I met Jarvis in Islington's Farmer's Market on Sunday.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed to go inside the market, as, with all the meat on display, I fear the temptation would be too much to resist.
Thus, I dog-sat Jarvis for a few minutes while his owner nipped out to get some eggs. Jarvis wasn't too happy and kept turning his friendly face, looking out for his owner, so I decided to sweeten the waiting time with some treats. He was very well behaved but wolfed down the treats and turned on a charm offensive, looking at me pleadingly with his beautiful hazel brown eyes. All that, however, was forgotten, when his owner returned, and Jarvis looked at her with such an expression of unbridled love that his whole face lit up instantly. Just look at his expression on this photo - this dog's heart belongs to mummy!
As I looked at him, I was trying to work out what breed could he possibly be, as he seemed to have the coat, markings and the nimble body of a Border Collie combined with the cheerful face of a Cocker Spaniel. His owner arrived just in time to explain that Jarvis was, in fact, a perfect mixture of the two, in more ways then one. He takes the love of chasing and intelligence from a Collie but enthusiasm and affection from his spaniel side, bypassing the less convenient characteristics of both, like the herding instinct of collies and the mad rapturousness of spaniels.
Jarvis was named after Jarvis Cocker, the lead singer of the Britpop band Pulp, which is the perfect name for a mix of two iconic British breeds, and, of course, a nice play on the name of the Cocker spaniel. I must say that he may have none of Jarvis Cocker's trademark gloom about him, but clearly knows how to work the crowd. He is such a friendly dog and almost invites attention with his smiling face. Several people stopped to give him a pat on the head while we were chatting.
It was a pleasure to meet Jarvis. He made a sunny day even brighter with his wonderful personality.
To meet other London spaniels and find out more about the breed, see Poppy, Max and Connor, the Met Police sniffer dogs, and Monkey, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel.
To find out more about Border Collies, see Jess.
