I'm sure you are really curious about who I am, so I better tell you a little about myself.

I was born August 23 2000 on Kennel Lagromi where I was given the name "Lagromi I'm Your Success". Anyone can see that it's a too long name to use as a calling name for a dog, so from the moment my mum hung up the phone after talking to my breeder, she started thinking about a good name for me. She had plenty of ideas, but the day she came to get me from the kennel, she realised that none of the names she had in mind was suitable for such a cute dog as me. All the way home she sat thinking about what to call me, but she couldn't think of anything that was good enough. But then she thought that it would sort itself out after a couple of days, when she'd seen what I was like, and what kind of personality I had. It actually went quicker than a couple of days. I hadn't been home with my mum more than a few minutes when she suddenly got "Higgins" in her head. She tried it out a few times while she sat watching me going around inspecting my new home. Very gently she said the name "Higgins" to me, to see if I would react. I found it a very good name and I really liked it too, so I soon turned my head towards her and bounced over to her and gave her a kiss. So, from that moment, the name thing was settled and now my name is Higgins.

I live with my mum in an apartment in down town Eskilstuna, and we both like it very much. You might think it's boring and not very good for a dog to live in the middle of a city, not having my own yard or garden to play in, but actually it's not so. Living in the city means that your mum has to bring you for walks, instead of just letting you out in the garden. And she also has to come with me since you just can't let dogs out in the streets on their own. So I think I have a very good life. Mum and I go for several walks a day, and there are plenty of nice roads to go. It's not only city streets, there are some really nice paths along the river, and through parks. Since mum got me, she has actually found several places she didn't even know about before I came into her life. Mind you, sometimes when we're out walking, I get a bit nervous she wont find her way back home, but this far she always managed to find her way back to our street. I wonder how she does that, since she doesn't go around with her nose to the ground sniffing all the different scents. Actually in all my life I've never seen a human sniffing the ground at all the way we dogs do...I wonder how they find their way without sniffing?

One thing I find a bit strange is that when mum and I go for walks, she always has small black or grey plastic bags in her pockets. And guess what?! Whenever I do a little "pile", she takes out one of those plastic bags and picks the pile up! Then she might carry it around for a while until she finds a good place to put it in. She tells me it's litterbins, but I'm not too sure about that. I believe that mum is actually helping someone with some sort of collection. Not that I understand why someone would like to collect little plastic bags with "dog piles" in them, but what other reason is there for picking it up? Besides, I know that not all dog owners pick up after their dogs, I've seen proof of that when we're out for our walks, so I guess my mum is just a very helpful person. Whenever I hear mum starting to sound annoyed and mutters about people not picking up after their dogs, I try to explain to her that not everyone is as helpful as she is, but she doesn't seem to listen to me.

One thing that can be a bit disturbing about walking in the city is when there is broken glass on the path. Mum says I can cut my feet walking in it, or cut my nose in case I start sniffing it. It's broken bottles, and sometimes broken windows, and one thing that really annoys mum is that the glass remains there for days and days. Sometimes I can hear her mutter "Is it meant for dog owners to walk around with brooms and shovels as some kind of unpaid street cleaners?"

Usually she tries to lead me around the broken glass, but sometimes when there is glass in a place where there wasn't any the walk before, she might not see it in time. When that happens, she has a very interesting technique that she tells me she used when she went on her bike. What she does is that she says; "Oh, careful, broken glass, close your eyes", and then she closes her eyes until she thinks the danger is over. I really believe this technique works, because up to now, I never cut myself on any broken glass.

Unfortunately I'm not allowed to run around as I please without a lead. For some time I had one of those really long leads, but now she only lets me use that one when we're out on walks outside the city. She decided I didn't walk good enough in the city, and that I was pulling too much, so now I'm back on a normal lead. But it's actually not so bad, and mum tells me I'm a good boy now walking without pulling her at all. (Unless I see another dog or something else that interests me a lot.)

The reason I have to wear a lead is that in the city there are cars almost everywhere, and also I'm a very curious dog and want to say hello or go over and inspect everything I see. I find birds very strange, and also a bit impolite, since they never stays where they are when I go over to say hello. They just take off and fly away! Also, I want to say hello to each and every dog I see! But I'm not allowed to do that. Mum says it isn't necessary, not all dogs are friendly she tells me, and some dogs just don't want to say hello. I wonder what gave mum that idea? The reason that some dogs barks at me is just that they don't know what a great and friendly little dog I am. I'm sure they would all like to know me, if only I was given the chance to introduce myself properly!

Sometimes we go and visit my mums parents, and they live in their own house and with their own garden. In their garden I'm allowed to be without my lead. Whenever I'm there, I run around like in a Formula 1 race, and it's so much fun! Mum says I look totally mad, because I sort of crouch and run around in circles and make little jumps, rip up some grass and moss from the lawn and at the same time I'm barking. She tells me I look like a little black furry canon ball. I find it very amusing and refreshing! Sometimes I run around with a tennis ball or some other toy in my mouth, and do you know what?! Even if I have something in my mouth, I can bark! Mums father made me a little hurdle to jump over, which I sometimes do, and if I do it very well, I get treats.

As I've said, I'm very curious, but at the same time I'm very careful, and mum sometimes calls me a coward. If I see a door that isn't closed properly I have to go and check it up and push the door open to see what's in there. I even push the door open to the press where the horrible vacuum cleaner lives, but that is only because I want to see if there is anything more interesting hiding in there.

I'm convinced I could change videotape in the video if mum would only let me. Whenever she changes videotape, I go over and sit next to her and carefully watch what she is doing and how she does it. So I know exactly how to do it, only wish mum would let me do it.

