WE are in an age when pets specially dogs, are at their most popular. A dog can add many wonderful things to a household.

The media has played a large part in this. I wonder whether the media has shown just how much is involved in having a pet. There is a tendency to push cuteness as the main item when making the purchase.

Some breeds are totally unrecognisable from their wolf ancestry. The saddest is surely the celebrity handbag dogs or those whose noses are so flat they can barely breathe. Buying a dog requires much thought,with time and household patterns needing consideration.

Throughout my secondary school days and into college times, our family had a dog, Kim, a mix of poodle and other breeds. There was always someone at home and he became part of the family (or..in his thoughts, the Pack!)

Dogs remain pack animals and so long as they know their place, they are ok. Kim knew his place and learned to fit in with family patterns.

Dogs don't immediately fit in. Kim's first months required difficult lessons to be learned, not always easy. I heard on the news that sheep worrying by family dogs has grown massively, often resulting in sheep mis-carrying or dying. Not all caused by savaging by the dog but often by an over excited dog running around the sheep, barking.

I love dogs, but through my adult life have never owned one, Out at work, weekends away, holidays would not fit the pack requirement.

On country walks with friends we frequently encounter dogs of all sizes and breeds. The vast majority are happy and having a great time with the family pack.

David Sharples

Tarbet Drive

Breightmet