PETS
This month it’s showtime for young Bear, who is more than happy to be the centre of attention, as Teddy explains through his human translator Helen Stockton
O
ne of the advantages to having an apprentice is that you don’t have to do everything yourself. We were recently invited to a local agricultural show, to grace the Working Terrier group with our presence. Now I don’t particularly like crowds, they stress me out, but the apprentice, Bear, is the perfect fur for such a venture. She loves people and has only just stopped widdling with excitement when they fuss her, and she is similarly keen on meeting other dogs. She is also very investigative. ‘Them Indoors’ have nicknamed her ‘Dora the
Explorer’ as she has fourth. If the people want always got her little nose rosettes, they can have When it was her stuck into something. So their own show and trot what better than to deploy turn, she played with around the ring for them. Bear, as a roving reporter, the Border Terrier Still, Bear had a great whilst I chilled out at our time and enjoyed meeting puppy next to her, friends, Ann and Peter’s the different terriers. shamelessly rolling all house, for the day. Apparently, the Lakeland Bear was duly entered on the ground and Fell Terriers were the for the 6 to 12 months noisiest, quite an accolade! puppy class, and passed the time waiting Bear also did a thorough exploration for her big moment, trying to chew her of the entire showground and if you way through the plastic fencing marking were there with a dog and weren’t out the show ring. When it was her greeted by a small and over-enthusiastic turn, she played with the Border Terrier Border Terrier, you were in the puppy next to her, shamelessly rolling on minority. She even met two Sussex the ground, and payed no attention Spaniels, Rupert and Charlie. This is to the judge or standing nicely. a breed that ‘Her Indoors’ has always Needless to say, she didn’t win wanted to meet but, as they are on the one of those ribbony things that vulnerable breed list, there are not people seem to covet so much. many about. They are lovely dogs and Which brings me on to a bit of a proud canine bearer of the Sussex an observation. Why is it at dog appellation. Bear also said hello to shows, when the furs are the centre cows, pigs and sheep, watched showof attention, that the prizes are not for jumping and vintage tractors. She even them? Rosettes, whatever the colour, managed to snaffle a piece of sausage might provide a bit of dietary from ‘Him Indoors’. And best of all, fibre but little else. I suggest a big when we returned home from our bag of top-quality dog biscuits various activities, she slept for the whole for the winner, diminishing in evening. Hardly surprising, she is a size for second, third and working terrier after all! l
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Oct 21 It's a Dog's Life.indd 156
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