Mack came to us as a puppy from a farm in the Shropshire Hills, I remember going in the landrover with Richard to pick him up! As a puppy he was quite a tearaway, sadly being hit by a car on the road when he wandered out of the gate whilst I was getting logs. This resulted in a metal plate and pins in his back leg, which stiffened him up as he got older. Puppy classes at Farlow and Oreton village hall followed, where we managed to learn a few basic commands, although he never mastered returning and giving up a ball! I was not the best owner as I was always reluctant to walk him up and down Cleobury High Street to familiarise him with other dogs! A trip to the Vets was always a big adventure for him and he loved to go, however I did manage to shut his tail in the boot one time, making him rather reluctant to get in the car for a while!
As he settled down I was happy to let him roam the farmyard but unfortunately he sometimes decided to join other people on their walks! At least once we had to collect him from the Lion in Cleobury and on another occasion he was brought home in someone's car, his paws on the dashboard in the front passenger seat! It was also embarrassing when he stole a guest shoe or ball, usually hiding under the trampoline which I had to crawl under to retrieve the stolen item!
He was a darling with guests, I am sure he thought everyone was here to make a fuss of him! He always managed to pay them a visit at breakfast, always knowing the exact moment I was busy cooking to sneak in for a fuss! Fortunately most guests adored him too, always insisting he could stay with them! I can remember one family arriving with a small child who was absolutely terrified of dogs who refused to get out of the car (why book a farm B&B with a dog?!!) but by the time they left the child was sobbing because he didn't want to leave Mack! He was always so gentle with small children, somehow understanding that he needed to be gentle with them, he put up with a lot of boisterous behaviour!
Over the last few years he had slowed down and walks were few and far between, he had been known to get so far then sit down and refuse to go any further, on at least one occasion meaning Richard walking home for the truck to carry him him! Although he could alwasy rouse enough energy to chase the cat, particularly if Fizz was trying to sneak into the house!
