Walking a dog can result in forging valuable friendships, both canine and human.
Last year, on one of our ventures into the fields just above Southstoke, Flossie introduced herself to a couple of flatcoat retrievers.
She had clearly identifed that these two glamorous girls were potential playmates and, making full use of their doggy radar, they must have decided the same, because they sprinted towards each other as if they had planned to meet all along.
Before I knew it, we were walking along together, the three dogs bounding around like they’d known each other forever, and me and the flatties’ owner chatting away about anything and everything. We haven’t really drawn breath since.
I can’t think of many other scenarios where you would rock up to a complete stranger and instantly become friends. However, there is something about meeting a fellow dog-walker which immediately gives you a common interest and, more often than not, a great number of belly laughs.
Had we not had that encounter with the flatcoats and their human mum, we would not have been invited to a rather unique seasonal event – The Flatcoat Christmas Party.
Yes, I know. For those of you who don’t have dogs, or even some that do, this may seem slightly weird and a little indulgent, but for us, it guaranteed a hilarious afternoon. And, although Flossie isn’t a flatcoat retriever, we were delighted to be included in the fun.
Festive nibbles, a special doggy Christmas cake and even a Secret Santa ensured that Flossie, her hosts and two other flatcoat guests had the time of their lives as 20 galloping paws splattered mud across my friend’s immaculate kitchen.
I won’t mention which of the dogs helped themselves to the cake…
Flossie and I are already looking forward to next year’s event.
As published in the Bath Chronicle, 27 December 2018
Suzy Pope is a certified copywriter and newspaper columnist specialising in pets, business and lifestyle. If you would like help with a writing project, please get in touch.
