I want you to meet my next door neighbour in the River View Caravan Park where I am staying.  His name is  Bod, or Boddington’s, named after an English beer.

I met Bod last night when he came to visit us, while his human mum and dad went on a sunset cruise at the Katherine Gorge.   My human pets, Kathy and  Reg were thrilled when a bottle of fine red wine was given to them tonight as a thank you. 

Bod has an interesting story to tell, he is feeling his age a bit these days as he is an impressive 17 years old and had a bit of a stroke only two days into his current trip across Australia,  he is feeling a lot better now and enjoying  his travels. 

Bod is from good stock too, a rare breed, a.Lancashire Heeler.

He tells me his ancestors were bred as cattle dogs but when people no longer  relied on cattle dogs as much as in the past, Lancashire Heeler declined in numbers to the point of practical extinction, making him one of a very rare breed and the only Lanashire terrier in Australia.

My human mum did a little research and found that today's Lancashire Heelers are a re-creation of the original Lancashire Heelers. The re-creation has lines of the Welsh Corgi and the Manchester Terrier. Today's Lancashire Heelers are almost identical to the Lancashire that existed a long time ago. Although the new Lancashire's retain the excellent ability to herd, they are now rarely used for cattle herding.

Anyhow, Bod was telling me that he came to Australia in May 2007, on his mum’s birthday. It was a big journey with my sister Flo (Flowers).  Unfortunately Flo, left him in December.

Quarantine in Sydney was a five star hotel and he found Australia, very hot at first, ‘cause  he  had his English winter coat on. He has now acclimatised, although he like his own personal fan at times. 

His human mum and dad, took him on holidays across Australia from Tannum Sands to Darwin starting on June 6th .  this year.