Old dogs and new tricks

The Lady Of The House learned the lovely story behind the picture of the dog that appears on the cover of the latest album by American blues singer Seasick Steve.

It turns out this handsome old fella (the dog, I mean) was cruelly dumped years ago on the M4 motorway at Swansea - but ten years ago he chose a nice lady owner who came to the rescue shelter where he'd been taken.

Now they live happily together in Portsmouth where she took this picture of him - his name is Twm - paddling in the sea.

Apparently, Seasick Steve spotted the picture she'd uploaded to Flickr and thought he'd be the perfect illustration for the cover of his record which was called: "You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks".

How lovely!!

By coincidence, we also got sent an email story about wise old dogs yesterday which I thought I'd also share and dedicate it to the GSDs who visit my blog and say hello from time to time as well as all dogs of more mature years (like me). Here it goes:


One day an old German Shepherd Dog is out enjoying a run in the woods when, eventually, he realises that he's lost.

As he looks for a way home he suddenly sees a hungry young panther running towards him determined to eat someone for lunch.

The GSD thinks to himself: "Oh, oh! I'm in big trouble now!"

But then, noticing some bones on the ground nearby, he lies down to chew on them with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the panther is about to leap, the GSD says loudly: "That was one delicious panther! I wonder, if there are any more around here?"

Hearing this, the young panther halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees.

"Phew!" says the panther. "That was close! That old dog nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a squirrel who had seen the whole thing from a nearby tree, decides he can put this knowledge to good use and earn protection from the panther. So, off he goes.  

The squirrel soon catches up with the panther, spills the beans about the trick the GSD has played and strikes a deal for himself with the panther.  

The young panther is furious at being made to look a fool and says: "Here, squirrel, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that old dog!"  

Now, the GSD sees the panther coming with the squirrel on his back and thinks: "What am I going to do now?" But instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to the panther and the squirrel pretending he hasn't seen them.

When they get close enough to hear, the GSD says out loud:"I wonder where that squirrel's got to? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another panther!"  
 
The moral of this story...

Don't mess with the old dogs... Age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery!