"We are going to see a photographer to have our picture taken" replied Kordette, leaping in the air and doing an almost about turn so she was facing her brother.

"To have what?" exclaimed Korde. Trepidation had crept into his voice, Korde prefered the idea of a day in the garden, playing with the leaves and visiting his old friend Bossy the retired cart horse, who lived in the field next door.

"You have forgotten it is our birthday tomorrow, haven’t you? Kordette asked.

"Oh, right, yes. Are we having a party?" inquired Korde, trying to evaded his obvious bad memory, several friend had already been invited including the Old English Sheep dog with paws the size of plates, and the two Iris Wolfhounds from the next village.

Somehow I doubt it thought Kordette seeing the state her litter brother was now in. "The Owners thought it would be a nice idea to have a picture of us." She said, hoping Korde might take the hint and stop messing around in the pile of wet leaves.

"Don’t think I like that idea much" he replied tossing more leaves around and talking under his breathe. Right then there was a loud cry of horror from an upstairs bedroom window.

"Oh no! Mum! Mum! Just look at Korde and Kordette!" Mrs Owner appeared from the back of the house and was clearly not amused.

"I thought I had told you to come straight back into the house" she said in rather an annoyed voice. Korde and Kordette looked a bit sheepish and ran indoors.

The eldest daughter, Debbie, had acted quickly and was ready to take Korde and Kordette to the grooming room to remove the leaves and clean them, ready for the visit to the photographers. Odd as it may sound, they had a small hand held vacuum cleaner to use, this saved a great deal of time.

Mrs Owner stood at the door watching her daughter work on the young Pulis, and clearly relieved when she straightened up from the grooming table, having banished the last leaf from Kordettes coat.

"Their coats are really like mops" she declared to her mother, and suggested they carried the young Pulis to the car. She picked up Kordette and heading for the car. Korde stood looking rather sheepish in his kennel, and Mrs Owner had the feeling he might well run off given the chance, which he was not given. Kloe and Kloggs were already waiting very patiently in the rear of the car, there were two specially installed cages for them, with comfortable duvets for them to sit on. On seeing the younger Pulis being carried out, Kloe let forth a very loud bark and she pushed and nuzzled the puppies around as they were placed in the crate with her. Clearly knowing her puppies had been just a bit naughty.

The car started to move down the drive with Mrs Owner at the wheel and her daughter beside her.

"I do hope they are going to be good" said Debbie, looking over her shoulder to see what was going on.

"Looks as if Kloe has things under control now" replied her mother. "But" she added softly enough for the passengers in the back not to hear "if there is any more nonsense, the puppies can forget any idea of a party tomorrow, surprise or not."

The journey was not very long, luckily the photographer had a parking area in front of his shop. Debbie carefully put the leads on the Pulis and handed those of Kloggs and Kords to her mother, whilst she took Kloe and Kordette and they headed towards the shop.Having never been inside a photography shop before, it was all very new and strange to The Mops. A young lady came forward saying the photographer, would be with them shortly and showed them into a brightly coloured waiting room. From behind another door there sounded to be a considerable amount of commotion, suddenly four dogs and their owner came flying out followed by the photographer.

Coming to abrupt halt the dogs looked at The Mops and then at each other.

"Goodness" said one "what are you?" looking with interest at The Mops corded coats.

Kloe moved forward saying "We are Hungarian Pulis and who are you?"

Benny, the eldest was going to say "we are The Nuts", but decided against it, instead introduced himself and family.

"These are my kids, Jenny and Crocker, and Mary their mother. We are known as Cocker.

Indeed the puppies looked very sweet, Jennie had a cream coloured coat and Crocker silver.

"Mary and me are extremely proud of the children" continued Benny "they have been trained as hearing dogs for deaf people. Today Jenny and Crocker have had their photographs taken to give to their new owners."

"That sounds most impressive" said Kloggs, "pity our kids couldn’t do something like that!"

"Hope they are going to be all right. I am still worried about the leaving home and going out to work at such a young age." Mary added with a tear in the corner of her eye.

"You mean they …. Work ? And get paid?" asked Korde, momentarily thinking of huge amounts of money to spend.

"No, no" responded Benny. "They have had a great deal spent out on them, what with the training and everything. The work Jennie and Crocker do is very important, it improves the life style of people who are hard of hearing." Korde felt a bit ashamed of his thoughts, and said no more.

By now the photographer was getting a bit anxious, his next client a Great Dane would be coming soon. Mrs Owner volunteered to help Benny’s owner take his family out to their car, where, unbeknown to The Mops, she invited them to the party the following day. The same party she had been threatening to cancel most of the morning.

"Oh, that would be wonderful." said Mary "Jennie and Crocker will be leaving home at the end of the week, they are getting a bit anxious about going, so a party with friends would be lovely."

Soon the photographer had the pictures of The Mops, Kloggs, Kloe, Korde and Kordette made a wonderful family group and just for good measure, a photograph was taken of Mrs Owner with her daughter, The Mops sitting at their feet.

Next morning Mrs Owner went shopping and returned to The Manor with lots of exciting things for the party. Korde and Kordette had a feeling something was going to happen, but had no idea what. They were told to play out doors, then brought in and given - what Miss Owner described as - a very special grooming.

The Younger Pulis did not share this idea, especially on their birthday.

Mid afternoon the secret was out, when several of their friends from the village arrived and the birthday party was underway. A short time later, their owner having got lost around the country lanes, Benny, Mary, Jennie and Crocker joined the excited Pulis in the fun and games. The Irish Wolfhounds were very good at hide and seek, probably because they were tall and could see over things.

Kordette won musical chairs and showed off by jumping into the air and turning at the same time.

Benny found it hilarious watching the Old English Sheepdog trying to undo the wrapping in pass the parcel. "His paws are too big" he said, having just as enjoyable time as his puppies.

Puppies? He thought, not any more!

Korde and Kordette found they got on really well with Jennie and Crocker, and by the time the celebrations finished they were the best of friends and promised to keep in contact with each other.

This story cannot be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the permission of the author.

More information about Jennie and Crocker can be obtained from Bennie and Chris Nutt.

You can also find out more about

Cockerpoo's

by visiting Jolli King's web site

www.pankington.co.uk

Information about

"Hearing Dogs for the Deaf"

the training and work they do is available on their web site

www.hearing-dogs.co.uk

The Mops of Puli Manor Stories

by Susan Hopgood

(c) www.puli-information.com

All rights reserved