Pets on the Cut
What’s it all about? Jack Russell Alfie has lots to play with on board, Alison Wilkerson discovers.
IT’S SO lovely to be able to walk, albeit avoiding close contact with others on the towpath, especially on a warm, dry and sunny day.
On one such day I met a lovely little nine-year-old dog called Alfie, who is a Parson Russell terrier. The breed is actually named after the Revd John ‘Jack’ Russell who is credited with the creation of the breed, described as bold, eager, energetic, happy, intelligent and obedient (sometimes stubborn), and this little fella certainly showed all of those traits.
He is also a good guard dog and good off lead, which has been useful during lockdown as more walkers and cyclists have been on the towpath, making use of the open air while socially distancing of course, which can be rather tricky, especially on the particularly narrow parts of sometimes overgrown towpath.
He lives on board a 2002, 57ft narrowboat, powered by a Beta 38 engine, with his owners Lynda and Hayden, who have owned him since he was a puppy and so his first experience on a boat was living with them.
They purchased it in 2011 from Wilton Marina in Daventry, Northamptonshire. It is their first boat and they had been planning to buy and live on one for three years before actually taking the plunge and making the purchase. It was obviously the right decision, as they would not go back and change it. Now where have I heard that before?
They currently moor in a newly created/ built marina but cruise and get out on the cut, which is where I bumped into them. In fact a few marina-based boats are moored on the cut during lockdown.
Alfie loves the fire – a log burner – and prefers to be on the bow while cruising along as he hates being on the stern – or the roof, for that matter. He also hates being picked up but helps with the ropes, helps fishermen and women and can often be seen watching them.
He loves everyone including dogs and cats and has even been protective of them in the past. Unfortunately he hates swans and does not like ducks much and is rather protective of those who travel on the boat and hates them getting off/ disem-‘barking’ (woof). He has also fallen in the canal which is unfortunate, as he does not actually like water.
Food-wise, he really loves food, especially Butchers’ dog food (other brands are available, of course), ham, cheese as well as occasionally having a little treat in the form of a bit of homemade cake and bread! Well, we all love home-baked food, well I do anyway, especially when it’s made on a boat!
He does, however, also eat grass which he seems to love rolling in (as long as it’s only grass). He also has an amazing toy box on board his lovely floating home, which is absolutely full of all sorts of fun doggie goodies including balls, tug rope and plush, squeaky things.