Henry was an adorable and tolerant Clumber Spaniel who came from Clumber Rescue.

Unfortunately for him I begun to think dogs needed to have quite a bit of exercise and that he would love to come running with me.

At that point in my life I was at college studying animal management and welfare for three years before starting my successful pet-sitting business. Because Henry got on with other dogs out on walks I thought he’d be fine with one dog staying in the house at a time but Henry wasn’t impressed. Back then I wasn’t aware of the way dogs silently communicate although most of us pick up on some things and I could tell Henry wasn’t happy but I put it down to him having inflammatory bowel disease which I now know was probably caused by, or at least highly contributed to the way he was living.

In fact in hindsight I’d say he could have been depressed.

I loved Henry and cared for him with the knowledge I had at the time, but I hadn’t studied canine communication, stress in dogs or considered the dogs perspective. If only.

I’m deeply sorry for the mistakes I made and wished I’d been able to rectify them for poor Henry as I had been for Kaos.