‘Dog-eared’ usually means the pages (corners) of a book are bent over and worn from heavy or careless use. I prefer to think of ‘dog-eared’ as meaning you’re a good listener. My dog listens to everything I say with keen interest and is aware of the slightest change of tone or volume which might indicate a command or change of mood. I’ve always discussed the weather with him and what he would like to do or eat. He has a range of sounds he makes back to me but I suspect I am not as good a listener as he. Sometimes he just gives up trying to make me understand and flops down with a heavy sigh.

He is so ‘dog-eared’ he can hear things where all I detect is silence. He can hear the postman coming from the other end of the street and the cat tip-toeing across the neighbour’s roof. But if he hears a door bell ring on TV then he runs to the front door barking. That’s not so impressive.

And let us not forget how deliciously soft and warm dog ears feel to the human touch. It is pure pleasure to caress them. I think it is a wonderful thing to be ‘dog-eared’.