Scamp Lends A Hand

Scamp, my 18-month-old miniature fox terrier, is extremely lively and full of mischief. Scamp loves to play ball, which usually turns into a game of chase. He jumps through hoops and sits on top of his kennel just like Snoopy in the Peanuts cartoon strip. If the weather is cold, he pulls the blankets out of his kennel and drags them to a spot in the sunshine and settles down to enjoy the warmth.

Another favourite game is to sneak into the house and steal a shoe or slipper and run away with it. There is no way he will part with his prize. He will tease me and allow me to almost grasp it, but then dash off with it with a cheeky grin on his face as if to say, You can’t catch me. This may go on indefinitely until I am thoroughly exhausted. I am always the first to tire.

Recently, I was working in the garden. I always wear gloves when doing gardening but, on this occasion, I could find only one. The other must have fallen from my pocket so my left hand was bare.

Casually, as if speaking to a human, I said, “Scamp, I can’t find my other glove – have you seen it?”

I went on digging and Scamp ran off somewhere chasing butterflies or whatever else it is that little dogs like to do.

I was surprised when, a few minutes later, he came back and dropped my glove beside me. He made no attempt to grab it and tease me but stood there wagging his tail and grinning as if to say, Here you are, I have found your glove.

Did he understand what I had asked him?

I wonder.