NO STOPPING HIM NOW...

Barney, ably `handled` by Mrs. Snopper, was successful in passing his Silver Award last evening as part of the Kennel Club`s Good Citizen Dog Scheme. After a nerve-racking delay whilst waiting for the Bronze Award entrants to have their test, Barney and his chums were put through their paces by an expert judge in the forbidding surroundings of Wrotham Village Hall. In some respects, I think the magnitude of the occasion took the edge off some of Barney`s well rehearsed manoevres but he managed to convince the judge that he really was quite a well behaved and obedient pooch.

So, as you can see from the photo, he is well pleased with himself, sporting his fancy rosette and he seems to have adopted something of an air of confidence about him, as if knowing that he has done well to get this far in only 13 months. There`s still a way to go - after a welcome break for the Christmas season, he will then launch into the daunting programme leading up to the formidable Gold Award. After the Gold Award comes the Platinum, then I imagine something like the Dilithium Crystal Award, all of which will keep Barney focussed for some time yet rather than thinking he can relax, take on a few mistresses and let his impeccable image and his endorsements be compromised by temptations that might be put in his way.