Bonnie – my labXshepherd, currently snoring beside me on the sofa – has done all the clichés. Side of salmon from the mother in law’s kitchen counter (lifetime ban hammer from her for that one), whole roast chicken from parents’ kitchen, various boxes of biscuits, loaves of bread, packets of pasta, chocolate bars from our kitchen. Excelled herself with a bowl of raw pizza dough (much panic because it can expand apparently) and recently a whole M&S caterpillar choccie cake (which strained the usually excellent relationship between her and my five year old). And she scarfed half a baguette sarnie whilst I was holding it!
Despite this litany of crime – and the fact that she is not at all sorry really (though she pretends to be at the time) and would do it all again in a heartbeat given half the chance – she is an amazing dog. Clever, intuitive, affectionate, memory like an elephant. Wouldn’t change a thing about her. And other than something happening to my kids, the thing that scares me most is the inevitable day (she’s nearly nine now) when I return home to a joint of meat still sat on the counter, and no dog hiding at the top of the stairs, ears pinned to the side of her head, hoping the carpet will swallow her up..