How To Name Dogs



(In temporary exasperation, after a day  with a Staffordshire bull-terrier puppy.)

The family home protector
   All muscle, bone, and dander,
Some dub their bullpup Hector,
   Achilles, Alexander.

For one who’s at my sleeve now ,
   The needle-toothed young vandal –
Stop pulling! Drop it! Leave now! –
   No such heroic handle.

It seems his favourite action –
   Don’t pull, you little  ******! –
Is putting limbs in traction.
   He's got himself called  . . . Tugger.
 
Jerome Betts

If you have any thoughts on this poem, or any dog-training tips,  Jerome Betts   would be pleased to hear them.