About Daisy & Jack

Daisy came home on 30 December 2014, a little black Labrador from Fife who very quickly made it clear she had her own ideas about how life should work.

She has always been the stronger personality of the two — clever, stubborn, playful and never shy about letting you know what she wants. Water is still one of her favourite places, whether it is a loch, river or the sea, and she has never needed much convincing when an adventure involves getting wet.

When Jack arrived in 2016, Daisy seemed to take one look at the little chocolate puppy and decide he was partly her responsibility. At first she treated him almost like her baby. Ten years later, the relationship has changed, but one thing has not: Daisy is still the boss.

She keeps an eye on what Jack is doing, lets him know when he is being a pest and, somehow, he usually understands exactly where the line is. They have never needed big arguments to work out who is in charge.

These days Daisy definitely appreciates a good nap more than she used to, and ordinary walks are often taken at her own pace. But mention a proper adventure, open the car, reach the start of a mountain trail or find some water and Crazy Daisy is still very much there.

The grey face may say she is getting older, but the spark has not disappeared. When there is somewhere worth exploring, she still switches on.

She has been there through thousands of miles, countless wet paws, early starts, long days and the sort of moments that seemed ordinary at the time but became memories later.

Crazy Daisy, the boss of the pack — older, wiser, very fond of naps, and still ready when adventure calls.

Jack came home on 8 August 2016, a chocolate Labrador from the Isle of Bute — and he has been our island boy ever since.

He is a big, strong Lab with a gentle nature, but there is always something going on in that head of his. Jack likes to explore, retrieve, investigate and generally make sure he is involved in whatever is happening. He is calmer than Daisy in some ways, but give him a trail, a beach or somewhere new to discover and he is off looking for the next interesting thing.

He is also extremely social — and very vocal. Jack does not just meet people on walks, he likes to talk to them. Grumbles, little noises, impatient comments and full conversations are all part of the package. He seems convinced that almost every person we pass has been put there specifically for him to meet, and if someone stops to talk back, his day is made.

On longer adventures he earns his place in the team. When we go hiking or camping, Jack carries his own backpack with their food inside. For a strong Labrador who loves being part of everything, it somehow suits him perfectly — off he goes with his pack on, carrying his share like he knows there is a job to be done.

Of course, there is another side to Jack: he is a professional pest when it comes to Daisy.

He knows how to annoy her, especially when he wants to play or get a reaction, and Daisy has no problem reminding him who is in charge. But underneath all of that, their bond is obvious. Jack might wander ahead exploring, but he always knows where Daisy is. At home he looks for her, in the garden he checks what she is doing, and on an adventure the two of them are never really separate for long.

Now ten years old, Jack is still very much Jack — curious, strong, attention-loving, talkative and ready to see what is around the next corner.

Jack — island boy, gentle giant, professional pest, backpack carrier, full-time conversationalist and unofficial mayor of every walk.