My Guy

Is there anything sweeter than a dog snuggling up to you and putting its head on your lap, looking trustingly up to you? Well yes, of course I know there is, but it's still pretty adorable. But it wasn't like that earlier. I took delivery of a new ride-on lawnmower a few days ago, and this morning I decided to try it out. Despite the persistent heavy bursts of hailstorms threatening to rip your face open with their sharpness and velocity, the grass has dried up quickly and was fine to cut. Hugo did his usual dancing around and barking, in danger of being run over, so I put him in the kitchen. After a while I noticed him on the work surface, so decided to catch him at it and try to shock him out of it. I raced into the house, bellowed at him to get down, and as he slunk past me I flicked his flank with my gardening glove. He yelped - honestly, it couldn't have hurt him - and escaped through the open door. I called him back, very firmly and crossly, but he cowered on the ground and wouldn't come. He looked terrified. I felt sick. Why was he so afraid? I've wondered before if he might have been harshly treated, but seeing him like this was terrible. I wasn't really cross. He wasn't doing any harm, but it's just not nice to have a dog walking where food is prepared. Not the end of the world. I gently called to him and he came, reluctantly, but then I stroked him and told him it was OK really, that nothing was worth him being so afraid. After a while I started a game, and he responded as usual, eagerly, full of fun and happiness. I was still feeling shocked though. My poor, sweet little boy. I had no idea he'd react like that. But it was a first and a last. My recent weekend guest was reading an article in the paper about the expensive treatments dogs can have nowadays, and she asked me if I'd spend £30,000 to cure Hugo of some medical problem. I told her no, of course not, but I'd probably risk my life if he was being hurt. Silly fool.

Here's my new best friend. We're going to have some wonderful times together.