Zoe’s first spuddle on the Hennie H

After a week of endless rain, we finally had two lovely spring days, so how better to enjoy them than on the water?

We spent them on the Vereeniging as a kind of weekend away, and had a surprise visit from my daughter and her boyfriend on Saturday evening as a Mother’s Day gift. My other daughter joined us too, and a very splendid time was had by all, including the three puppies (one per household), on the foredeck of the boat. We ate pizza, drank a glass or two of wine and fed treats to the dogs, who were as entertaining as exuberant pups will always be. 

But today we had another kind of celebration. We took Zoe to the Hennie H for her first ever spuddle in preparation for our summer holiday travels and I’m very happy to report it went very well indeed. Just for security, I attached her lead to the railings, but she seemed quite content to sit in her bed on deck and watch the world pass her by. 

After all the years of adapting our lives to Sindy, my beloved dobermann/labrador cross who was terrified of moving boats, I was nervous about Zoe’s response, but I needn’t have worried. She was quite unperturbed by the manoeuvring and the revving and took it all in her stride. I can’t tell you what a relief that was and, of course, she was rewarded in the way dogs love best — with treats. Well, this one does. She’s not a little tubby spaniel for nothing. 😁

Nevertheless, it was clearly more stimulating than we thought because as soon as we returned to the Vereeniging, she sparked out on the sofa and slept for several hours. Bless her. We’ll have to take her out a few more times to  get her used to it all, but this has been a great start.