One of the first times that Mungo could take him out off the lead Perkins wandered away into someone’s garden. Mungo called and called but it was about ten minutes before Perkins returned, soaking wet and covered in green duckweed from head to toe and very frightened. What damage he had done to someone’s precious pond Mungo did not wait around to find out. Perkins went all the way home, at heel without being told, looking from time to time so pathetic that Mungo couldn’t be cross with him. A good hosing down was the only solution.

Perkins, however, hates cats. Before Mungo and Miriam came to live in the flat above the new premises they had a house with a garden and one day a cat came walking along the top of their garden fence. Perkins, longing to play, stretched up full of excitement at the thought of a playmate and yapped at the cat. It took offence at his enthusiasm and scratched him all the way down his nose. He yelped and scurried away and since that day as far as he is concerned cats are fair game.

Perkins isn’t allowed to sit about in the clients’ waiting room but he recognises the sound of the engine of Mr Featherstonehough’s ancient campervan and as soon as he hears it entering the car park he rushes downstairs to engage in a fight with Adolf the Rottweiler who is the pride of Mr Featherstonehough’s heart. The staff, not wishing to risk being bitten by the swirling, snarling dogs, know from experience that the only way to separate them is to throw a bucket of water over the two of them. These engagements happened on a regular basis until one day Adolf had to be put to sleep. Poor Perkins instinctively knew that Adolf was no more.

He is still a feisty dog and very sensitive to the moods of the people he adores. Aged ten now he should be middle-aged and slowing down but not Perkins. He is as lively and energetic as ever.

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