Lily update: "I just wish we could explain everything to her"

In September last year, I re-homed Lily, she is Ernest's sister. I had nearly re-homed her a year before, but bottled out of letting her go. I only wanted to re-home her, as I had run her on with her brother, Ernest, and with him proving to be such a good stud dog, and having two of his offspring coming on. I can only keep so many and breed forward. I did not need to breed from her and felt she would make someone a lovely pet dog. I already have several just pet dogs in Jessica, Bertha and Belle. I have to be mindful of not ending up a dog hoarder. It was a very hard decision to let her go, as she was very attached to me. The family I spoke with about re-homing her the year previous, had since got another dog. She needed to go to a home with a dog, as at 3 years old, she has always had canine companionship. I contacted Steph about her. We have known each other for a few years now, and she has been very supportive towards my breeding program. She has a old Cavalier boy, Toby.
​So in September, we travelled down to Steph's home in Plymouth, had lunch with her, and left Lily with her for a few hours. Came back to Steph and we all thought this could hopefully work, and left Lily to start her new life with Steph, Toby and Rose (the cat). We have kept in touch with emails and phone calls, and Lily is becoming Steph's dog. She gets on really well with Toby and also Steph's cat, Rose, loving cleaning her ears. Which is brilliant, as she has not been brought up around cats.
The email (below) is the latest update I have received for Lily. She had her spayed in November. When I decided to re-home her, she had just come off heat. I did offer to keep her and spay her, but Steph (who I trust) said, "She would get that done." The problem Steph mentions with toileting, she was not going to the toilet, holding herself for worryingly long periods. Apparently, she also still seems to look for us. Hopefully, that will pass. In the long run, I think she is going to have a wonderful life with Steph, and as Steph says, "I just wish we could explain everything to her."

"Hi Jane
As you can see Lily is very relaxed at home. The first pic show how well her spaying has healed. It hasn't bothered her at all. The third is Lily in Toby's bed and the fourth is Toby in Lily's bed! They get on really well. She seems to understand that he doesn't always feel brilliant. He continues to jog along with all his medication but he is slowing up. She loves Rose, the cat, who now has beautifully cleaned ears!
Lily continues to look for you all when we go out, especially when we go to the park. She is convinced that you must be out there somewhere!
We haven't had any further problems with toilet training but she only ever uses the garden. She is fine when I go out and leave them alone together. A couple of times I had to leave her on her own when I took Toby to the vet and she was fine. I gave her a kong with soft dog food inside- She didn't even look when we left!
We have had dreadful weather but fortunately she loves playing ball so when it is wet we play in my covered sideway so she gets some exercise.
She is such a funny combination of cavalier and poodle. Amazing guard dog who does the cavalier "what do you mean?" and rolls on her back if I ask her do so something she doesn't want to do (e.g. get off my bed now I want to make it.) She does happily sleep in her crate in the bedroom at night but joins Toby and me for a morning cuddle in bed while I have a cup of tea.
As I write she is snuggled up beside me but she is never jealous if Toby wants attention.
So all in all I think we are doing well. I just wish we could explain everything to her.
Wishing you all a lovely Christmas
Love from Stephanie, Lily, Toby and Rose (the cat)"