Ten years ago, we lived in a block of flats in the middle of Ljubljana and with a family of five, every corner of the flat was occupied. The twins were almost 11 years old and had been dreaming of having a puppy for a long time. My youngest daughter had not yet turned three, and it seemed impossible for me to be able to take care of her, even though I love animals very much. The twins’ birthday was approaching, and at one point I remembered myself when I was little and my immense desire to have a puppy, which I immediately brought home when I moved into the house. I consulted puppy mills and started looking for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. On their birthday I brought her home, it was a big surprise and the first time I saw them crying with happiness. What followed were happy but exhausting days of getting used to taking care of a baby dog, which also brought us a lot of joy. She was with us for ten years, and in between we moved to a house in the countryside. For the last two years she has been suffering from heart failure, like most of the breed. The vet was encouraging, so we were not ready for the morning when we found her motionless, as if asleep. Our Baika had gone to see the rainbow. My daughters were inconsolable, there was a huge emptiness inside me, my husband was racked with guilt because he heard her breathing heavily and only gave her a little comfort, and Tito the cat was shaking her with his paw to wake her up. We said goodbye to Baika, comforted by the thought that she had a very nice life with us and had received a lot of love. Baika went to the rainbow. I told the girls to think about what she had taught us about life with her love, loyalty, kindness and calmness. How important it is to enjoy the moments we share together, otherwise one day we may regret it. That it is no big deal to be hurt because she is gone, because that is still better than being afraid to love someone and be attached to them because one day they will be gone. When Baika was diagnosed, everyone at home knew that the end was near, we talked about a new puppy, but it still felt like a betrayal, so we always stopped that discussion. But then we couldn’t fill the hole in our hearts with anything. Every glance around the house stopped at the places where Baika had been. Every time we opened the fridge, we looked where Baika was. Nobody wanted to go for a walk anymore because there was no Baika. First covertly, then openly, we girls started looking at animal ads and shelter websites. When my husband found out, he said no dogs for at least six months, because we had to put them down first. But we couldn’t do it, and when one stopped crying, the other burst into tears. We had a stronger and stronger feeling that we wanted a new dog. Not so we could forget Baiko, but so we could keep on giving our love to the new furry creature and give him a wonderful dog life (my husband once reproached me when I was cuddling with Baiko: “I wish I was a dog. From Mojca.”

When looking for a new dog, we put the health of the breed above the character and appearance and warmed up to the cavapoo breed. Especially because it’s a mix with our beloved Cavalier, but because of the Poodle heritage with a reduced chance of heart defects. I saw the advert, called and Miha answered. He was short, not very talkative, waited for my questions and answered them, didn’t say much of himself. I didn’t like him very much and I didn’t think I would call him again. But we found nothing else, and the desire for a furry friend was growing almost by the hour. So I called Miha again anyway and asked him to visit. I was happy that he agreed to visit me right away, the same day, and the girls and I drove off excited. We didn’t tell my husband at home where we were going. Miha, who I liked in person right away, met us accompanied by some puppies who were happily jumping around. But when he brought out the cavapoo dog baby we had asked for, it exploded and it was as if we had been swept away in a whirlwind. We were sitting on the floor, and the puppy was jumping from one to the other like crazy, licking, sniffing and nipping at us. Her parents were also by her side. Miha was smiling at us from the sofa and I felt how warm a person he is and how sincerely he loves his puppies. That’s a real breeder, I thought, that’s the right basis for a puppy that can safely attach to people and the environment. We said goodbye after a while with mixed feelings and then I understood why Miha was not more chatty on the phone. He is very busy with his animals and I suppose a lot of people call him informatively, wanting to find out a lot of things, but perhaps not having any serious intentions to buy.

The afternoon passed quickly, sorting out our impressions, analysing the emotions and motives that led us to decide that this was it. Towards the evening I called Miha and asked him if we could come and pick up the puppy the same day. We managed to agree, followed by a quick visit to Mr.Pete on the way and we were back at the breeder’s. We sorted out the paperwork, got advice on care and handling, and a big package of food, toys and a blanket that smelled like the puppy’s mum.

Bonnie was excited when she arrived in her new home and was curious to explore. We introduced her to Tito the maincoon cat, who then spent the first two days firmly showing her that he was the boss. Later on Tito realised that Bonnie was not just visiting but would stay and they started to bond, he became more tolerant towards her and showed her how they could play.

