[shillelagh]

We had a dog many years ago a black labrador. We had him from a puppy we all clubbed together and bought him for my dad. He was my dads dog first and foremost then my nieces dog. She could do anything with him she used to say to him get in your cage sultan and he'd go under a chair we had and she'd lift the seat up he'd poke his head thro and she'd drop the seat of it on his head. He'd do it everytime without fail. Thing is tho my mum used to look after my niece during the school hols and mum could leave her playing in the back garden with the dog and she knew she was safe because the dog would not let anyone else in the garden if she was there. Not even any other kids. We had to shut him in the house if any other kids came to play with her or if it was raining and they came into the house he was shut outside. We had him for about 9 years and in that time he bit once - that was my bro in law. He got drunk and came back to our house and was teasing the dog - he ignored him for ages but he went to far and bit him. So bro in law bit him back and dog turned tail and ran out the back door. That was my bro in laws fault and we tried to stop him but he knew better - well he learnt a lesson. They both did - bro in law not to tease the dog and the dog not to bite bro in law again.