DOG THAT LOVED TO DOZE IN A SNOWDRIFT

THE farmhouse door lay within a small porch and the wind had driven the snow inside, forming a smooth, 2ft heap against the timbers.

As I leaned across to knock, the surface of the heap trembled a little, then began to heave.

There was something in there, something quite big. It was eerie standing in the early morning light watching the snow parting to reveal a furry body. Some creature of the wild must have strayed in, searching for warmth — but it was bigger than a fox or anything else I could think of.

Just then the door opened and the light from the kitchen streamed out.

The farmer, Peter Trenholm, beckoned me inside and his wife smiled at me from the bright interior. They were a cheerful young couple.

‘What’s that?’ I gasped, pointing at the animal, which was shaking the snow vigorously from its coat.

‘That?’ Peter grinned. ‘That’s awd Tip.’

‘Tip? Your dog? But what’s he doing under a pile of snow?’

‘Just blew in on him, I reckon. That’s where he sleeps, you know, just outside back door.’ I stared at the farmer. ‘You mean he sleeps there, out in the open, every night?’

‘Aye, allus. Summer and winter. But don’t look at me like that, Mr Herriot — it’s his own choice. The other dogs have a warm bed in the cow house, but Tip won’t entertain it. He’s 15 now and he’s been sleeping out there since he were a pup.

‘I remember when me father was alive he tried all ways to get t’awd feller to sleep inside but it was no good.’

The old dog shook the last of the snow from his coat, pranced jerkily up to the farmer and gave a couple of reedy barks.

Peter laughed. ‘You see, he’s ready to be off — he’s a beggar for work is Tip.’

As I threw my tackle into the boot after the visit I looked back at the old dog, who had leapt onto a trailer full of hay being driven out to the fields. Legs braced against the uneven motion, tail waving, he barked defiance at the cold world.

I carried away the memory of Tip, who scorned the softer things and slept in what he considered the place of honour — at his master’s door.