Two years after Heidi arrived, Pepper did too – and she turned our world upside down.
And if Heidi gently tiptoed into our lives, Pepper crash-landed.
She came from the same rescue in Cyprus, just 15 weeks old. I thought getting a puppy would be easier. I thought Heidi would enjoy being the big sister. And I was absolutely convinced I could handle two dogs.
Pepper was one of a litter of eight. The smallest. The one with the least interest out of the litter. And originally, her name was Heidi too, which immediately caught my attention.
It felt like a sign.
Or maybe a warning.
The Midnight Service Station Exchange
Pepper flew into Heathrow. Half the dogs were heading north, so they were all transported up and handed over at a motorway service station around midnight. It genuinely felt like a dodgy film scene.
To make things more dramatic, this was just after the Beast from the East storm. Freezing cold. Snow everywhere.
I was supposed to collect her myself, but Heidi had surgery on her throat the day before and was still very poorly. So my parents went instead.
Apparently, Pepper made quite the entrance. She wasn’t calm. And when a bag of kibble appeared, she shoved her whole head inside and helped herself.
No nerves. No hesitation. Very different from Heidi.
First Impressions
When Pepper arrived home and I met her properly, I knew instantly she was not going to be the quiet, gentle type.
She was everywhere. Non-stop movement. Non-stop energy. Unlike Heidi, she wasn’t house-trained. Toilets indoors? Absolutely fine, apparently.
The First Red Flags
A couple of months after she arrived, I took her to puppy class. The second she entered the hall, she barked. And didn’t stop.
She learned the commands. She focused on me. She did everything asked of her. But she barked the whole time.
At the end of class, there was off-lead play. That’s when I noticed something that made my stomach drop.
She singled out one dog – a white one – and it didn’t look like friendly play. It looked intense. Nervous. Too much. That’s when I first thought: this might not just be “puppy excitement.”
When It Got Hard
Pepper’s biggest trigger is other dogs. But honestly? Anything that moves or makes noise can set her off. Dogs, children, bikes, joggers, and even cars.
One of the worst moments was on a narrow forest path. I had both dogs. A large, calm dog approached head-on. There was a steep drop right beside us.
They exploded. Barking. Lunging. Full force.
I was on my knees trying to hold onto both leads while the poor man kept asking if I was okay. He clearly wanted to help. The girls were having absolutely none of it.
Then there was the time my hands were wet from the rain. Pepper slipped loose, chased a poodle and bit its bum.
I have never been so embarrassed.
The Vet Drama
Pepper is not a fan of the vets.
For one annual booster, I had to administer the injection myself because she wouldn’t let the vet near her.
When she was spayed, I had to stay with her while she was given the general anaesthetic and hold her until she fell asleep.
It’s exhausting. It’s stressful. And yes – I’ve cried more times than I’d like to admit.
Sometimes it’s the stress. Sometimes it’s the embarrassment. Sometimes it’s the feeling that everyone is silently judging you.
We’ve worked with some trainers in person. Done online courses. Spent money. Spent time. And still, walks are hard.
How She Changed Me
Pepper has changed me in ways I didn’t expect.
I’m more anxious. I constantly scan ahead on walks. If I see someone coming, I reroute. I avoid people. I feel antisocial.
I’m less confident.
But I’m also stronger. Physically, definitely.
And emotionally? Probably.
Even on the days I dread walking her, I still go. Because she needs it. And because she’s mine.
Do I regret it sometimes? Yes. But someone had to take this dog on. And I’m glad it’s me. I wouldn’t trust anyone else to stick it out the way I will.
Do I feel like I’ve failed her? Sometimes. If I could “fix” the reactivity, her world would be so much bigger.
But she’s not broken. She’s just wired differently.
Who Pepper Really Is
At home, Pepper is a completely different dog.
She is fluffy and smells amazing. She’s cheeky. She is the most loyal dog I’ve ever known. She will not leave my side.
She loves toys – tennis balls and footballs are her absolute favourites. She throws herself into play with total commitment.
She’s clever. She loves learning. Her recall is actually very good… as long as there are no distractions. Which is a big “as long as.”
Despite her reactivity, she is gentle with Heidi. She even has one dog friend in the village that she’s managed off-lead zoomies with before returning straight back to me.
It proves she has it in her.
She’s a Labrador cross with German Shepherd and Malinois, which explains the loyalty, the intensity… and possibly the chaos.
If it wasn’t for the reactivity, the lead pulling, oh and the car sickness?
She’d be perfect.
Actually – she is perfect.
Just complicated.
And complicated dogs deserve love too.
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