How Golden Retriever Molly has Welcomed her New Brother Roo to the Family, and Taught him Everything She Knows

It seems like a distant memory now, but just before lockdown, I had the pleasure of photographing Molly the Golden Retriever and her brother Roo, a Greek rescue hound who had been newly welcomed to the family.

When I visited, Roo and Molly were still kinda sussing each other out; working out a new rhythm and a way to live with one and another. Molly - gentle, smiley and loyal, and Roo - cuddly, cheeky (and in his owner’s words), a bit of a rascal! Molly was very much top-dog, but since my visit 3 months ago, and with the added impact of lockdown, I hear the pair are inseparable and snuggle each other to sleep most nights.

The family had some cosy photos at home, followed by their favourite walk, a hidden spot nestled in the Calder Valley.

For five years Molly’s had a pretty cushty set up and was the only dog of the house, that was until Roo the Rascal arrived. However, she soon went from pampered pooch to the best big sister, passing down her wisdom but also making sure Roo knew who was in charge.

“ He has destroyed almost all of her toys and he jumps in between us if Molly is having a cuddle but she is so patient with him. She has been a good big sister and taught him so many things - how to bark at the neighbours, the dishwasher has the best leftovers and it’s time to hide if you hear the bath running. On the rare occasion when they are apart little Roo is so excited to see her, he likes to barge into her as hello, not surprisingly she is more indifferent! ”

Kerry and Lewis tell me one of their favourite things about being a dog owner is the endless amounts of cuddles on the sofa. We manage to get lots of family shots in an armchair so big and cosy it was like it was especially designed for the moment.

Whereas Molly prefers to sit by Kerry’s side, taking all the belly rubs she can get, Roo is the more cuddly of the two.

“Roo really loves a cuddle, I’ve never known a dog to be so cuddly! He’ll cuddle up with anyone that comes to visit, jumping straight on their lap and resting his head on their chest, he really likes to lean in. He will even let you pick him up like a baby, he just loves to be close. ”

Molly’s so comfy, she can’t keep her eyes open and gradually doses off. I remark to her owners how rare this is for me, to have such a chilled doggo. I usually have the opposite problem, and too much excitement. She soon perks up when she knows it’s time for walkies.

Molly is quite the character when she’s out on her walks. Just before shoot day, she hit the jackpot and sniffed out a pretty jammy find. I follow her Instagram account @Goldenretriever__Molly and couldn’t help but smile when I saw that she had found a whole block of cheddar cheese! Not just the last bit in the packet, no, a whole unwrapped family size block of cheese, just out in the countryside, and not long firmly wedged in Molly’s mouth. Hilarious! She didn’t drop her scavenged treat for the whole duration of her walk (why would you?). She’s a girl after my own heart.

“Lewis was out walking her and he says she was foraging around in the woods and then emerged out of a bush with a block of cheese. Molly’s favourite food in the whole world is cheese so she must have thought all her Christmases had come at once. She would not let go of the cheese and she definitely would not let Roo anywhere near it, she didn’t even dare put it down to take a bite. Instead they walked the 15 minutes home with her carrying it in her mouth and drooling all down herself, getting some odd looks from passers by. She only let it go when they got home and I had some sausages ready to tempt her to drop it. I felt awful taking it away from her but it was definitely for the best, for everyone!”

Roo isn’t off lead just yet, only in open spaces where there’s no distractions. But for the duration of the walk, Molly stays close and shows him the ropes. She’s good at guiding him.

“We are working on getting him off the lead which has involved talking to dog behaviourists for advice, watching lots of dog training videos and renting a secure field so we can practice off lead. Progress is slow but we are hopeful we’ll eventually be able to safely walk him off the lead. When we are at the beach and Roo is off lead, Molly makes sure he behaves himself, often rounding him up if he doesn’t listen to our calls for him to come back. ”

Kerry tells me more about adopting Roo. Her and Lewis knew that they wanted another dog as a companion for Molly, and rescuing a dog seemed like the right thing to do, considering there are so many dogs awaiting their forever home. Although it’s been quite a different experience than with Molly (as they have had her since she was a pup), Kerry has actually found the whole process a lot easier.

“It’s been easier, partly as I’ve done this before but also he was already toilet trained (aside from a few accidents), he had clearly been someone’s pet before so quickly picked up the basic commands (although had to learn the English words for them!) and as a cross breed didn’t have any health issues. Molly has many food allergies which is quite common amongst golden retrievers as a result of them being purebred. Roo seemed to settle into Yorkshire life almost immediately, making himself at home. It breaks my heart thinking of him living on the street as a stray, I’m so glad he is now warm and safe with us.”

Kerry also had some very wise words and great advice for anyone thinking about adopting a dog.

“Aside from being financially prepared, the main thing to think about when rescuing a dog is how much spare time you will have to dedicate to the dog.

Getting a dog (be it a rescue or not) is a bit like agreeing to marry someone you haven’t met yet. You won’t know them until you bring them home, even if you have a few doggy dates or in our case, as he was coming from Greece, we only had a few snippets of information about his personality to go on. It will take a few months to really get to know your dog and they will be with you for the next 10-15 years. So think about whether you have the time and energy to commit to training if it turns out the dog does have some bad habits. ”

We end Molly + Roo’s shoot at Molly’s favourite pitstop, a secluded stream near the end of the walk and just before home. Like most Retrievers she’s a water baby and dunks and dives for sticks that are chucked her way. She’s in her element. Roo however, he’s not so keen on taking a dip and watches from the sidelines. I can tell he’s wondering what all the fuss is about. Chalk and cheese (Molly of course being the cheese, a big mega block of cheddar!).

It’s been a wonderful shoot. Not only have I had the pleasure of experiencing such a hidden gem of a walk in the West Yorkshire countryside, but I’ve witnessed the personalities of two very different dogs. But their shared interest? Being lovingly devoted to their owners, and I’m sure to each other now too.

To keep track of Molly + Roo’s relationship and their every day adventures, you can follow their Instagram accounts @Goldenretriever__Molly and @Rooroodoggyroo.

Roo was rescued through a charity we know and love Underdog International, you can click the link to read more about his adoption.

If you would like a family photoshoot, capturing the relationship between you and your pets, get in touch emily@petstories.co.uk or see our reduced rate lockdown offer.