After I discovered I had high blood pressure, my doctor told me to change my lifestyle. Could I take up cycling? (I didn’t fancy the Lycra.) Could I do less court work? (I’m a barrister and it pays the mortgage.) The doctor said I needed “more joy in my life”.
That’s how we came to meet Monty. My wife and children had wanted a dog for many years. I had resisted, but the doctor approved.
We have had Monty, a five-month-old miniature schnauzer, for 12 weeks. I walk him in the morning and he bounds across the field, skipping, bounding and running.
It is not all joy, though. My wife insisted we go to puppy classes. We must subject Monty to 80 “life experiences” from meeting horses to cyclists. His progress has stalled at number 78 as I have been unable to find the brass band that Monty is required to meet. However, he now has a certificate for life skills, which is no doubt meant to encourage him as he grows to full doghood.
The puppy class has, on the whole, been fun as parents share their pride in their puppies. Monty owns his area and barks at anyone trespassing on his field in the morning or in his park.
Likes His human family.
Dislikes Anyone who trespasses on his “manor”.
Finest hour Recovering from the shame of making an anti-social deposit on the mat at puppy class to gain his life skills certificate.
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