Poppy came into our lives because Andrew had always dreamed of having another dog like his beloved Penny.
He had his heart set on a big, affectionate companion, and although I initially thought a smaller dog might be more practical, along came Poppy, a Labrador–Springer Spaniel cross.
A combination that apparently comes with an unlimited supply of energy!
As a puppy, Poppy was full of mischief. One morning, we came downstairs to discover toilet roll decorating practically every corner of the room, rather like a scene from an Andrex advertisement.
During those early months, I would sometimes sleep downstairs on the sofa beside her, just so she wouldn't feel lonely.
Over the years, she's grown into a wonderfully gentle, affectionate girl who adores her walks, loves a cuddle and has a particularly impressive enthusiasm for food.
In fact, food is arguably Poppy's greatest passion.
One of her most memorable achievements took place on Andrew's birthday.
After a long day firing his kiln, he'd settled in the garden beside a freshly lit fire, enjoying a well-earned beer and looking forward to the pizza he'd just cooked.
Unfortunately, Poppy had other plans.
Somehow, she managed to distract him for a moment, and by the time he turned back, his birthday pizza had disappeared.
Poppy had eaten the lot.
Andrew was absolutely mortified.
Poppy, I suspect, considered it a highly successful birthday celebration.
Her interest in food extends well beyond opportunistic pizza theft.
We once had an automatic food timer, but Poppy became so obsessed with watching it that we eventually removed it.
Undeterred, she simply transferred her attention to the enormous container where her food is stored.
She now regularly moves her bed into a position that gives her an uninterrupted view of the container.
I move the bed back.
Poppy moves it forward again.
Clearly, she's decided that constant surveillance is the most effective approach to food security.
Poppy also has a long history of neighbourhood surveillance. She used to spend her days watching through the lounge window, barking at anybody who dared walk past.
Eventually, we transferred her to the dining room, and Scooby inherited the position of Chief Lookout.
Poppy, however, seems delighted with her new accommodation, particularly as it includes access to the kitchen.
She now considers the refrigerator a personal point of interest, supervising the unloading of every Tesco delivery and carefully inspecting the contents whenever the door opens.
She's even learnt to lift the kitchen bin lid with her nose, which has necessitated the introduction of additional security measures.
And then there are the thermal door curtains.
Every so often, Poppy's head appears through them, rather like Mr Benn emerging from the changing room, just to check whether anything interesting is happening on the other side.
She's also rather partial to collecting slippers, which she quietly relocates to her own bed. One of mine has become a particular favourite, much to Freddie's disapproval.
Christmas is another highlight of Poppy's year. She absolutely loves unwrapping presents, although some of her toys have a rather limited life expectancy.
Curiously, there's one old T-shirt from her younger days that she's always treated with special care, carrying it around rather than pulling it apart.
And, of course, there's the famous black ball, which has become the subject of an ongoing ownership dispute with Freddie.
Despite her impressive record of food-related misdemeanours, Poppy is a wonderfully loving, gentle girl who brings so much happiness to our home.
She may occasionally give the impression that she's a little absent-minded, but don't be fooled.
Behind those beautiful eyes is a very clever mind, particularly when there's a meal involved.
And as Head of Food Security, Poppy takes her responsibilities extremely seriously.
Especially when it comes to ensuring that no pizza is ever left unattended.