That's a relief - so many people see them as status symbols rather than an obligation of care.

They do have a lovely nature if the one I got to know fairly well is anything to go by. Murphy was still young and had the mistaken idea that he was a lap dog. The muckle eejit, as he was known, could just about get both front legs and his head onto the average lap.

Sigh.

Everyone he met was his friend - or possibly he just thought he'd found a new toy.

They do have some hunting instincts though - they are not attack dogs like alsations and dobermans, they pin down and kill with a bite to the neck. They can be trained to lie in wait for deer, though that is illegal here.

Anne the Pleater