It has taken me over six months to attempt to put pen to paper about my very special little man. The only reason I had Darcy was that Fleet (Snowhite Mystery) was in his pedigree some seven generations back. I brought him home not knowing that I had such a golden little sweetheart. He gave me the "oomph" back into training and also the confidence that I had lacked for several years.
I train my dogs through a lot of play and motivation and he was a natural, always "popping" about with a toy in his mouth. Everything was done at 100 mph and he very rarely "walked" anywhere as he was always too busy. He was so eager to learn like a little sponge absorbing anything new and he only had to be shown something a couple of times and he had got it.

My youngest son came home from university one weekend and was playing "footie" in the garden with the dogs. Darcy would immediately drop the ball on the command "enough". No problem but the first show (exemption) I entered him in he did a brilliant retrieve and then threw the dumb bell at my feet with the expression of " Go on then - kick it". From that day on I realised even more how clever this little dog was and needless to say nothing was ever kicked for him again!! Yes you could pick up a toy and throw it but not kick it. He loved sendaways and would run the length of a football pitch. He just loved life to the full and although sensitive was up for anything new. He loved everybody and didn't just wag his tail when he met you but wriggled his whole body from head to tail.

I entered about eight shows with him at the latter part of last season and he won four novices and was placed in all the others and I felt fully confident he would come out this season and cope quite easily with A and B.

Through the winter I normally give my dogs a complete "chill out" and only occasionally ask them to do a bit of work and demo at pet club. I decided to pack up working full time in March this year and not long after I was in the garden with the dogs and thought I'd do a retrieve with them. Darcy again excelled himself and did a perfect retrieve and that was to be the last time I ever worked him. Little did I know that three weeks later this poor little boy would be so ill.

He was at Bristol University for two weeks and they couldn't find out what was wrong with him, but basically his bone marrow packed up - no red or white cells or platelets being produced and severely anaemic. He was tested for everything including a bone marrow biopsy but no results to work on. This I find the hardest part as I don't feel I can put a final closure to his untimely death. He was sent home from Bristol after a blood transfusion with the instructions to keep him quiet and he could live another month - no way- he could do what the hell he liked. Thirteen days later he started to haemorrhage and we had to take that final visit. As his veins were so poor (blood tests every day at Bristol) he had to have three injections and it took about 10 minutes (not that he knew anything about it after the first jab) but still traumatic.

I have never felt this heartache and grief over anything in my life and I miss him so much, he was my soul mate and my best friend and I just miss his little antics, like talking to me if I was on the phone and bringing me a toy and trying to push it in my hand and then when I went to take it he would quickly pull away with a smile on his face. I would do anything to have my precious little man back and it just seems so unfair that this honest little dog had to leave at such a tender age with his whole life in front of him.

People say remember the good times but there were never any bad times with Darcy. Once in a lifetime dogs come in your life if you are lucky - well he was definitely one and I feel honoured and privileged to have been in part of his life. I don't think I will ever get over his untimely demise and I miss him so very much. I just hope he points me in the right direction if and when I ever have another dog.

God bless you Darcy I will love you till the day I die and I can be with you again at Rainbow Bridge.

Love from Mum and Dad, Murry and Geordie
xxxxx