Brother Jason is her favourite to go on walkies with, however, and they go for enormously long cruises. We have bush trails right at the entrance to our property and we can go for miles. She is beautiful on lead and has adjusted to her harness well. Kangaroos and black cockatoos are very interesting and she whines with eagerness when she sees them. Not for you though Miss Maisie Moo! Jason adores her and she adores him.

It took about two weeks of controlled introductions, but Gizmo the Ragdoll Cat now has Maisie firmly in her place. I couldn’t call them friends, but at least Gizmo doesn’t terrify her anymore! Ponies, however, are the devil and she wants nothing to do with them!

She arrived a little lean post-surgery but has put on weight slowly but surely and is now a lovely shape. Her coat is gleaming and her eyes are bright.

Her personality has completely opened up and she is showing her true self – loving, affectionate, bright, curious, playful, willing to learn. She has learned stay, down, heel, come, on your bed. As a nearly two year old she is still a little ‘puppy brain’ in her attention span though, so obedience sessions are small and often. Greys are so different to Labradors to train. You have to be very quiet, gentle and patient so they don’t ‘worry’. Labradors like excitement, Greys like gentle reassurance. It’s interesting learning different breeds and their ‘style’.

She has not learned ‘Don’t chew my stuff you cheeky @#$%’ yet and so our collective shoe, socks, book and teddy bear stocks are getting low. As a silver lining it is encouraging my kids to put their stuff away!

She looooves car rides and waits at the door of every car, visitors included. Her last visitor brought her a custom-made pure wool housecoat for the chilly winters in the hills. I shouldn’t have bothered though as she curls herself into a tiny folded-up ball to sleep on my giant armchair in the corner of my bedroom – mohair throw positioned just right. That’s after I’ve kicked her off the bed for hogging the doona.

She is dearly loved and so much a part of the family. I can’t thank GAWA enough – and all her supporters that helped her through her early medical issues. We will always be grateful.