My Life with Dogs – Briard

The first dog I remember was a large black scruffy haired Briard type. He was looking into my pushchair. I was 18 months old. His name was Jim and Dad got him from Battersea Dogs Home.

Sitting facing the wall!

Dad told me, when I was older, that Jim was sitting at the back of the pound. All the other dogs were running around barking, jumping and fighting with each other. But this dog sat at the rear of the large bricked area, facing the wall with his back to everything.

Dad said he knew straight away, he was the dog he wanted. The kennel boy said that Jim was already reserved. But he should have been picked up by now so he went to check. When he returned he told Dad the dog should have been taken by now so Dad could have him if he wanted.

Latch key dog

In those days, the traffic was light and we lived in a very quiet village. It was quite common to put dogs out in the morning and let them get on with it. This is what Dad did every day before he went to work. Dad worked at the Gas Light and Coke Co., now known as British Gas. He cycled to Westminster, London every day, where the old company was situated in Horseferry Road, nearly 17 miles away. He left early in the morning and got back late in the evening.

Everyone’s dog

The dog would trot off and check out the small housing estate we lived on, mainly consisting of prefab type bungalows with corrugated tins roofs. Many neighbours would give him treats and food. He was such a popular dog, it was as though he was everyone’s dog. This was our home until my 7th birthday. 

Died at 17 years!

The stories Mum and Dad told me about Jim were manyfold and I loved that dog so much. When he died at the grand old age of 17, it was the worst day of my life. Mum and Dad were also pretty cut up about it. Briards have normal lifespan of no more than 12 years.

Dad and the vicious Bull Dog

I’ve got my love of dogs from my Dad. He told me that when he was just 5 years old, his parents found him sleeping in the neighbour’s bulldog’s outside kennel. The dog was permanently chained up and was renowned for his bad temper. Dad was inside the kennel with the dog, resting on his belly. The bulldog wouldn’t let anyone come near Dad. It caused quite a commotion and the whole street came out to take a look. Dad said that when he woke up, there were all these people looking at him and the dog.

He said he just got up and walked away. The dog was fine and Dad used to see him every day. Dad was the only one who could get near him. He said the dog was his only friend.