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   It has been said that animals are virtuous and honest. For the most part, this is true. They live their lives doing what needs to be done, without malice toward others. Terriers, as a group of dogs, do not follow the rules. They seem to do whatever they want and will lie about it. Our terrier, named Jag, is a perfect example of this. At about six o’clock in the afternoon, he will let me know it is time to be fed. Obediently, I will feed him. If he spots my wife outside and I am not around, he will then tell her it is time for him to be fed. His lie is convincing enough, she will usually feed him again. It is getting to the point that he is becoming a bit chubby.

   Our grandson also has a terrier, Karl. Karl is getting to be known as a grouchy old man. He will go out hunting with the other dogs, looking for rabbits or squirrels. His hunting companions, a beagle and a young Padderdale terrier, both have more energy and endurance than Karl. There will come a time in the hunt when the two younger dogs will start to leave Karl behind as he grows tired. He wants to be with the pack so he will start his big lie. He will go to the base of a tree and start barking, convincing the other two dogs that something is treed. Naturally, they come back to help him, only to find he is lying to them when there is no game scent anywhere around. During a hunt, the two younger dogs may fall for Karl’s trick a time or two but after a time, they start ignoring his lie.

   Our trusty dog, Jag, has also been known to lie about a rabbit or squirrel in the yard. Billie, the poodle, will be sleeping on the couch inside when Jag will begin barking as though a hundred rabbits are invading the yard. Naturally, Billie jumps up and needs to go outside to help him. This means either my wife or I must jump up and let Billie out. When everyone is outside to see what is going on, Jag is content and goes back to his job of watching his domain from his chair on the porch. He then looks at the assembled crowd as though to ask, “what is everybody doing out here?”

   Last night, it was almost dark when Jag started barking at the base of an oak tree at the edge of the yard. Billie sprang to attention and wanted outside. I tried to convince him that Jag was lying to us. He would have none of that. I relented and he and I went out to check the disturbance. Jag continued to bark at the tree even after he got us outside. Though I was sure he was lying to us, his insistence caused me to go check to see if he really did have something treed. He was overjoyed that both Billie and I were there to help. I looked everywhere in the tree and saw nothing. I was convinced, as usual, he was lying to us. Billie and I went back to the house and left Jag staring up the tree by himself. Before long, he started barking again. Of course, Billie had to go see what was going on. This time, my wife let him out and could hear a squirrel high up in the oak tree, barking and scolding at Jag. This time he was not crying wolf.

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