Both of our girls are over 18 months old now.

Daisy is a bit of a mystery to us. She has many Smithfield traits, such as an independent streak, strong herding instincts and is a very visual communicator. She swings from brave protector of our property, tenacious herder of her sister and others when out running, to timid wall flower, with triggers we do not yet fully understand.

She has taken recently, to sitting in our Agapanthus plants. It is cool (she likes that), hidden (likes that to) and allows her to keep an eye on a likely exit point, the side gate, which is much like her habit of laying in the hall near the front door (another very Smithy trait, old Jack shared).

I often think of dogs as coming in two broad forms; complicated and simple (not dumb, just simple and easy to read).

Daisy is very complicated.

Sometimes knick-named “help yourself”, Lucy is on the other hand as straight forward as they come, just ask her.

Both show bullet proof tendencies, bottomless loyalty to us and each other, and are very affectionate. After playing together full-on for an hour or more, then are then found cuddling up together, but they do see life very differently.