Bruno - The Black Labrador

By Alan Limer

Bruno asked me to type up some stories of his life history, so here it is in his own words! I started writing this for him when he reached eight years old and we have jointly added odd anecdotes right through to his demise. He told me the final entries in a dream! He was my companion and chum for all but the first two years of his life. He has certainly enriched mine and I hope that I added something to his.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781326636951

Book preview

Bruno - The Black Labrador

Bruno

Bruno.jpg

The Black Labrador

by Alan Limer

Contents

Bruno’s Exploits Preface

Bruno the Black Labrador

Meeting Bear

Meeting Wussie

Poor Kimber

Bertie’s Turban

Training Classes

Encounters with Fishermen

BBQ’s

Chloe

Losing Scampy the Sheltie Puppy

Dishwashers and Roasting Tins

Murphy’s Morgan

Travelling

Mel’s New House

Boats and sailing

Poets Hill

Valentine’s

Chewies

Kids on Walks

Gardening

Archery

Lisa and Trina

Petersfield Lake

The River Rother and Bruno’s Island

Finding Things

Rugby

Fat Cat Poppy

Shooting

Life is Unfair

Star Struck

Late Night Walks

Bedtime Tales

The Stables

Super Bunny

The Articulated Stick

First Impressions

In Print

Thread of Gold

My Portrait

Tickatum

Helen Muddypaws

Blondes

My Poor Tail

Intruders

Jezebel

The Day That I Got Old

Another Visit To The Vets

Good Night

My Will

Postscript by Bear

Front cover is a painting by Emma Page of Bruno aged 6

Back cover is a painting by Emma Page of Wussie aged 9

Thanks to Emma for permission to reproduce both portraits

Thanks to Tony Short, Editor Petersfield Herald for permission to reproduce the article from the 21st October 2005

All incidents described in this book are based on fact.

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photo copying or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Author.

First published in Great Britain 2016

Bruno’s Exploits Preface

Bruno asked me to type up some stories of his life history, so here it is in his own words!  I started writing this for him when he reached eight years old and we have jointly added odd anecdotes right through to his demise.  He told me the final entries in a dream!  This is said with just a touch of tongue in cheek. 

He was my companion and chum for all but the first two years of his life.  He has certainly enriched mine and I hope that I added something to his.  

Bruno was a classic Black Labrador from showing rather than from working stock with what a breeder would call an excellent pedigree.  He was a great big clumsy, gentle dog. I know that is a contradiction in terms but that is the way he was, and if dogs played rugby he would have been a second row forward.  Those who know this breed will know exactly what I mean.  He was wonderful with children and I used to introduce him to mothers with kids who were apprehensive about dogs, with absolute confidence that he would endear himself to them.  The only exception to this rule was if the child had something like an ice cream; his tongue was faster than that of a Fly Catcher! 

His obedience could sometimes be just a little suspect, because when he had set his heart on a course of action it often became a battle of wills.  A door left open for a second and he would slide off; for a great oaf of a dog he could be extremely cunning!  Knowing him as I did, I could usually divine his probable course of action, and a visit to the likely spot, (often Carol’s lake!) would mean that I was greeted with a wagging tail, but no contrition! 

He was my constant companion for all the time that I had him and it got to the point where I was identified as Bruno’s chum, and would be referred to as Mr Bruno.  When we were out and about, he would bound up to anybody, whether or not they wanted to say hallo, announce his presence and seek to endear himself to all, usually successfully. I do not mind admitting that I had a great affection for him and miss him terribly.  It’s often little things like his head appearing around the banisters when I first came down the stairs in the morning with head gently shaking, as it was driven, from the other end, by that great pendulum of a tail.

Bruno did not care about being pack leader.  With other dogs he was usually a friendly soul, but there were one or two notable exceptions and they were invariably with those who considered that they were top dog.  He refused to accept that they had any authority over him and would tell them so in no uncertain fashion.  Growls and raised hackles were the order of the day, quite intimidating to behold. I do not, however, recollect that he ever took it further.

I will add that he had two abodes, the first was in Petersfield and the second was in Felbridge, close to East Grinstead.  He was equally comfortable at both homes and ruled the roost in a very relaxed way according to Bruno’s Rules.  To plagiarise and misquote Mark Twain, he taught me loyalty, (sort of!), obedience, (sort of!), to be on time with his breakfast and supper and to turn round three times before lying down!

Alan Limer, (alias Bear)

Bruno the Black Labrador

Please allow me to introduce myself; I’m a dog of simple tastes, a spot of mooching about, a well-filled food bowl, ideally with a large dollop of gravy, a comfortable bed, a chewie, good company and a nice warm fire to curl up in front of during the evening, are all that I need, well almost.  I would like to tell you about some of the interesting events in my life and the scrapes that I have got myself into. 

Although I have tried to keep the events in a more or less chronological order, my memory sometimes lets me down and they do get a bit muddled up.

Bruno puppy

Me as a