Herd instinct puts pampered pooch in the doo-doo

WE always blame childhood.

Even with dogs. When a dog has a behavioural glitch, we think it must have had a traumatic puppyhood. Taken from its mother too soon, not socialised enough, kept away from other dogs, overexposed to hideous kids, whatever — if it’s playing up, it’s because it had a bad time as a puppy.

Not our Betty. Oh no. Our Betty, whose birth family I can vouch for, has been with us since she was an eight-week-old fatball. She’s had a puppyhood that most human children would envy. Last week it was her first birthday.