Shelby the Swinger They say a man’s best friend is his dog, well in this instance it’s a woman’s. Shelby is his name and he and his owner have become quite a familiar sight in Ringsend Park.

Why? Well, because Shelby likes nothing better than to pass the afternoon on the swings. Needless to say, the little children all love to see this, and have taken the dog very much to their hearts.

They push him on the swing, pat him and make a great fuss over him. He laps it up, of course, rolls over, lets them tickle his tummy and generally has a good time.

The mothers there with their kids have also become very fond of the dog. “Get off the swing and let the doggie have a turn,” they say to their kids. And as soon as the kids vacate the swing, up jumps the dog and sits in their place, much to everyone’s delight.

But Shelby is not a one-trick-dog. When I met his owner she assured me of this, as well as giving me the potted history of Shelby’s life.

He is a Scots Terrier and was born two years ago on a farm in county Tipperary, where his mother, who he is now three times bigger than, still lives.

His name is derived from the French ‘Michelle’, of St. Michael fame, because his owner says he is her guardian angel. All very nice, you may say, but what about his other tricks.

Shelby has indeed a wide repertoire. First of all his owner produced a tit-bit and said: “say please” to the dog. Straight away, the dog put his two paws over his face.

She then gave him the tit-bit and told him to say “thank you”. The dog promptly put his paw on her knee.

Next, she said to him: “you think you are a baby, don’t you?” and up the dog jumps onto her lap. After this, she took out some of his toys and the dog displayed his skills by performing various tricks with them, finishing up with a tug-o-war between him and his owner using a rubber band.
Shelby certainly deserves his reputation as the wonder pooch of Ringsend. Shelby has recently got over a serious illness and wishes all his friends a Very Happy Christmas.