Mrs Down's Diary

AT the end of the shooting season, a few weeks ago now, most working dogs are thin and weary. They have worked so hard chasing all over for their masters that not an ounce of surplus flesh is left on them. Not so our spaniel Holly.

"Are you sure that dog has been working this season" a friend asked when he came to stay for the last shoot. He had come over from Shropshire and had actually brought a thin, distant relative of Holly, with him.

Holly has had a successful season picking up but she has also had a successful season at her second favourite obsession. Eating. Holly is obsessed with food.

She is greedier than the greediest Labrador we have ever had. And that is saying something for we have owned, and still do, some very greedy dogs in out time. But Holly is the most skilled, most speedy and most audacious thief of any dog we have had.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette February 18 2009