Secrets to a Long Life – Thursday 14th November 2019

Secrets to a long life

Here are my secrets to a long life. Before I get started, I’d like to prove the first point I shall make. I’d like to send greetings to my sister Esther. She celebrated her 14^th birthday yesterday too and sent me this lovely photograph of herself.

Genes

From the fact that two of our litter made it to fourteen and one of my sisters only died a few months ago, I would have to say that genes do play an important part. I’m just sorry that my brother and other sister didn’t get all the good ones so they could join us in our celebrations. I would like to thank our mother, Anka and father, Elio for doing such a good job. Of course my lovely breeder in Belgium played a very big part. She chose the best stud dog for my mum.

An excellent vet

Now, I know I tell you about our lovely vet, but today I want to say a big thank you to them. Everyone at Galtres Vets is very special to all of us. They take such good care of us and we wouldn’t be here if it were not for the expertise. A very special thank you to Aunty Joyce who we all adore and who is very patient with us all when we’re difficult.

Good food

I’ve been well looked after foodwise all my life. From when my mum first looked after me, to the food that I moved onto as a puppy to the food I eat now. I’ve always like my food and our Mistress has to be very strict with me so I don’t eat everything in the house. She doesn’t let us have too many treats and the ones she does buy us are generally not too bad for me. While I’m telling you about the most important parts of our life I have to give a shout out to TS Hartley & Son’s Butchers. You all know I enjoy a good steak and we’re lucky enough to live very near to one of the best butchers you will find anywhere – and I do mean anywhere!

Love

I am a very loved dog. I know I give a lot of love too, but I couldn’t be happier with the love and attention I get. All too often you hear of old dogs who get less attention than young ones. In my case I’m pleased to say that hasn’t happened. Oh, I can’t get on the bed the way I used to, but our Mistress curls up on the floor with me some of the time instead.

Best of all, the lovely man in our village finished making my ramp in time for my birthday and now I can get up to the office again to spend time at her feet the way I used to. My Mistress wears what appear to be two wedding rings. One is because she loves our Master and the other one has my pawprints on it and inside it says Alfie – my soulmate and best friend. You can’t get much better than that.

Luck

Of course, there are many dogs who live a lot less time and who are just as loved, and have all the other things, so I suppose at the end of the day there is a big dose of luck thrown in too.

So there you have it, my secrets to a happy and long life – good genes, an excellent vet, good food, lots of love and a very large helping of luck.

Have a wonderful day

With love from

Alfie