Henry's Biography: A Small Dog's Tale

When we arrived at my new home, I found it was bigger than my old one with a big garden where I could run around although the two-legs didn't want me to run in some places with lots of bright flowers. I still don't see why they get so annoyed when I run through flowers but that's two-legs for you. They just aren't logical.

The big drawback to my new home was the other dog there. She wasn't friendly, growled and bared her teeth at me. The two-legs scolded her and when she did it again, they took her outside and shut the door on her - served her right.

I found out her name is Saffy and she's a springer spaniel. You can see her in the picture here. It's typical of her - always racing around, being silly and chasing balls and cats. She hated me. She kept telling me she was going to bite me very hard when she had the chance. Luckily, the two-legs didn't give her a chance to attack me. I don't like to criticise but she has no maternal instinct at all. You'd have thought she would want to protect a puppy but, oh no, she just wanted to bite me.

I wanted to be friends. I always want to be friends with everybody. I even like cats and some of my best friends have been cats. I've learned, though, that some dogs just aren't as nice as I am which is a shame. Just think how much nicer the world would be if we all wanted to like each other.

The female two-legs was the alpha female in my new pack. Saffy didn't like this because she wanted to be alpha but the she-two-legs wouldn't let her. I knew the male two-legs was leader of the pack and I would never be leader myself. I don't mind, I wouldn't want the responsibility. If you're leader, you have to make decisions and fight to protect the pack. I still remember the stories my Mummy told me about pack leaders and how heroic they are.

She-Leader taught me that I must do my poops and wee in the garden and there was a small door inside the big two-legs' door for me and Saffy to use. (You can see a picture of part of the garden just above.) I quickly remembered to leave enough time to get outside because She-Leader would tell me I'm a good boy and give me lots of strokes and a chocolate drop. I love chocolate.

I ate my meals in a different room to Saffy because she would frighten me away from the dish and eat it herself if she got the chance. She wouldn't let me play with her toys either. I found an old ball she'd forgotten about in the garden and started playing with it. She came running over and jumped on me, growling. She really hurt me and knocked me over on my back and I cried and cried and cried. She-Leader ran over and picked me up and cuddled me. She shouted at Saffy and told her she was a very bad dog. That made me feel better but I carried on crying for a bit longer because I was enjoying the cuddle.

Leader liked me a lot. He kept picking me up and carrying me around. I heard She-Leader say, "Stop picking up that puppy, he can walk, he's got a leg on each corner." He didn't take any notice, I'm pleased to say. Saffy was very jealous.

Our old den was very near a big river and most days we would go for a walk alongside which was lovely. I'd meet lots of other dogs, there were clumps of grass to sniff and trees and bushes. Best of all, there were so many different smells. It's when I learned properly to interpret messages from other dogs and how I learned to cock my leg so I could add my smell to lamp posts and trees.

As usual, Saffy had to show off. She couldn't just walk or run along the path. Oh no, she had to jump in the river and swim. She would get Leader or She-Leader to throw the ball in the river for her so she could swim out and get it. What a waste of time and energy. She really is a silly dog.

To show how crazy she is, one time we went to the river and it was horrible and cold. There was snow about six inches deep and the edge of the river water was frozen. Saffy jumped in and swam anyway. Leader and She-Leader shouted at her to come out but she just laughed at them and stayed in there for what seemed ages. When she came out she was shivering and we all had to run home. This wasn't fair as I had hardly had the chance to sniff anything nor meet any other dogs. So typical of Saffy, though - she's just selfish.

When we went to the park I invented my own game which annoyed her. She'd run like a crazy thing and I'd run and keep up with her and turn when she turned. She'd turn this way and that to get away from me but I'd do it too. It made She-Leader laugh and said we were doing formation running.

Sometimes we get in the car and stay in there for quite a long time to get to the beach. Saffy and I know when we are getting close because the air smells different. Silly Saffy gets really excited but I stay calm because I'm sensible.

The first time we went to the beach, I wasn't very keen. The sand is nasty and gritty and gets in my fur. I don't like getting wet either. I was frightened by the big water which went on for ever. I never knew before we went to the beach that the world ended somewhere but it must do because we can't live in water so it can't be part of the world.

I don't like the way the water rears up in waves and tries to swallow more of the world. Luckily it keeps falling back again. Maybe one day it will succeed and invade the world. It's very scary.

Saffy isn't afraid of the water. She wants Leader and She-Leader to throw the ball in so she can show off by swimming out to get it and bring it back. The first time I went to the beach, I kept well away from the water in case it swallowed me. Now I don't mind going in and just wetting my paws a bit. In the picture above, I'm quite wet because I had my paws in the water and was looking at another dog on the beach and a wave came up behind me and tried to get me but luckily I escaped.

Now I don't turn my back on the water so I can get out the way. I mostly sniff around because there are some very unusual smells on the beach. I can usually find other friendly dogs to chat to so I'm never bored.