Scripture readings are normally absorbed in solemn silence or reverent respect not suppressed laughter, but then ewe is normally pronounced 'yo' or 'yu' not 'u-ee'. The bulk of the student congregation, quick to pick up on a mispronounced biblical name, dozed on through the blunder while the country boys erupted. Shepherd's, sheepdogs and the command of sheep continue to remain a bit of a mystery. 'One man and his dog' helped unravel some of the mystique, Phil Drabble the presenter felt half dressed going out without his dogs; like Phil I have always kept dogs, though not sheep. Life with dogs is a lot easier if they are properly trained, not necessarily sheepdog standard but simply to walk at heel, ignore livestock and come back when called. I followed the book and managed to do a good job with the first few dogs but made a big mistake with the latest. A pup needs to be socialised; meet, mix and feel confident with other dogs, easy enough to do if you live near a park but harder in the countryside where every other dog is salivating at the end of a chain. An unsocialised dog often ends up on the end of a chain itself, happy to heel, friendly with people but turning into an uncontrollable monster when a strange dog appears. Determined to remedy the fault, I employed a dog psychologist who suggested bringing cooked sausages along on our walks to distract the hound, adding that the dog was not overly aggressive just big. Disparagingly known as the 'donkey dog', Jack is a cross between a German Shepard and a St Bernard. Predictably the sausages proved ineffective and unappetising compared to eating another dog; with the beach, parks and forest tracks out of bounds only the more remote areas remain. This suits me fine, but if we should happen meet on a lonely track, hopefully I'll see you before the dog does.