Paws for a Puppy: Barnaby & Mr Fox

Saturday 9 March 2013

Barnaby & Mr Fox

Barnaby and Mr Fox

Barnaby says: "I say it was Helen's fault. She shouldn't have continued walking round the field, without checking to see where I was. If a puppy is ignored he has to make my own fun. And how was I to know that something like that glorious muck that Mr Fox leaves behind is offensive to humans?

Barnaby drawn by the lovely artist Sue Mynall

When I encountered it in that tuft of grass, all moist and brown and highly perfumed, I found it a simply deligtful smell. I liked the colour too.
I wanted Helen to take a photo of me covered in Fox for this page, but she refused so I am using this little sketch that my friend the lovely artist Sue Mynall did for me when we first met. Sue has illustrated all the books that Helen and Pythius wrote together and now she is drawing me. I am now bigger than the picture suggests and not quite so fluffy, but it is definately a picture of me."

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Barnaby Peacocke

Meet Barnaby Peacocke the purebred Border collie with merle eyes who was born in the Cotswolds September 29 2012.

He lives with Helen and two pesky cats Harvey the ginger mog and Buster the Burmese who is convinced he comes from royal stock and is therefore rather up himself. Helen? Oh she is just Helen. Nothing special about her except that she is particularly fond of Border collies, and is considered a pretty good cook.

Barnaby was selected to live with them when Helen’s beloved Border collie Pythius-Peacocke died November 12 2012. His death broke her heart. He left some pretty big pawmarks to fill which is where Barnaby comes in. He has been called on to fill her life with puppy antics and become her constant companion. His main job is to ensure she’s as happy with him as she was with Pythius. Will he manage to do that? No one knows – only time will tell.

Pythius Peacocke

Pythius the Border collie wants to say a few words

I lived with Helen for more than 12 years, during which time we walked the Cotswolds and most of Oxfordshire in order to obtain information for the four Paws books we wrote together: Paws Under the Table, Paws for History, Paws Along the Way and Paws in the Cotswolds (Wychwood Press - £9.99). They were good times. Together we clambered up many a high hill, scrambled through the undergrowth of dense woodland danced through streams and ran free across meadows and fields.

Before I finally took my bow as the arthritis in my legs become too painful to bear, I first looked round for a little chap who could take my place. It was the least I could do before leaving Helen.

I discovered Barnaby in a farm house at Old Sodbury. Given our many walks in the Cotswolds it seemed logical to organise a puppy for her who was born in the countryside we loved so much.

He is a dear little chap, though I fear he is going to lead Helen and her friends a merry dance, such is his energy, especially when he wants to turn right when they have decided to turn left. BUT, yes there is a BUT, this little chap is very, very fond of his food (something that never really bothered me) and Helen is a food writer and a smashing cook – so I reckon they will get on. Within a few days of Barnaby moving into Rose Cottage, Helen was cooking up rabbit stews and shepherd’s pies for his food bowl and he was woofing them down as if he had never been fed before.

I watch from on high, but with interest.