Littlejohn & Bingo

We always had three dogs on the farm when I was a lad - as I remember.

There was always a big dog - something to flush out & retrieve game, and which had a big bark to frighten the travellers and salesmen away.

Then there would be a sheep dog to fetch the flock from the distant hillside, responsive to the whistle and as swift as the wind.

And finally there would be a little ratting dog to keep down the multitude of pests in the barns and to keep general patrol in the yard. We had various little terriers - Gyp and Fly were the best, and they had pups of their own.

One of these was Patch - a brave little chap, but as a working dog absolutely useless. In his youth he would be off chasing straws in the wind as the new sacks of corn were nibbled at the seams by the audacious rats. He would sleep by the fire as the mice stole the cheese and raided the Christmas Cake box. In the pantry he found it hard not to help himself.

All must work on the farm - and work he did none.

And so they were going to give him away to Misses Gusset at Blackbrook Farm - but I wouldn't let them.

For one afternoon he put his paw on my arm and sniffed a doggy sniff in my ear. I fetched him a biscuit and - before consuming it with gusto - he did a quite startling leap on his hind legs.

I, of course, fell about laughing and fetched him another treat: why - another trick !- this time a walk across the flagstoned floor on his front legs. Amazing!

The next biscuit saw a somersault.

Of course his act need a little polishing and presentation (and I modestly concede I did give him some help in those early days) but I have to hand it to him - from the very first he was a performer. I would borrow Uncle Ted's top hat and draw a curly moustache on my young face with a flourish of boot polish.I did the talk & the presentation.. but the bulk of the success of 'The Great Bingo' lay at the paws of the great dog himself.

By that evening, when father came in our act was polished to perfection: he was well & truly startled by 'Bingo's' tricks - I can tell you: he laughed until he wept!

Be rid of him? Never!

How he obliged all callers and visiting relatives to witness the performance and the cap on the floor earned more than the occasional pint for him at the 'Dog & Duck'.

A year later and it was The London Palladium.

Remember the great 'Bingo'.

There's never been a dog quite like him!