It’s a Dog’s Life: October 2026

This month, Teddy's apprentice Bear puts her best paws forward and takes over the column, as she explains via her human interpreter, Helen Stockton...

The observant amongst you will have noticed it’s a different dog at the helm this month. I have, of course, featured in Uncle Teds’ column before, but only with him breathing down my neck, checking I’m doing it properly. Now, having served my apprenticeship with chubby crayons, I’m being let loose on the literary world in my own right!

Whilst I’m the same breed as Uncle Teds, a Border Terrier, I am a very different kind of dog. I create my own fun and am constantly underestimated. I can jump higher than they think, squeeze through smaller gaps than deemed possible, and solve problems judged to be beyond a dog’s mental capacity. I am an accomplished pickpocket – who can resist a gaping trouser pocket when someone is sitting down? Usually, all I can find is a tissue which, to be frank, is a bit boring, although I still like to shred them. I did once manage to steal a cigarette lighter, which I proceeded to repeatedly drop on the floor, giving off sparks. However, after the very dry summer we’ve had, I’ve had to be a bit careful on the sparks front, but now we’ve had a bit of rain…

Unlike Uncle Teds, I am very interested in other furry critters. I often spend my evenings gazing out through our bifold doors at the various creatures that visit our garden. The local fox is probably our biggest visitor. She even allowed one of her cubs to play near our fence in the spring which was a bit cheeky. It’s MY garden!

Also, unlike Uncle Teds, ‘Her Indoors’ reckons I’ve got extra sensory perception. ‘Him Indoors’ goes to a local history group once a month and often, about ten minutes before he comes home, which is probably before he’s even got in the car, I prick up my ears and do barking. ‘Her Indoors’ looks outside and reassures me that no-one is there, and then, ten minutes or so later, he turns up. I’ve done it repeatedly and ‘Her Indoors’ finds it slightly un-nerving, seasonally spooky in fact!

And finally, as you probably won’t be able to guess from my fashionably gender-neutral name, I’m a girl! I’m actually Uncle Teds’ great niece and a very patient and tolerant Uncle he has been. Which brings us to the sad part, his absence. Unfortunately, old age has finally caught up with him and ‘Them Indoors’ had to make the difficult decision to let him go. We are all, naturally, upset, but he had the comfort of knowing he left his column in safe paws with a fully-trained apprentice. And I intend to make it my own – so watch this space. I like to have a bit of fun, what can I tell you!