One day he came in with lips peeled back, and clenched gingerly in his teeth was a recently killed snake. We made the error of making a big fuss about his heroics.

During that period, we had a lot of visitors. Our friends were anxious to see our new place in the country. When anyone arrived, the dog would run out and return with the snake’s carcass, and elicit the praise of the visitor.

As time passed, the aging snake became rather high, so I snuck out, found it and buried it way out in the back of a field.

Some time later, another visitor arrived, and the dog sped out to collect his trophy. We watched as he scoured the fields in vain. Late that afternoon, he arrived proudly displaying his "kill"..... a large earth worm!