DEVON REX AND SPHYNX CATS

ORFLAITH - PITLOCHRY'S WEBSIDE AND

MEDHBH - PITLOCHRYS WINSOME MEDHBH

Whilst living in The Netherlands we decided our business needed a dog - we had an Irish bar and it was an excuse for Ann to convince Eoghan they would benefit from having an Irish breed to enhance their business reputation.  As always, being a man he fell for the excuse and so the search began. 

An Irish setter would be too excitable, the Irish terrier and Kerry Blue would be - terrierish for a bar, not too good for meeting and greeting people,children and other dogs.  Eventually Ann convinced Eoghan that Wolfhounds would be the best dog to have.  As you may realise, Eoghan was a dog virgin and had no real knowledge of dog breeds.  Eventually after much research a breeder in The Netherlands was found and an appointment was made to view the puppies.

Pitlochrys Winsome Medhbh (Medhbh) came to live with us in mid July 2000, followed 6 weeks later by Pitlochrys Webside (Orfhlaith).  These girls took over our lives big time with our working time being adjusted to ensure they were never left on their own for more than a few hours every day.  Living in a first floor apartment meant that Eoghan had to carry the girls up and down the stairs until their joints were mature - not easy when the girls at that time weighed about 50kg.  Most people think you need a very large house for a large breed.  What we found was you need to be tolerant and loving towards your dogs.  They not only share our lives, but also our bed and sofa. 

Orfhlaith (pronounced Orla) was a scared girl for all her life, but we loved her and coped with her terror of life outside her home.  She had dreadful skin whilst eating dried foods and Ann did lots of research regarding diets.  Orfhlaith was constantly at the vets having various treatments to stop her trying to eat the skin off her body, so much did it hurt her.  Once on the BARF diet her skin cleared up within 7 days and physically she never looked back.  Mentally she was always a wreck when outside our house, at times she was dangerous as her fear made her try to run away from anything - prams, bicycles, roller skaters and people in general.  Not good when living in the middle of Rotterdam which is a very highly populated city.  Ann had to travel 66km every day to the beach at Hoek van Holland to walk the girls as this was the only place Orfhlaith would relax.  Even then it was a case of scouting the horizen all the time to search for the well known Wolfhound Assassins who preyed on unsuspecting Wolfie girls (that was Orfhlaiths outlook on life, not ours).                         

                    Orfhlaith having fun on the beach

Tragically Orfhlaith was killed on her first day back in England, 31st May 2004.  For the first time in her life she appered to relax in Ann's new house and spent the evening running and playing in the garden with her sister Medhbh.  The next morning on her first walk in her new home she fell off a cliff and was killed instantly.  We all miss her tremendously, despite all her problems she was a star and a real Daddy's girl.

                        Medhbh enjoying the sunset

Our senior Wolfie Medhbh (Mave) is a totally different kettle of fish.  Laidback, sees no bad in anyone, loves life and carrier bags (well they do always contain food).  Medhbh was loved by everyone in our bar even though she would surf the bar top in the hopes of sharing someone's breakfast.  She is Ann's dog, loves all of the family and tolerates strangers, especially if they have sausages in their pockets.  She weighs in at about 80kg - a big girl who walks with a seductive swing of her hips.  She guards the house with care and vigour, patrolling her gardens every evening, issuing a challenge to any noise which she thinks is a risk to her family.  Medhbh is Ann's hearthound, running Eoghan a close second as the love of her life.

When her sister was killed, Medhbh was unable to understand what happened.  We did encourage her to see the body of her sister, but she showed no sign of recognition, what made Orfhlaith, Orfhlaith, had gone leaving behind just the container of her essense.  Medhbh did however, go into a depression, was sluggish and reluctant to go on walks.  It was the lack of interest in food that made us realise how much she was missing her sister.  After discussion with some Wolfie owners and breeders, we decided to get another girl.  A rescue was what we thought would help us all, we had so much love to give and Medhbh has never really likes puppies.  We travelled from Devon to London on several occasions to look at a rescued 4 year old bitch, but she and Medhbh didn't really hit it off.  Then we heard of a 7 month old bitch who needed a home due to her breeder being ill.  So - off to London again and we met Nelwyns Miss Abigail, a dark brindle girly who Medhbh tolerated - and so of course she came home with us along with a new name Ailbhe (Alva).

                   AILBHE

            NELWYNS MISS ABIGAIL

Ailbhe is a real clown and has almost healed the hole in Eoghan's heart caused by Orfhlaith's death.  She is a very athletic girl and a real hunter.  She catches rabbits, but then lets them go.  Unfortunately she does not like the grey squirrels that inhabit our woods and she catches and kills them with a quick flick of her head.  We are not fast enough to stop her doing this, but feel that she only catches those who are slowed down by illness.  Ailbhe has given Medhbh a reason to enjoy her walks again, although she is so ebullient that Medhbh is often seen giving Ann a look that tells us exactly what she thinks of this young, disrespectful whippersnapper.  If Orfhlaith was Eoghan's hearthound, then Ailbhe is his hiphound.  As soon as he comes in from work she attaches her head to his hip and stays there for about 30 minutes, until she is sure he will not leave

Medhbh on the left, Ailbhe on the right 

Here is Medhbh, almost 7 years of age, quite a matron for a Wolfie, still making us smile.  Is it any wonder we love her so much?? 

My lovely girls taking refuge from the dreaded carpet cleaner, taking solace and comfort from the closeness of each other.

This fabuous photograph was taken on Haytor, on Dartmoor, 5 minutes away from where we live.  It was taken by an American tourist and his friend, Jon and Wes who were visiting Devon to attend a wedding.  This was in January 2007, the wind was howling and it was cold!!  Of course, the girls revel in that kind of weather and we think it show in this photograph.  The landscape totally suits the girls natural, wild look and they look very much at home in this environment.   Many many thanks to Jon and Wes for sending us this photograph of our stunning girls.

Needless to say, we have had this copied professionaly and it is now on canvas on our sitting room room in pride of place.

The second not so fabulous photo is of one of my oldest friends, Jan Johnston of Mugwai Devon Rex on the right and myself.  Taken on the same day and our only excuse for the 'Michelin man' look was that it was a very cold, wet day - just the sort that the dogs revel in and we just shiver -brrrrr

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