It's a Dog's Life: A Decade of Dog!

Thursday, 9 January 2025 10:35

By Teddy (via Helen Stockton)

As this long-running feature celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, we review a decade of It's Dog's Life with Teddy, his young apprentice Bear, and of course our original canine columnist, the late, great Rolo...

This month marks a special anniversary. It’s ten years since we started this column. It began with my predecessor, the late, great, Rolo. We overlapped by about a year, and he trained me up. He was a small dog with a large personality. In fact, my apprentice, Bear, reminds me of him in lots of ways...

Anyway, that first introduction to the magazine was by way of a celebratory-style interview, and we thought it might be fun to try giving different answers, from our individual points of view. We have included Rolo’s original responses, and I’ve been training Bear up with chubby crayons, and reckon she’s just about safe, under close supervision, to be let loose on the wider world so here goes...

Q: What are the typical traits of a Border Terrier?

Rolo: Border Terriers were bred for working which included dealing with rats. That would explain why I viewed the family guinea pigs, from when the Juniors were little, with such interest. And I’m not saying we’re greedy but ‘Her Indoors’ once found a tea towel that described all the physical features of Border Terriers in relation to getting to food quickly.

Teddy: I’m an atypical Border Terrier. I’m not remotely interested in anything fluffy or feathered. I don’t even like going out for a walk particularly. However, I’m a good-looking Border, if I say so myself, and, in a different life, I could have been a show fur. Apparently, I have good movement: I bounce slightly when I walk... unless it’s raining!

Bear: By the time they got me, clearly another breed wasn’t an option, so they went for a different gender. I might be a girl but I’m no lady! I like to think I exemplify the ‘independent thinking’ breed trait.

Q: What’s your favourite activity and do you have any hobbies?

Rolo: My favourite activity was eating, and I was good at self-sourcing. I loved playing in the garden and ‘Her Indoors’ complained that I had a ball obsession verging on the clinical...

Teddy: That’s easy, lying in my bed, snoozing. I also like playing with those flat animal squeaky toys, rather tastelessly called roadkill toys in our household, but they don’t last long before they mysteriously vanish...

Bear: I’m always investigating stuff, running off with things, and chewing. I’m also a deft pickpocket. Men’s trouser pockets usually have good stuff in them, and they gape when they’re seated offering perfect access for a little nose. My best ever theft was a cigarette lighter which gave off sparks when dropped!

Q: If I say tree, lamppost or car tyre what would your preference be?

Rolo: Surprisingly for a rural dog, I’d say car tyre. Other people’s cars fascinated me, and I once climbed into a police car when they were packing up a speed trap and started rooting around in the foot wells. They were a bit surprised!

Teddy: Similarly, car tyres. I also like wheelie bins if I’m not dragged away in time.

Bear: I’m a lady-fur so none of the above.

Q: What are your feelings about cats?

Rolo: Best summed up in four words: the red mist descends!

Teddy: I give a half- hearted woof, but I’m not really interested.

Bear: I just want to plaaaay!

Q: Did you have a good Christmas and were you spoilt by Santa?

Rolo: Christmases were always, quite frankly, exhausting. There were only so many turkey left-overs and novelty treats a small dog could consume. With all those visitors to greet and crackers to bark at in case they were fireworks. I was always relieved when the indoor tree went back outdoors and the twiggy reindeer with the evil eye was relegated to the loft.

Teddy: We had a lovely time. The Juniors were home, there was lots of food and a comfortable bed in front of the wood burner. What could be better!

Bear: I ran off with the wrapping paper, destroyed my new toys and raided the guest bedroom, running off with undies. I discovered that contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be good to get presents from Santa Paws either. Who knew?

Q: You are a keen writer. What inspired you to bark back at the world?

Rolo: I had a view on most things – which I wasn’t afraid to share. I felt on a mission to address the miscommunication between people, who half the time are barking anyway, and their canine best friends. I also taught ‘Her Indoors’ everything she knows about writing. To be frank, she rode on my coat tails!

Teddy: I inherited the column from the boss, Rolo, and I like to think I’ve done him proud. I’d like to thank the lovely folk at Sussex Living magazine for sticking with us. They really are the best, and mighty light in the editing department! I’d also like to thank ‘Him Indoors’ for his photographic contribution each month. I’m a good boy, so I just do as I’m told, once I’ve worked out what they want, but the apprentice... well! Finally I’d like to thank you all for reading this column – because without you we’d just be barking into the void which would be madness!

Bear: I just want to have a go more often, I’d be ace! Life is to be enjoyed, in the moment, with no boring-snoring stuff. So if you want a New Year’s resolution, be more Border Terrier and make your own fun. Happy anniversary to us all!

It's a Dog's Life: A Decade of Dog!

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