RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 22

RANDOM REMINDER

GIVE A DOG A BAD NAME . .

A Christchurch family is thinking of fitting its German Shepherd dog with spectacles. A self-taught watchdog, this animal heralds the arrival of any stranger on the premises with a frantic barrage of barking, even extending her lines of reference to include stray cats. She has noted the sound of the family car and allows it to approach unchallenged, but any strange tyre on the drive is enough to trigger an early warning system which is the envy of Hornby. However, when the family stepped out recently, resplendent in new outfits, the dog was perplexed by the contradiction of scents and alerted the whole neighbourhood that aliens were present. The misunderstanding was soon cleared

up, but the family have kept quiet about an incident which might damage the image of the German Shepherd in the community. Similarly, only among their intimates is it known that at the merest hint of approval, and sometimes without any encouragement whatever, the dog will roll over to have her chest rubbed; nor do they voice their suspicion that one of the illustrious names on her pedigree was, in fact, a goat — which would explain her tendency to swallow socks and handkerchiefs, unless swift preventive action is taken. In one respect, the dog is true to her breed. If she sets off with two people in tow, the shepherding instinct within her demands that they remain together. Any attempt for

one to break away from the formation is strenuously opposed, and on return, the stray is welcomed back with an enthusiasm which has been mistaken for a violent attack. People may tremble, having been stared at by a large, ferocious-looking dog, when actually, her gaze was rivetted on the icecream or bag of lollies they were holding. More than once, she has been held tightly on a short leash, and guided past a group of people, her owner murmuring “Easy girl” as if without that soothing word, she would leap at the nearest throat. What some people win do to protect an illusion! We understand they are about to put up a “Beware of the Dog” sign.