A walk through the Yorkshire Dales with Sian and her devoted German Shepherd, Ghost
Every once in a while I’ll have the pleasure of meeting a pet that truly demonstrates the power of such a strong and intuitive relationship. Ghost the German Shepherd is one of these pets; he’s a companion, a protector, a communicator and the most gentle soul. And when his owner Sian, decided to have a complete lifestyle change and move to a remote village in the Yorkshire Dales a few years ago, having Ghost by her side made the move from down South a whole lot easier. Now, as Sian leaves her country cottage and looks to to the next chapter of her life, her photos with Ghost not only capture their incredibly close relationship, but document such a momentous point in their lives.
After the most scenic and sunny drive from Sheffield to the Yorkshire Dales, I arrive at Sian’s country cottage that she shares with Ghost, and we instantly click. I’ve never really experienced this with a dog before - a person yes, but I’ve never witnessed such a friendly, welcoming and almost human reception from a dog. I can’t really put it into words. Ghost wags his tail, smiles at me and tries to sit on my lap as if he was a quarter of his size. He’s massive. I don’t know if it’s the chocolate box cottage we’re in, or because he actually is humongous, but he takes up most of the space (in size, and of course character). As Sian and I chat with a brew, Ghost tries to make himself comfortable on a footstool and it’s hilarious watching him try to get comfy, totally unaware of his size. Sian tells me it’s a regular habit of his.
“He is a such a silly bugger. The foot stool is half the length of him, if that, and he always attempts to straddle the thing as if he’s a small dog. It’s why I’m adamant he has no idea how big he is because I don’t think he realises half his body is on the floor, but he’s content as long as he’s got the perfect paw bend on the other side. ”
After a brew, it’s time for Sian and Ghost to guide me around their favourite and almost secluded patch of the Dales. Ghost leads the way, occasionally checking over his shoulder, just keeping an eye on his mum. It’s as if the environment Ghost is in triggers his natural instincts to shepherd and protect Sian, a trait that is so inherent of his breed. It’s a joy to see human and dog so in tune with one another. Sian tells me more about the ways in which they communicate.
“G has always been a vocal boy, from the deep grumbles as you scratch his ear to the way he chats back to me when he’s excited. He’ll give me whiney chatter when he wants to do something, or singular loud barks when he needs to go pee. It’s been just the two of us for nearly his whole life so I talk to him like a human, he knows what I’m saying as he’ll respond with chatter, tilting his head, coming in for a snuggle or responsive expressions. It’s hard to describe unless you see it but we really have our own language.”
Ghost is having the time of his life. He sprints across open greenery, finds a massive branch that soon becomes a teeny tiny twig, and gets to paddle - his favourite outdoor activity. It’s like he’s in the wild and belongs here. Sian tells me more about what it was like to move from Brighton to North Yorkshire.
“Down south just got too expensive for renting with a large dog so I explored the north so we could get a better quality of life and in some ways we did but there were a few cons to the move as well. At first I didn’t think I’d be able to live alone but we took the plunge and I don’t regret it. We’ve learnt alot. I’m not sure what our next step will be but wherever we go, G’s quality of life will come first. It’s what I owe him as his owner.”
As we reach a good stopping point, we look back at the village nestled in the distant hills. It’s one of Sian’s favourite views which she now has in photo form. We decide to head back to the house with a quick detour at Ghost’s favourite stream. It’s here that he likes Sian to throw stones into the water for him to dunk down and retrieve.
“Our walks are always special, the boy heads straight for water, every time he asks for permission to go in but hes always standing in the river begging for a stone to be tossed his way. ”
It’s bitterly cold and we’re nearly home now, but just before we get there we bump into a group of walkers. Ghost revels in the attention (and rightly so) and takes the opportunity to get some more water playtime in. And as I photograph Ghost in his element, I notice his new cheerleaders across the water, watching him with big beaming smiles because he’s such a big happy dog. They’re in their element too. Sian tells me about other characteristics of Ghost’s that make her smile.
“He makes me smile in so many ways. The way he tries, successfully, to shove as many tennis balls in his mouth as possible, then runs away almost giddy of his achievement. When he picks the longest branch on the walk then tries to take you out from behind with it. His silliness is definitely a perk but maybe, and most importantly, the way he picks up on my emotions. My job is stressful, I can get quite emotional from furious to sad, and when I do from wherever he is in the house, he’ll pad over, lay his head in my lap and let me stroke him till I’ve calmed down. That always makes me smile.”
We arrive back home and the fire is roaring within minutes. As with every walk in winter, it’s not really over until a big towel dry infront of the open flames. Sian gets some crumpets and tea on the go and I soon learn it’s one of their favourite rituals. I also learn that jam on crumpets is a thing and it’s blumin’ delicious (thanks Sian!).
“One of my favourite parts of our routine is fire time. I light a fire, we eat some crumpets and snuggle by the heat. He’s the best company on a cold day.”
And as we all all thaw out, I begin to feel that bittersweet sensation, like when a holiday comes to an end. I’ve had the best time with these two but it’s time to leave. And I think that in a few weeks time, Sian will probably be feeling the same emotions (x1000) when it comes to leaving their house. As I leave, Ghost says goodbye from the window. And what a happy, tongue out goodbye it is. Sian tells me that Ghost often perches here keeping a watchful eye over passing neighbours.
“He has different barks depending on who he knows in the village when he’s spying on the courtyard from his purch. ”
As a dog owner (and Ghost fan-girl) there’s one thing I’ve realised about the power of our pets. Having a pet can enable you to achieve all sorts. Whether it’s the little day-to-day tasks like getting out in nature because they need a walk, or the big scary life decisions like moving 300 miles away, alone. Our pets are a constant comfort and make these moments a whole lot easier. Having them rely on us, means we have a dual responsibility, a partnership. We take care of them, and in return we receive the most devoted companion.
If you have a super strong relationship with your pet and a story to tell, get in touch for more information on our photo + story service emily@petstories.co.uk or visit our packages page here.