BARNEY`S FIRST TRIUMPH...

Just got back from a packed Wrotham Village Hall where Barney and his puppy mates took their bronze award test in the Kennel Club`s Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

We really hadn`t expected him to pass as he was six months old only yesterday and has shown a stubborn aversion to some of the things included in the test, notably laying down for a whole minute without moving and wandering in and out of other dogs without resorting to unprovoked attacks. Mrs. Snopper has worked hard on overcoming Barney`s `shortcomings` and has herself been revising the oral test for owners that goes with the award, so it was a fitting reward to see him do his stuff and pass each part of the test.

At the end, Barney was presented with his first rosette and next week he`ll get the certificate to go with it. I just hope he doesn`t have to make an acceptance speech or we could be there all night.