I cannot believe Coop is one. Where did the time go? I still remember coming across his photo online as if it was yesterday.

What can I say? He changed our lives. Just like all dogs do. In their own, very unique, way. I love the one Cooper’s given us. So different from Oscar, yet neither of them are replaceable (if only I could slow down the time a little…)

The pup has become a young adult. Exceptionally beautiful, the sweetest, incredibly smart, very complicated and utterly spoilt. He loves us and me and him are inseparable to the point of functioning as one at times. He learned his dog tricks (the “sit”, the “down”, ” the paw” and “high five”, “stay” and “come” etc. etc. etc) and makes me happy every day by walking by my side in a sweet bouncy manner because he is so good at loose lead walking (not always, but most of the time, which is good enough for me at this point).

His coat is growing wonderfully. I tidy it up every few weeks, just so it looks as good as it possibly be at this age. The daily routines are tuned to Coops’ perfect schedule: getting up at 6, having breakfast, quick run to the garden, nap, walk, wash, blow-dry and grooming, play, nap, walk, nap, play, nap, dinner and more napping and playing. He is now sleeping through the night, too, which is a blessing.

We switched to his adult food as planned and everything went so smoothly and stress-free! I could not be happier about it. Fingers crossed we can report back in a month or so and make permanent and long-lasting commitment to it as well as expand a little into home-cooked and wet meals once in a while.

Admittedly, when it comes to nutrition, I have been studying it for the last year to fill the gaps and be as confident in dogs nutrition as I am in human. I’m also improving my knowledge in anatomy and physiology as I felt I didn’t know as much as I’d love to.

As the spring approaches, we are looking forward to longer walks, travelling and visiting the National Trust places again. Since Cooper is so good with long journeys and loves to stay in cottages (Oscar would get very miserable about other people’s homes – only liked his own), we may even venture out for another adventure. The time will tell.

And so off we went on an adventure. It was Coop’s first proper trip in a car from one end of the country to the other. Of course, I could count in his very first journey back home in an opposite direction, but he was tiny and very much asleep the entire time, so that would not really count.

Honestly, I was nervous. Cooper is usually very good in a car but the longest drive we’ve ever had so far would last for about 2 hours if not less. This time we had to travel for at least 3 1/2.

On the day I made sure that he had his breakfast early enough and at least 2 hours before the journey. Then we took him to his favourite place where the boy happily sprinted around the fields and wood for good 40 minutes and most definitely emptied his systems as nature required.

We then returned home. Coop had a wash and blow-dry with me while Simon prepared his place in the car with a soft blanket and my Coops favourite pillow. I also had plenty of water, some kitchen towels and a plastic bag by the seat, just in case.

And despite all my worries, the boy did good! He fidgeted in the beginning mainly because we headed in a completely different direction and he wanted to admire the scenery. Eventually, though, the run and the recent blow-dry won over and he fell asleep for most of the journey, which, frustratingly, took us over 4 hours.

When we finally arrived, the cottage was also new to everyone, but Cooper was brilliant. He still demanded to be let out into the garden, slept in his bed (most of the time) and never lost his appetite. Compared to Oscar who passionately hated all homes but his own, it was such a relief!

Next morning brought yet another little adventure as we all went to explore the villages. At first, Cooper sprinted through the streets in a manner of a mad rocket, but then calmed down and elegantly bounced back to the car like the most obedient cocker spaniel out there.

And then he fell asleep again and hardly ever woke up as we headed back home. I think the only time he would pop his head up was the street lights – the rest of the journey was, as they say, plain sailing.

I think he enjoyed it, though found it rather tiring as he spend the next day napping in our  his bed on my his favourite pillow.