I’m just acting as messenger for this post. It really comes from our two cocker spaniels.
Copper is the red one (as his name implies,) a real show-type dog, although he came to us from a dog rescue, because he has a dramatic temperament that not everyone finds easy. Rosie doesn’t have Copper’s looks, but she does have a pedigree as long as your arm from a working spaniel strain – they’ve been bred as gundogs for years – and she’s sweet-natured and laid-back; as laid-back as any cocker spaniel ever is.
When I saw this list of doggy rules for humans, I laughed out loud because they could have been written by our two rascals, who would certainly want me to pass them on to you. Especially Rule 5 and Rule 9…
I can think of a few more, Jane:
1 Don’t scold me for eating the frogs – it’s protein
2 Don’t hose me down when I’ve rolled in the mud – or other exquisite compounds
3 Don’t panic and keep calling me when I go out of sight on a rabbit hunt for a few hours
4 Don’t keep shouting “DOWN” when I’m sharing aforementioned exquitite compounds with your friends
5 Don’t get mad when YOU leave the meat too near the edge of the table – my name is not THE SAINT
6 Don’t threaten expulsion when I chase the neighbour’s chickens – you know I’m too old to catch them now
7 Don’t bring in any CATS to disturb my peace
8 Don’t……zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……laying down RULES is tiring!
How lovely, Margaret, and how true. Several of those are among Copper and Rosie’s favourites…and several of them remind me of dear Sandy, (a lovely golden retriever that Margaret and I knew well, who for part of his life was NOT too old to catch chickens, and for all of his life enjoyed rolling in mud and other smelly substances! That particular activity seems not to appeal to these spaniels, thank goodness; but we did have one a few years back who specialised in finding bits of decomposing seagull to perfume himself with!
Fantastic, Jane – and Copper and Rosie, too! And all so very true, as anyone who’s ever had a dog will know. Our old springer spaniel, Rusty, used to adore rolling in cow pats. He hated the aftermath, though, which involved a hosepipe!
Cow pats…yuk! There’s a theory that the ancestors of today’s dogs (wolves? wild dogs?) used to roll in disgusting rubbish so that when they were hunting, they could get close to their prey who wouldn’t recognise their doggy smell…I have my doubts about this. Dogs hunt all in a rush; there would hardly be time. Cats, who stalk slowly towards their kill, might be expected to disguise their scent, yet they’re far too fastidious for rolling in anything horrible.