Jerry Robinson wrote a weekly column for this newspaper for more than 60 years. His wife Lee Robinson would contribute from time to time, taking over for him on some occasions. Here is a follow-up to a column she wrote the previous week about the family Terrier/Cocker Spaniel mix.

By Professor Skipper Robinson
(one hundred percent dog)

You recently read a column conceived in this space by a young colleague of mine named Richard Tiger Robinson,(10/30/15 edition) a junior member of our canine clan.

It was not his column that prompts me to write to you this week. I will get to my message later. I did want you to know a little about this junior member of our backyard partnership.

It is not that I resent him. I guess I went through the kid stage too. But this bone polisher who gets to go on hunting trips is strictly a lime-lighter, a showoff!

You should see this callow youth when THE EDITOR comes home at night. He runs around like a bird dog with his nose to the ground pretending like he found a fresh scent, sniffing and snaffling like mad.

This gets THE EDITOR all excited and he immediately starts talking baby talk to the grandstander. It’s disgusting.

Neither of us can claim any parental papers, other than some copies of the White Center News we sleep on. But I look like a Collie and he looks like a Spaniel.

Dog Delinquents

I’ve reached the age now, I’m by your standards, where I can look back and see the mistakes I’ve made.

That is the reason for this column. To lend a little sage advice to youngsters, like Richard Tiger, who have been in the news lately with their delinquent actions.

I happen to know a lot of you are heading for trouble if you don’t straighten out.
I’m speaking of the complaints coming into the News office about dogs running in packs, tearing through gardens, ripping out fences and generally acting like fools.

Most of this stuff is going on really early in the morning when you think nobody is up.
People don’t understand why dogs do this and they get very impatient. In fact, some of them have told the Editor that they were going to get out the shotgun and settle the situation.

A little more suave

Now, not only would you not want to get a load of buckshot, you know where, but this running in packs is no way to impress the girl friend. You have to be more subtle.

I frankly don’t think any young lady is particularly impressed by a gang of you young fellows clowning around her neighborhood, especially at five in the morning when she trying to get her beauty sleep.

The smart way to get a head of the others is to call on her by yourself, take her a present, perhaps an old soup bone. If someone is there, Trot quietly past her house and come back later.

This is the adult way to court and far more effective The other is a manifestation of puppy love.
And while I’m on the subject there is this matter of biting postmen, raiding garbage cans, and barking at the moon. Knock it off.

Kick in the teeth

A friend of mine down the street, a black lab, thinks its smart to chase kids on bikes. He’s even got Richard doing it. What good does it do? What are you going to do if you catch them?

All you get is a kick in the teeth and calloused feet. Besides the old pump will give out on you one of these days with that strenuous exercise.

I suppose some of you blame your actions on broken home and lack of parental guidance. Possibly some of it can be traced to these things. But I feel it is probably just a lack of maturity. I can see it in my basement buddy, Richard Tiger.

That’s about all. I don’t want to sound pedantic but nationwide statistics show a increase in dog delinquency and I just had the urge to speak my piece.