I had just gotten comfy when Teddy started acting up again.

It's like the little bugger as a sixth sense for when I'm relaxed.

He'd been playing on the carpet with his kong toy trying to wrestle the

treat out of his rubber casing, but the minute I sank back against the cushion, his head

whipped around. A split second later he was pouring at my legs trying to

get up on the sofa with me. Okay Teddy it's okay, mate. Up you come.

I hoisted Teddy into the air and plunked him on the cushion beside me.

He stared back at me with large brown eyes,

head cocked slightly to one side.

Teddy's a Welsh springer spaniel, floppy ears, red and white coat, permanently wagging

tail.

Hued as hell, in other words.

My wife went with my 12-year-old son to visit him, and they didn't even have to convince me

to say yes.

They just showed me a couple of photos. That was all it took. The thing

they didn't tell me though, the thing they conveniently left out when the idea was first raised is that puppies are bloody nuts

and Springer Spaniel puppies are really damn nuts.

You take your eyes off them for so much as a second, and you will turn back to find them, soaring

through your furniture with a needle teeth. They're like jackal and hide in dog form.

Sweet and loving one moment, bouncing off the walls the next.

And as I'm the only one who's at home during the day, guess who has to pick up the pieces? Right, Teddy, are you going to be a good boy and sit quietly with me for a bit?

Teddy's tail started wagging.

...