Your Stories

February to March 2009: "In which I make lots of new four-legged pals and follow my little nose to the best food in the supermarket"

Darcy has had an interesting time of late... she has been with me to Harrogate to stay with my daughter and her little toy poodle Bridie. Darcy and Bridie get on well together in the house but outside Bridie charges at Darcy to get her to play while growling ferociously. It is her idea of fun but Darcy gets very nervous and hides behind me for protection. 

She came with us to The Valley Gardens, Harrogate to meet the informal dog club members (they meet daily to let their dogs play together) where she was fascinated by all around her but still slightly apprehensive; however she did fall in love with Harry, a black spaniel cross, and played very happily with him. 

A few days later another of my daughters - with three children aged from 3 to 11 - came to stay with us along with their two whippets, Libby, aged 6 and Rocket aged 6 months. Rocket and Darcy had a ball together running each other ragged until they collapsed in a heap to rest and recuperate before starting off once again. The children loved the excitement and I am pleased to say Darcy was very good and gentle with the little ones.

Sunday 1st March

Darcy came with us to admire the snowdrops at Anglesy Abbey. She attracted a great deal of attention with many people recognising her as Radio Cambridgeshire's puppy. I'm afraid she will get very big-headed with all the fuss she generates. 

On Monday she went to meet the guide dog puppy boarder who is going to take care of Darcy when John and I, along with our daughter and her friend, go on holiday in April. The meeting went very well and I am quite sure Darcy will be very happy and will enjoy her holiday.

Darcy goes to our local supermarket every day and loves the fuss she gets from both customers and staff. She behaves quite well but if we have to wait too long at the checkout she does give one or two barks to let everyone know she is bored.

Her nose goes nineteen to the dozen when she passes the meat, cheese and fish counters and in the vegetable section she is on the lookout for dropped carrots and broccoli which she adores - and the pet section is her idea of doggy heaven; she cannot understand why I don't let her tear open the exciting bags of pet food. 

Regards Diana John and Darcy

Keep-up-to-date with Darcy's diaries

We're going to continue following Darcy's training, bringing you regular updates on this website and in Sue Dougan's Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, so remember to keep your paws on this page for the next installment.

Darcy features: Introducing our new Guide Puppy; and Darcy makes her radio debut:

Darcy's diary part one:

Darcy gallery: When Darcy met Dougan. Some gorgeous photographs of little Darcy making her radio debut on Sue Dougan's show, taking her first training steps at Cambridge railway station, and meeting our radio reporters in the newsroom:

Darcy in training: Listen to Sue Dougan and Diana Reynolds taking Darcy to Cambridge railway station for the very first time:

And at 14 weeks of age, Darcy visits the village of Offord Darcy (after which she was named) and meets children at the local school, workers at an office, and contemplates having a shampoo and set at the village hairdressers'.