We went to view Theo (he was called ‘puppy’ then) when he was 12 weeks old. We only wanted to look to get an idea of what we thought we wanted in a puppy and so we had something to compare with, when we got home we couldnt stop talking about him and found ourselves shopping for doggy beds, toys and even what food would be good too. 2 weeks later we picked him up and bought him home.

He is a very happy, playful and cheeky dog that doesn’t like to sit for too long. when he was 6 months old we had to put him in kennels for the night as we were at a wedding, we decided to leave early and go home to take him for a walk in his favourite spot, but when we collected him he was unable put his hind left paw down. We took him straight to the vet and was told he had cruciate damage. Where he over used his right leg he then suffered the same on this leg too. We found out that the workers at the kennels had hosed down the area he was staying in and he had jumped up (he is a very jumpy dog), had slipped and thats how the injury was caused.

Theo needed an operation that we were told would cost over £5,500, money we simply didnt have. The vet suggested crating him to see if time it would ease (but never heal) after 4 months in a crate he was finally aloud out and back to having walks and playing with other dogs. We are very mindful of his knees and dont let him walk for too long or play too ‘hard’ when running around with others and this seemed to be working, it has been 18 months now and he is great and happy.

We came home at the start of the week and noticed he again is lame on his left leg, holding it up and not weight baring on it at all, the vet has put him on pain killers and this is helping but we know they operation is needed and we either pay for it and bring him home when he wakes up or we have to sign him over to the vets.