The Hang Dog Expression

The Hang Dog Expression (from the series: They Move Amongst Us)

Beauregard Chartsworth, for that is the name of this dog, has an almost perfect expression of longing that he wears on his face when he wants to go for a walk - rather than hang around while adults sit and talk. Beauregard likes to play with a brush, for reasons that are completely beyond my understanding. He takes one end in his mouth and drags it around, banging into things with it. This makes him happy.

When I get his lead to take him for a walk, he gets excited, comes to my feet and looks up wide-eyed at me. His expression says: “God is gonna take me for a walk.” I have no explanations for why dogs are so enamored of humans, but it’s an undeniable truth. The Cornish say: Dogs are inferior, Cats are superior, Pigs are man’s equal.