Ever since I was younger my sister and I have always asked for a dog, like every child we would promise to walk it all the time and it would be our responsibility. Finally after years of constant pestering my parents agreed. It was my dad that suggested to look into Flatcoated Retrievers (I hadn't even heard of them before) but I am so glad he did.
I remember the day that we went to see the puppies. I don't know what made us decide on Ally - he was sitting at the back of the wooden pen with all his other brothers and sisters he was a little unsure of us all at first but soon came around. A week later we were allowed to take him home, I remember he peed in the living room as soon as he came in, nervous pup! I am sure anyone who has had a puppy can totally relate to how difficult the first couple of months are but it was all worth it in the end and he soon became a little member of the family.
Having a little play in the snow.
Sadly just after Christmas last year he started limping, as he got crazy runs up at the fields where we stay we originally thought he just hurt himself but the limp went on for a while and my dad took him to the vet. At first they thought it was an infection in his paw but after going to a specialists in February we found out it was a tumour in his leg (unfortunately cancer is extremely common in the breed) The last two months were really difficult as Ally completely changed he was really tired all of a sudden and went completely off his dog food (it is a very common symptom). In the last week Ally was really ill, he wasn't eating anything not even human food and probably the hardest thing to watch was when he was spitting up blood. So on Friday the 18th of April we decided to take him to the vet, although it was so difficult we knew it was for the best and he wouldn't be in pain anyone. People always seem to ask the question 'will you ever get another one?'. Right now I think it is far too soon to start talking about another dog and I would only see it as replacing Ally but maybe in the future it is something that as a family we would look into.
Flatcoats are nicknamed as the 'peter pan' dog as they basically never grow up, it's just in their nature. A day after he was diagnosed with a tumour my mum came back with the weekly shop and wondered where he was only to find him in the living room eating a pack of raw steak that he stole from the shopping bags.
Before having a dog I never knew how much they become part of your family, I honestly cant explain it but they just do. If I get another dog in a year from now or even ten years from now I can definitely say it will be a flatcoat as they are honestly the best breed ever, little biased I know.
Although he was only around for six years he had plenty of adventures
