Doggy tails (or is it tales?)

Faithful Hound has been known to enjoy the odd bit of human food.  When I say a bit,  I actually mean rather a lot.  He has been known to steal whole slabs of butter; entire baguettes and even the decorator's ham and pickle sandwiches.  His favourite culinary delight however, is cheese.  Any type of cheese will do - he's not fussy, but he does have a partiality to cheddar - the strong, level 6 type, preferably left at room temperature on the table within easy reach.

A television report the other day informed us that like some humans in this country, dogs are becoming obese.  And the major reason for this is (apparently) too much cheese.  Humans are giving their dogs the wrong food - cheese is just not good for our four legged friends.  But what can you do when the hairy member of your family (and no - that's not absent husband before he has shaved) develops a taste for all things cheesy?  How can you control his desire for parmesan, edam, brie and cheddar?  His love of Philadelphia cheese (licked out of the container)?  Will he be demanding crackers, grapes and port next?

And as for pubs!  Just because we sometimes take him to our local (after a long walk of course), Faithul Hound seems to think he has to go into a pub everytime we walk past one.  It's as if he looks up at the sign swinging in the wind, spots the beer garden and thinks he should be there.  But when it comes to coffee shops - he won't be having any of it.  He will dig his paws firmly into the ground at the sight of a Costa or Starbucks - anywhere where he can't go in and participate in human food activities is just not for him.

Perhaps we should stick to walking him in the woods or across the fields - that way we won't come across any pubs or coffee shops - just some sheep and cows to chase.  Maybe then he will realise he is just a dog and not a human.