

The first night she was with us I settled her in her cage and headed off to bed, expecting to get no sleep whatever.  I couldn't understand why she was so quiet - when I crept downstairs there's Mac lying beside the cage.  They are the best of buddies, and now Mac is playful and full of mischief - just like a daft pup again.  They still go to dog day care, but just one day a week now. And since I retired Mac has become a real mummy's boy and loves snuggling up for cuddles.