Here I was sitting having a “flat white” and contemplating the various dogs that were to be seen passing in the town and the uses they had and their owners. Well this deeply spiritual thinking then turned to the idea that you don’t really need a German Shepherd to be a police dog or guard dog, or a spaniel to be a drug searcher or a greyhound to run or a St Bernard to trek around the Alps looking for buried skiers. Why not have dogs do different things? Now my favourite dog is the Parson Jack Russell, which should not be confused with the plain old Jack Russell. Just to explain… here are some photographs!
Parsons Jack Russell Jack Russell
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One, the Parsons Jack Russell (PJR) is recognised by the Kennel Club and the other not. But that’s not my reasons for preferring the rougher coated Parsons, it just look far more “naughty” !
During these musings I started to think of the PJR in all sorts of new guise, for example as a sheep dog. Imagine if you can this little tyke running up and down at the command and leaping over the backs sheep, perhaps at Gatwick airport you would see several PJR’s rushing about the passengers sniffing out any “illegal substances” or even the occasional PJR Guide Dog! But I think the very best use for one of these little gems is for queue jumping! Yes, queue jumping, particularly if you are in Costa Coffee where getting a free seat for two can be a problem sometimes. So, my plan is send in the dogs! Picture this, you arrive at your favourite cafe of coffee shop and there is a queue that people are already jumping. So, with your smart little PJR in tow you simply give the “seek table” command and off shoots little Jack. By the time you reach the counter, order and take your coffee little Jack will be found sitting at a table to two and defying anyone to come near by barring his teeth and growling. Perfect!
So that is just a few uses I first thought of but how about this final one before I leave you to consider any other uses.
Jack Russell Sleigh Dogs!!
Please leave comments and lets see just how many innovative ideas you can come up with!
1 comment:
Dear Dickie, I can call you Dickie can I?
Having been raised in a house [and in later life] where a dog or dogs were a compulsory feature I have to say your taste in dogs is good, not excellent but good, which is good by the way.
My mother bred Bulldogs and during the years 1956, 57 and 58 qualified to show at Crufts, sadly though for her at least without any real tangible success.
When I married and settled down we thought of a dog but as you know the Army life is not conducive to keeping long term animals of that type. However once we became assured toward the end of my service that in would be UK or nothing and having two children still young enough to enjoy a dog we sat and started to think of a bred to suit us, Bulldogs are enjoyable but not really a dog to take for long walks over the Yorkshire Moors and Dales.
The English Springer Spaniel became the breed of choice for us, in fact we have had two both lived well into their teens and the second one I worked as a gun dog in field trials. They are known with some justification as the ‘Lager Lout’ of the dog world.
When my daughter [finally] left home she got a dog of her own a Jack Russell not the Parson just the bog standard Russell, she pondered for a time over a name until the Lady of the House explained to her that they have names anyway, if it is male it must be Jack and if it is female by definition it must be Jill. She has had her Jack now for 16 years and though very white around the face and at times a little stiff the things shows no sign of slowing down or even dying, this is the one that can still outrun a postman.
Her husband the large animal farm vet [or Herriot] as he is known in the family has decided like all good vets that he should have dog of his own and so he has a cross between a Red Setter and an English Springer, now I have to tell you Dickie, that is one hell of daft dog. The outward appearance is of the Setter in height, colour and length of fur and looks but the brain [or what passes as a brain] is pure Springer. This is Grace and if ever a dog should have therapy it is her.
Your friend MAD
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