The Bird Dogs

Of all the dogs that are so sweet,
The spaniel is the most complete;
Of all the spaniels, dearest far
The little loving Cockers are.

They're always merry, always hale;
Their eyes are like October ale;
They are so loyal and so black;
So unresentful 'neath the whack.

They never sulk; they never tire;
They love the field, they love the fire;
They never criticise their friends;
Their every joy all joy transcends.

The Aberdeen is quaint and sly,
A harvest of the anxious eye;
The Bedlington is blue and true;
The Airedale fights till death for you.

The Bob-tail is a jovial chap;
The Pekinese commands your lap;
The Dachshund (with Queen Anne her legs)
Your sympathy enchains or begs.

Yet why compare? All dogs on earth
Possess some special charm and worth,
But Cocker spaniels? Every way,
THEY are the kennel's angels, THEY.

From "The More I See of Men ..." Stray Essays on Dogs. 8th Edition 1930.

There's a love that lingers always
Deep within my heart—
It's the love for Cocker Spaniels,
Here's how it got its start.
Bought a puppy, silky-coated,
Eyes of brown that looked at me
Like he thought I was an idol
Showed his trust and faith in me.
Stubby tail that wagged "Hello, there!"
Every time he heard my step
Fitted his mood right in with my moods—
Quiet, or a lot of pep.
Ears that gracefully extended
Quite a ways towards the ground—
Chasing after balls; retrieving
Anything he found around
Gentle always with the children
As he grew from puppy hood
Into just the kind of dog folks
Liked throughout the neighbourhood.
I'm a hunter and I love it,
So did that first cocker pup—
Didn't really have time to train him,
He just seemed to pick it up.
Years have passed, but still that puppy
In my heart has left his trace,
For every time I lose a Cocker
Another one must take its place.

From "The Popular Cocker Spaniel" by Veronica Lucas-Lucas, revised addition 1956

Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out
the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand"

Richard A. Biby