Since we first brought Leica and Flash, and later KiKi to live with us we have had to deal with what I call the “Disney” effect. The popularity of the “101 Dalmatians” films seems to have created a disconnect in many peoples minds between reality and fiction. For years we have experienced people and children in particular, rush towards our dogs thoughtlessly, reaching towards their faces and stooping to look at them in the eye. Were the dogs of a different breed I’m pretty sure this would be much less common.

Flash, for her part, greatly enjoyed meeting and greeting people. Indeed when the situation was reversed, when she rushed forward enthusiastically to greet strangers as she often did, and was met with disinterest or at times distaste, even fear, she seemed genuinely puzzled. Leica has always been more reserved and will still shy away from what she feels to be an intrusion, seeking shelter behind us.

In our attempts to better understand KiKi we have looked for help and advice in many areas. In books, in person, online and in TV programmes, we have tried to find the tools and techniques we need in order to help her live a fuller life, one in which she will not feel that she needs to react aggressively to any situation.

While he has attracted a great deal of criticism in many quarters for his (at times) coercive techniques, I recall Cesar Milan, a.k.a. ‘The Dog Whisperer’, explain to more than one owner who has had issues with their dog’s behaviour that the dog is a dog first and foremost. Before it is a dog of any given breed, before it is a named individual pet.

Some dog breeds have been ‘engineered’ over generations to be more suited to certain tasks, to exhibit specific characteristics whether it be shepherding, hunting or retrieving. I can’t imagine too many people rushing to stick their face inches away from the jaws of a Doberman, Rottweiler or German Shepherd and however misguided such apprehension about these dogs might be, there are days when I wish those Dalmatian films had never been made.

KiKi is a loveable creature at heart, graceful and beautiful in my eyes. She is though, a Dalmatian. Lively, energetic and maybe a little excitable. First and foremost though, she is a dog and she will without fail, behave as one.