Bonnie won her husband over at the first moment and he is happy that she shows her love for him so strongly. For me and my daughters, the bonding with Bonnie was slower because we were still grieving for Baiko, but she always brought a smile to our faces. Because of our experience with Baiko, we did not repeat the mistakes we made in raising Bonnie. We also found out on the first day that she is extremely intelligent and teachable, so we were extra careful what we did. “This is such a clever dog, she only has to see or experience once and that’s it”, we said to ourselves. So the very next evening we insisted that she slept in her cot next to our bed and did not give in to her pleas to be taken in. We soothed her and caressed her and insisted. Every night since then Bonnie has gone peacefully and contentedly to her cot and fallen asleep, never even trying to force her to spend the night on our bed. During the day, of course, we enjoy resting together and snoozing on all possible soft surfaces.

When we got home, we put nappies around the rooms where she was most often, to train her to be clean. After a week, it was clear to Bonnie that there was room for need. After a month, she started waking me up in the morning because she wanted to go outside. After two months we still haven’t caught the exact rhythm, mainly because we can’t always keep up with her when we are away from home, but we have found a pattern of her doing a big need and when we are at home she happens to do everything outside. Bonnie still does not like the dark and would prefer not to go out in the evening, but we are patient and believe that she will become more relaxed.

We also started obedience training on the first day. Bonnie was excited about the rewards and was ready to learn. At three months she has mastered space, sit, paw, heel, turn and roll. On walks we practiced “beside” and recall. Now she is learning to walk between her legs.

We have also been diligent with grooming since day one. We clean her eyes three times a day, so she no longer has brown spots under her eyes. We brush and clean her teeth every day and her ears once a week. None of these things bother her anymore and she can be groomed without any problems. We also insist on saying the word “paws” every time we come in from outside the house. Bonnie now understands that she sits on the carpet in the hallway and waits for us to wipe her paws before she wanders further into the house. She has also been to the dog groomer for an introductory visit, where she was introduced to the groomer, the room, the procedures and the equipment. Maria offered treats, clipped her claws and ear hair, groomed her paws, introduced her to the hairdryer and the sound of the barber. By the third visit, Bonnie was very trusting and relaxed, and by the fourth she will have a haircut. We bathe her at home and use conditioner because of the type of hair she has. Bonnie loves the water, so we have no problems there either.

When we leave the house, Bonnie waits in a wire pen in the living room. She has a bed, water, toys and a nappy. We always give her a thought toy with treats at that time to keep her distracted and tired.

What I really like about cavapoos is that their fur is silky and soft and does not shed. Yay, we can wear black trainers again!

Mih and I have stayed in touch and I’m glad when we hear from each other. Cavapoo is an extraordinary puppy, suitable for at least moderately active people, because he has a lot of energy for such a small puppy. She needs at least a two-kilometre walk in the countryside every day, and she also needs mental stimulation to keep her tired and happy, otherwise she goes on a rampage around the house. We have been hiding her on our walks since the beginning and rewarded her when she found us. Now she is also attentive to us when she is down and constantly checks where we are. She is very keen to find her stick, which she carries most of the time to the house, but drops it on the floor in front of the door when she says “leave it”. She has been to town and to the shops, but she is not a big fan of shopping. She has done well as a therapy puppy in the company of people with intellectual disabilities, allowing herself to be stroked, brushed and often willing to show off her tricks.

I believe that the behaviour and well-being of a dog reflects the character of the owner, so our Bonnie is gentle, playful and calm, just like us girls who work with her the most. We influence her with our energy. We know how to set boundaries and we are consistent, so she trusts us and feels safe. We have a respectful and responsible attitude towards her, and we are attuned to recognising her needs. Bonnie is protective, otherwise she doesn’t bleat or bark, except when she thinks we are in danger – strangers in the neighbourhood and unfamiliar cars.

Bonnie the cavapoo is an extraordinary puppy, special, interesting, lovable, smart, teachable, playful, just as dynamic, gentle, and whiny and expressive in her emotions. She is a real pleasure and joy to be around.

Her instagram profile: bonnie_thecavapoo

Mojca Kastrin