Dog beaten at his bone game by cereal thriller

AFTER several amusing dog tales in Peterborough, I’d like to relate one about Alfie, the working cocker spaniel. He belonged to my son and daughter-in-law and often stayed with us when they went on holiday. Eventually, he gradually spent more and more time with us, and we virtually adopted him. Alfie did all the usual dog tricks such as sit, lie down and roll over, though in his eagerness to get a reward, he used to ignore the first two commands and just roll over. Oh, and he used to bark with excitement if the doorbell rang. The postman never believed us when we told him Alfie was friendly. One day Alfie developed a game. Before breakfast he’d bring his ‘hide bone’ and present it to me. I’d pretend to eat it, with loud chewing noises, then drop it and he’d grab it as I chased him into the kitchen. Then he’d step on to the kitchen doormat and look at me. He’d created a ‘safe home’ where I couldn’t take his bone. If I turned away, he’d step off the mat, but quickly step back on it if I came close. Alfie’s only distraction was when my wife, preparing breakfast, accidentally dropped cereal on the floor. The bone game was forgotten, and he was finished with me. It amazed me that Alfie had worked out the game, with the ‘safe mat’ and invited me to play, until Special K became too tempting. The game went on for several years. I lost my play partner two years ago, but my wife and I still laugh at the memory of the game. I enjoyed my daily charge along the hall into the kitchen. She wondered out loud who enjoyed it the most!

Don Townshend, Chelmsford, Essex.