A Happy Boy With A Twinkle In His Eye

You’ll love meeting Chester the collie!

Who wouldn’t love the twinkle in Chester’s eye? Photo thanks to his owner, Julie.

Background

Chester is my sister’s dog. He lives in Australia and, since I’ve been in Canada for over twelve years now, I barely know him.

I have met him on occasion and heard stories over the years, but this was a good “getting to know you” reading.

I fell in love with his bright and positive energy!

Chester

I’m so excited to have a turn to have my say.

I thought you would just talk to the others but I wanted a turn too. I really did. I have a lot to say. Well not a lot, but some important stuff that makes it seem really big. What a great opportunity. I’m so curious about life and would like to know lots of things.

There’s the decision to prevent me from roaming that I don’t quite get. I would always come home again so I don’t see the problem with me being out and about. I’d make friends all along the way and it would surely open up this big old world to me.

I could make a nose map of the area and share it with the others when I got home again.

(Audible sigh.) I guess they won’t let me though. Never have and never will.

I used to live with a lady that scolded me all the time for being an inquisitive puppy. I was young and full of lively enthusiasm and life. I was inquisitive and daring. We really didn’t belong in the same universe. She was a silly woman.

In another place and time, I would have been a working dog and I would have been good at it too. I could round up sheep or herd cows or even stare down a chicken or two if I put my mind to it. But I think it would get me in trouble and beside we don’t have a cow anyway.

There is a dusting of regret for the many things I’ve missed out on in life. Oh, I have a good home, a safe space to be, companions and friends. A loyal family that loves me. Good food, a warm bed. What are you complaining about, I hear you ask?

Well I was one of those dogs that was wild at heart. I was born to adventure and discover the world. I should have been the friend of a swagman and we could have camped by a fire and howled together at a moon so full and round that it would inspire the most unromantic of characters to croon about love and adventure.

Sometimes I pace. I’m not unhappy. Just a little bored. A bone would be nice to lay and gnaw out on the lawn. I could play ball a little more too. Nobody seems to have time for that anymore.

Julie tries but she’s really just interested in getting the washing dried and folded in again.

Emma mistreats my big heart by not spending enough time with me like she used to. Anyone would think her life was more important than mine but, truthfully, I love her to bits anyway.

The other dogs don’t regard me as much as they do each other. It’s in their breeding. A little smug and elitist I would say.

Well, we all come under the breed of DOG I’d have them know. Nobody respects and acknowledges my wisdom of the world. I hear the mailman and know when there’s visitors in the yard out front. I prick my ears and give a “woof” too.

Goes to show I’m pretty in tune, wouldn’t you say??

Well, if there’s nothing else to say, I suppose this is it. Just a yap or two and a woof, woof, woof. (He’s smiling with delight at his cleverness to talk dog like you understand it and even laughs out loud.)

Oh yes, and I really do dream about running in green meadows and jumping over sties. I know you laugh at my whimpers and my twitching feet. I don’t mind. In these moments, I am FREEEEEEE.

Big smiles, pant ,pant and a lick of a kiss!

Chester 2024

Feedback from the reading:

Yes, that’s Chester.

Quite the personality and the only dog that has truly ‘talked’ to us. He’ll tell us off for being late home sometimes. He’ll tell us off for a meal being late. It’s all in the look he gives us and the sound of the woof. He’ll tell us off for telling him off! It really is funny.

Peter will sternly say his name because he is barking….he’ll stop barking, trot a few paces away, turn around, look us in the eye, and give one defiant “woof” before trotting off jauntily. The whole body language saying “So there!” Totally unrepentant.

Chester was a rescue dog. He was given as a present to an elderly lady and was a total mismatch. She would call him and then chastise him when he came. When we got him, it took a year before he would come to us when called and let us touch him.

He is (or I should say he was…) an escape artist. Would go over, under, around etc. etc. anything, just to get on the other side. Hates closed doors.

Would only stay away for about half an hour and then return to the front door and wait for us to let him in.

Chester is now 13 years old with arthritis, so has slowed up considerably.

A ball mad dog, he would wear us out first. Nowadays, one throw and that’s enough.

His nickname is ‘Bright eyes.’ They are as bright and alive now as they were when we first met him. They just look at you as if he knows all.

Chester as an older boy. His personality still shines!