My kennel name, Duross, was registered, and all three dogs gained South African Champion status. My bitches had the third and sixth position in the top ten list for 2010 and the one was runner up Irish Wolfhound for 2011 and top bitch for 2010 and 2012.

My day usually starts a few minutes after the first birds start singing. I am awoken by very enthusiastic wet noses who know their morning walk is minutes away. They all sleep in my room, but the happiness they show when they realise that I am awake makes it seem as if they had seen me weeks ago.  We go for a nice long, off-leash walk in the open veld near my home. After breakfast their day is spent sleeping and taking up all the space near me. My husband calls them my moveable rugs. Later in the afternoon they know it is fun time again when they join me when I go to the farm where my horse is stabled. They love going to the stables as there are often rabbits and ground squirrels to chase and occasionally hoof shards to scavenge after the farrier was there.

I have a wonderful friend who owns a holiday home in Hartenbos, a lovely little coastal town in one of the most beautiful parts of our country. This is also the area where I grew up as a kid, so it is usually an extra special time for us to be there. We are so lucky to be able to take the dogs along and our days are filled with walks along the pristine beach. The joy and exuberance of my four legged children can only be imagined by somebody who had taken their wolfhounds to the beach too. It must be the openness and water that fills them with so much energy.