HE is the Capital's most famous pooch. Loyal and loving, Bobby really was man's best friend, watching over his master's unmarked grave for 14 years until his own death in 1872.
He kept constant watch over the grave of police constable John Gray, only leaving at the sound of the One o'Clock Gun for his meal. And now, 150 years after he first sneaked into Greyfriars kirkyard, Bobby will be honoured tomorrow as dozens of Skye
terriers are given the run of the kirk in memory of the faithful dog.
With Lord Provost George Grubb raising a toast to the famously loyal dog at the Lothian Chambers in what is thought to be the first civic reception for dogs in Edinburgh, a special service being held for the 50 terriers and their owners from all over the country, and wreathes being laid on the dog and owners grave, it's safe to say Bobby made an impression. Not that Hazel Proud of the Skye Terriers Club is surprised.
"All Skye terriers by their very nature are extremely loyal," admits the committee member who has organised tomorrow's event. "While other dogs show no loyalty and will go off with anyone, a Skye terrier is fiercely faithful and it's an admirable trait.
"No one really knows why they are so loyal – especially Bobby – but it's a characteristic of the breed. They are extremely loyal to their family and with one particular member who they tend to favour the most."
Although their need to protect and watch over their owners is appealing, it seems loyalty is no longer enough and, according to Hazel, they are fast becoming extinct. Today they are one of the most endangered of the vulnerable native breeds of this country. It's claimed that within 40 years the breed may disappear completely.
Says Hazel: "They've gone out of fashion, and it's more fashionable to own an exotic breed. Last year only 37 Skye terriers were registered, compared to 46,000 Labradors. It's a big problem."
And so it seems that the Skye terrier – immortalised in the story of Greyfriars Bobby – may be eclipsed by fashionable foreign breeds, such as the shih tzu and Lhasa Apso. A renaissance, according to Hazel, is what's needed with pet lovers falling once more for the charms of Bobby.
So what is the nature of a Skye terrier? "They have a terrier temperament and they're not as obedient as a gun dog," admits Hazel, who has four of the breed. "But they do as they're told – they just don't like to be seen to be doing as they're told."
They're also naturally good-natured, courageous, playful and bold. They love and want to be loved. Just like humans, then?
"Yes, very much so," admits Hazel. "They can be a bit stand-offish with strangers, but that goes with the loyalty trait. They're vocal and express themselves, too. If they're unhappy they'll grumble and twitter and if they're happy they'll waggle their tails and bounce about."
The origin of the Skye terrier can linked back to a shipwreck from the 1600s, when a Spanish ship hit the rocks of the Scottish Hebrides. Among the survivors were Maltese dogs which mated with local terriers, resulting in the unique breed. But others believe the Skye terrier may have been a result of a crossing between the Celtic terriers and the Swedish vallhund of the Viking invaders. But it wasn't until Bobby garnered attention that the breed became famed.
"It's important to raise awareness so that we fall back in love with Skye terriers," stresses Hazel. "The event tomorrow will help do just this.
"There will be dogs and owners coming from all over the country. We thought we should do something to commemorate Bobby's anniversary, especially as the breed is endangered."
Tomorrow's parade, which will begin at midday, will be led by piper Keith Thomas, and will march down the Royal Mile and George IV Bridge. After the service, the council will host the cake-cutting ceremony and reception.
BRUSH UP ON THE BREEDTHE Skye terrier's long, straight coat takes some care, and needs grooming or it tangles easily. So brushing them at least once a week is important, although they only need minor trimming, as their coat should be kept natural.
The breed is one of Scotland's oldest, coming from the Isle of Skye where there are records of such dogs going back 400 years.
The breed was used for the normal terrier work of vermin control as well as trapping foxes and badgers.
HEALTHY IDEAHAVING a dog in the house reduces the risk that young children will develop allergies, say German researchers. Findings of a six-year study of 9000 children, lends weight to the theory that growing up with a pet trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies like asthma, eczema and hay fever.
• A DEEPLY spiritual beekeeper in Serbia has built hives in the shape of monasteries and churches for his insects "because bees have a soul too".
Slobodan Jeftic is creating his "holy honey" in the northern town of Stari Kostolac. The 58-year-old said: "By doing this, I am bringing together the two great loves of my life – beekeeping and my religion."
• THE happy babbling that entertains parents as their babies try to mimic speech turns out to have a parallel in the animal world.
Baby birds babble away before mastering their adult song, researchers reported in the latest edition of the journal Science.
Michale Fee of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology studied the brains of baby zebra finches as they learned the unique song they will use as adults. "Birds start out by babbling, just as humans do," she said.
