| It seems as if I've always had dogs around; in my | | | | Whisperer. It's not because he doesn't relate; he really |
| work as a pet portrait artist, under my feet or | | | | loves us and he is obedient in his own way. He will sit, |
| occupying my favourite chair at home. And also in | | | | go down, give either paw and 'talk'. He just doesn't see |
| memories stretching way back into the mists of time, | | | | the point of doing something he doesn't want to, all |
| by which, for the curious and the literal, I mean the | | | | right? |
| sixties. | | | | He has plenty of the legendary energy and intelligence |
| The first dog I can remember as a toddler was called | | | | of the finest sheepdog in the world. I usually take a |
| Bonzo (yes, well, I told you it was a long time ago and I | | | | tennis racquet and ball on our walks in the woods to |
| think it was probably quite a fashionable name at the | | | | try, in my optimistic way, to tire him out. We live in a |
| time). He was a mutt, no doubt about it; brown, white | | | | hilly, and fairly wild part of the Highlands, and I only have |
| and orange, and I used to sleep on the stairs with him. | | | | to say to him, "Patch, that way", or even just point, and |
| Then came Jock, named after my father, who didn't | | | | he'll be there, waiting for the ball, whether it's up the |
| live with us at the time. He had a rough coat, and I | | | | brae or across a burn. |
| suppose was part terrier (no, not my dad, please | | | | And yet, for all his intelligence and boldness, he is |
| concentrate). | | | | sensitive and easily frightened. At the first hint of a |
| Later, when I had my own dogs, there was Snooky, | | | | raised or angry voice (it wouldn't be mine, you |
| who was a collie with a terrier head, then Gub-Gub | | | | understand), he goes to pieces and hides... |
| with the beautiful tail, named after Dr. Doolittle's pig | | | | Yes, our boy is difficult at times, but always fascinating, |
| because I liked the name. She was actually a Welsh | | | | and I don't have to tell you that we love him to bits. |
| Collie, fast and slim, and nothing like a pig. | | | | He was a gash and faithful tyke |
| Then there was a Labrador cross, also called Snooky. | | | | As ever lap a sheugh or dyke; |
| My wife was for calling her Lib-Lab but I vetoed that. | | | | His honest, sonsie, baws'nt face |
| Keep politics out of the kennel, I say. And finally there | | | | Aye gat him friends in ilka place. |
| came Snooky's favourite daughter Bugle (loudest in | | | | His breast was white, his towsie back |
| the litter) and little scruffy Pebbles, who was really my | | | | Weel clad wi' coat o' glossy black, |
| wife's dog. The last two are still with us. So you can | | | | His gaucie tail wi' upward curl |
| see that I know about dogs, or so I thought before we | | | | Hung o'er his hurdies wi' a swirl. |
| acquired Patch. | | | | The Twa Dogs |
| Patch is a Border Collie. He is not aggressive; in fact | | | | Robert Burns |
| he is very lovable and quite gentle with our other two | | | | Gash = wise sheugh = ditch sonsie = cute bawsn't = |
| dogs, as long as they know who's the boss and as | | | | striped like a badger towsie = shaggy gaucie = large |
| long as they do as they're telt, and fast, like. Ken? | | | | hurdies = hips |
| (Well, he is a Scot!). I have to admit that Patch is a | | | | Six months ago my Patch died, and I have to learn to |
| puzzle. If he doesn't want to do a thing, he won't. It's as | | | | get along without him. I now have a Border Collie pup |
| simple as that. He can't be tricked, flattered or scolded | | | | crossed with Something Else. He has none of the |
| into doing something, because he's not that easily | | | | nervousness of Patch. He is a friend to all the world. |
| impressed. | | | | And yet...and yet...If he doesn't want to do something... |
| But there are ways to manage him. If you want him to | | | | We do not forget, but we move on. |
| follow you; walk away. You know, like the Horse | | | | |