It's a Dog's Life: Thinking Big Thoughts

Teddy is having some big and noble thoughts this month about the meaning of doggy life, as translated by his human interpreter, Helen Stockton 

Them Indoors’ generally think that when I’m lying in the sunshine, I’m sleeping, which, to be frank, is normally the case, but just occasionally I’m thinking big thoughts, and they don’t realise. Just because I’m a dog, doesn’t mean I don’t ponder on the meaning of life and my place in the universe. 

Now obviously there are some famous dogs like Monty Don’s dog Ned from Gardeners World, and the very well named Patterdale Terrier, Ted, who accompanies Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse on Gone Fishing.

They get the opportunity to touch lives and influence people in a big way due to the long reach of television. There is a Patterdale Terrier in our village who looks very much like Ted, but with better dentition, and his owners look slightly weary of having the resemblance pointed out. ‘Her Indoors’ has had to ban ‘Him Indoors’ from making briefcase jokes every time we see them. 

Then there are dogs who have special qualities. Some are champions for being particularly good looking and they can influence the qualities of a breed for generations to come. 

A Border Terrier was the Crufts Junior Warrant Winner of the Year in 2023 although there seems to have been a bit of a dearth for Best in Show. I guess we’re not the most glamorous of dogs but I have a theory that it doesn’t do a breed any good to become suddenly too popular, so it’s probably just as well we’re rarely on the very top podium. 

Then there are the dogs that have important duties. Look at all those goody-goody Labradors and Golden Retrievers acting as Guide Dogs for the visually impaired. Border Terriers would make excellent Guide Dogs provided the person being guided wanted to find a squirrel, a rabbit, or a source of food... 

There are other dogs with worthy occupations, Police and service dogs, sheep dogs, mountain rescue dogs. Just thinking about it makes me want to have a lie down on my bed. 

The most common role for us canines, however, is that of domestic pets, and the value of this cannot be underestimated. We provide companionship, exercise, a point of contact when out and about, and we train the next generation of dog lovers when we are placed with families. 

We have spawned a whole industry of support services for our owners to splash their cash on, and what could be more worthy? We also provide unconditional love and entertainment. Only this morning, the apprentice, Bear, decided ‘Her Indoors’ had been lying in bed for too long and needed a licky kiss to get the day started. What is a more important role than that?