Grace is our perpetual puppy, who shows no sign of slowing down on becoming a veteran. Less typical in temperament than Florence, she is rather nervous: sweet, affectionate and loyal with her friends but finding the rest of the world rather a trial. At 4 months old she was transformed from a normal inquisitive outgoing puppy into a nervous wreck - frightened of her shadow. Our vet believes she may have suffered a reaction to her second distemper puppy vaccination. Whatever the reason, she can be hard work as she is a worrier - and barks endlessly when disturbed - but, when relaxed, she is a sheer joy to have about. If people are prepared to see beyond her initial panic she quickly accepts them and is then their friend forever.
She is the most biddable Maremma we have owned, runs like a greyhound and tackles life with a mix of nervous energy and joie de vivre that is very engaging. She is a water baby - the dirtier the better - she will lie in puddles, wade in streams. Because of her temperament she was never bred from and retired early from the showring but she will always be very special to us and to those she has chosen as her friends.
Over the past two years she has relaxed considerably and she can now walk in the park and ignore the walkers, cyclists and joggers who used to be such a trial to her - a testimony to the power of TTouch. In the summer of 2006 she surprised us all by passing her KC Bronze Good Citizen test with flying colours - and with a male examiner at that! At the grand age of 9 it puts paid to the myth that you can't teach an old dog new tricks!
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Last updated August 2006
