Matilda the Dog, a border collie commonly known as Tilly was born in March 2003 and died on 7th January 2019. She features as the icon of The Sticks in the page tabs.

Tilly was the daughter of working sheep dogs and in her early years she showed her natural tendencies to herding: sheep, children, balls. She learned quickly and soon developed a naughty streak.

She knew the rules and would carefully check whether she thought anyone was looking before doing something she knew was not allowed, like running out of the garden and round the lanes before returning and jumping into the pond or climbing onto the table to lick plates not immediately cleared away after a meal.

She developed a dislike of grooming and was not shy to use her teeth to protect her tangles. Consequently she maked regular visits to the vet for a hair cut while sedated. She didn't like anyone laughing at her unusual hair style when she returned.

She got on well with the Young Dog and the cats and  featured in the Walk and Talk blogs. Until the last year she still liked walking and swimming. In her old age she was still strong but not as flexible as she was and gradually learned to make allowances for her years.

She died peacefully under the care of her vet surounded by her family.

 *Updated to record her death a couple of months short of her 16th birthday.