AS I write, Ferdy, our black, woolly, teddy bear-esque miniature schnauzer is sprawled on the floor fast asleep next to my desk. Don’t take this, however, as a sign of indolence - he’s been pretty busy this morning. He started with some recreational barking at the Amazon delivery driver, went on his morning walk to the park where he left several pee-mails for future canine visitors and then sauntered back home for breakfast. He deserves his rest.

The phrase “it’s a dog’s life” used to denote a miserable, unhappy existence. It is believed to have originated in the 17th century when, of course, dogs were treated rather less indulgently than they are today. When they were treated more like dogs, in fact, and not as a revered member of the family.

Ferdy – short for Ferdinand (not my choice and something I feel the need to explain every time someone asks his name), certainly knows his position in our domestic hierarchy: right at the pinnacle. He is such a never-ending topic of conversation I often wonder what my family and I talked about before he came into our life.

He is certainly a quirky........

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