Not many dogs have a book and a film produced about there lives. Such fame is conferred on a remarkable dog called Greyfriars Bobby, a Skye terrier whose monument is situated on Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh, not far from the University.

It is regarded as one of the top tourist attractions in one of the world’s great cities. The book about this ‘merry little muffin of a terrier’ called Greyfriars Bobby was written by American storyteller Eleanor Atkinson (1863–1942). The research is meticulous considering she never visited Edinburgh and wrote in Scottish dialect.

The monument attracts both young and old and when you visit the hostelry you can enjoy refreshments and study a potted history of Greyfriars Bobby on the menu card which reads:
During the 1850s a farmer named Grey attended the market every Wednesday accompanied by his Skye terrier Bobby. It was Grey’s custom at 1pm to visit Trait’s dining rooms with Bobby for their midday meal.

In 1858 Grey died and was laid to rest in the church yard of Greyfriars. Three days after the funeral, Bobby appeared in the doorway of the dining rooms looking lost and hungry. The proprietor recognised the terrier and gave Bobby a bun, upon which the dog ran out.

This became Bobby’s habit and, full of curiosity the proprietor followed him to discover he was taking the food to lie and eat by his dead master’s grave. All efforts made to make Bobby leave the graveside were unsuccessful, and Greyfriars became his home for the rest of his life.

He continued to visit the dining rooms for the next 9 years every day until he was arrested for being a vagrant. This was due to Bobby not having a shilling dog license. The restaurant owner was also accused of ‘harbouring’ Bobby. The lord Provost William Chamber came to the rescue, offering to be responsible for the payment of the annual license.

Bobby lived until 1872, and like his master was buried in Greyfriars churchyard, (behind the pub), and a granite fountain was erected on the corner of Candlemaker Row in the memory of Bobby, the loyal terrier who mourned his master for 14 years.

Next time you are on the tourist trail of Edinburgh, stop off at the celebrated Greyfriars Bobby and then head for the bookshops for a copy of the best selling book, which are plentiful.