It's A Dog's Life

If there is reincarnation, I want to come back as a well-loved pet dog…in an English home! As a kid I never had a dog- and neither did anyone on our street come to that – so I loved the day each year when our gas fire was serviced by a technician who always brought his West Highland terrier and while he toiled to keep us warm over winter his little dog would let me follow him all over our house- up and down the stairs, under the dining table. As an adult I discovered how the occasional local pub had its own dog that would sit by its master's side, occasionally doing a tour of the room to see what titbits it could pick up. That’s just how life is for dogs in the UK. Dogs really are companion animals.

On my trips home to the UK I always miss my dogs left behind here in kennels or with a house sitter. And, I always look at the local mutts strutting their stuff and reflect on how much happier my very sociable dog Oscar’s life would have been as a northern hemisphere mutt. Yes, I know Australians love their dogs--- but here we are just not allowed to love them to the same extent. Not allowed in parks, on beaches, inside cafes, outside cafes – some don’t even set foot inside their owners' homes! Never before have I seen the extent to which pooches are accepted as ‘wo/man’s best friend’ as on this recent trip to the UK.

My brother’s family now have a dog and it goes everywhere with them. We took a lovely trip to Cornwall in early summer and never in my life have I seen so many dogs in one space, and, I might add, not a dog poo to be seen. In my youth, dog poo lined the streets and shoe scraping was a regular occurrence. Not so now. People do scoop poop! And this, hand in hand with well socialised dogs welcome almost everywhere makes for a lovely landscape! The narrow, winding Cornish streets were the adventures of Hairy Maclary come to life.

This cafe not only allowed dogs inside but had biscuits for them too!!

Now, is this perhaps a step too far?:

My very bold sister-in-law wanted to try on some clothes so, without a ‘by your leave’, in she pops to the changing room, Ted in tow. Hilarious!!! Poor old Ted didn't know which way to look. Made for a great iPhone opportunity for me and raised a few smiles in the shop.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed my selection of happy dog shots.  I so wish this could happen here. A quiet beer at the local with a dog at your side – doesn’t get much better in my opinion. Ah well, here’s hoping….

LB