Mum isn't always very pleased with my curiosity, especially on our walks. You see I have this urge to closely investigate every hole in a fence or street that I see, or look behind things we pass. Mum says "One day there will be an accident with your nose". Mostly she tells me that when I stick my nose under a fence to see what hides behind it. I just have to do it! If I can't see through the fence I have to look under it when that is possible, so I stick my nose under it as long as I can, with my butt sticking up in the air, tail wagging. Mum says you never know what is behind a fence like that, I might get stuck, or there could be someone on the other side that doesn't want my nose there, and that someone could bite me! So who is this "someone"? If any of you know, please tell me!

Sometimes I'm very curious about what humans are doing. Then I actually sneak like an Indian! I usually pretend I'm very interested in something else, like a tree trunk, a lamppost or whatever is closest. I sniff that thing and pretend I'm really investigating it while the truth is my eyes are on the human that caught my curiosity! I make sure I'm in a perfect position to see what the human is doing, and mum always sees what I'm at. She finds it rather amusing really! But the only reason I do it that way is that I've been told it is not polite to stare directly at people, so I find it better do it in secret.

One thing I really can't stand on walks is kids on skateboards! They are so noisy, and I don't really understand why they have to skateboard where I'm going! I have made myself a "Skateboard-police" and as soon as I hear the noise of a skateboard, my ears go up, and I get ready to bark. Mum says the kids are allowed to go on their skateboards, and it's really none of my business, but that's what she thinks!

Sometimes when we are out walking, I see scary stuff! Mum always tries to convince me it's nothing scary at all, but how can she be so sure? The scary things can be anything really, even things I never found scary before. Sometimes it's enough if there is a refuge bin in a place it hasn't been before. Then I get really scared and I hide behind mum's legs, and she has to force me to pass it. I'm also scared of most children. Mum tells me children are not dangerous or scary, but I don't agree. Usually I hide behind mum's legs if we happen to run into some children on our walks. It happens now and again to both my own and mum's surprise that I want to go over and greet and say hello to a child, but that's not very often.

There was a time that I found prams very scary, possibly the scariest thing I could imagine. I used to bark a little before hiding behind mum. I don't find it so scary anymore, because now I've got used to seeing prams, and I know they are not dangerous. I'm a bit scared of babies as well, because I find them very strange. They smell funny and make strange noises. But now I know that babies are not that scary at all. My mum has a friend that has a baby, and also mum's sister got one in February 2002, so I'm slowly getting used to babies now. At least these two that I know.

I go to work with mum every day, and my position there is very responsible. You see, it's my job to check all papers and envelopes that mum throws in the wastepaper basket. If they look the least bit secret or suspicious - which most things does that ends up in the wastepaper basket - it's my job to tear them into really small pieces! Real secret stuff I turn into confetti, and I make sure to spread all of it all over the office floor. Since I do that, there is not a chance that possible spies will ever be able to put all the little pieces back to what it was before I did my job. Mum says it's very good that she has her own office, because she can't think of anyone else but her who could stand working with someone as diligent as me.

It is very nice going to work with mum every day, not only because I get to be with her all day. She has some very nice and pleasant colleagues, who always makes a point of coming in to see me every day. It's really cool getting a break from my job, with people talking to me and petting me, and some of them even bring me treats. They are not allowed to give me just anything, mum is a bit strict that way, but everyone working has checked with her, and now they all know what I'm allowed to eat.

When I'm not dug into my responsibilities at work, I play with my toys or chew on a chewing bone, and I also rest a lot. I know it's not everyone who can take little naps at work, but hey, I'm a dog, remember!! I have some favourite spots where I sleep, and it's either under mum's desk, in an armchair I've made my own, or under that chair.

In case you're wondering if I'm such a good dog that I stay in the office just because mum has told me to, I better explain that she has put like a little fence at the door. I can see through it, but I can't open it or jump over it. Mum put it there since apparently I'm not supposed to wonder off on my own all over the hotel. Like I would do that?! I'm someone who has to be near my mum all the time...

I also went to "school" for two terms. It was a local kennel club here in town that arranged it, and mum said she took me there mostly so I could meet and socialise with other dogs. You can see it as a bonus that I actually picked up a few things there! First it was puppy class, which took place during my first spring, starting in the beginning of March. Mum was going silly over the weather! We went there 10 Thursdays, and every time we went, it was really windy, cold and it rained. As you might understand, all training was outdoors, and it was on a grassed field, so I suppose you can get the picture. You should have seen us coming home after the first time! The field was all muddy, it was freezing cold, and coming home, mum was covered in mud up to her knees, and you should have seen the state of me! I had mud all over, all the way up on my back. Guess where I ended up after coming home... Does the word bathtub mean anything to you?

It wasn't all the time that mum was totally pleased with my behaviour in class. I found it a complete bore to sit and wait for my turn. So, to make things a bit more interesting, I started to bark my way through class, and my barking could be heard all over the training area! According to mum it was very annoying for her and the other people and dogs there, but what was I supposed to do? I was bored out of my head! One of the first times I did that, a woman attending the class with her dog, asked if I wasn't feeling well. Mum just told her that it was absolutely nothing wrong with my health, I was just bored out of my mind. I can't count all the times mum took me out of the training ring to walk around on our own, just to keep me quiet and not disturb class too much. Eventually after ten Thursdays the puppy training class was over, and I got a diploma, so I guess you can say I passed. Mum said it was good they didn't give me order marks or behaviour marks.

After the puppy class, we had summer break, and then in the autumn mum said we should go back to school, this time for "Obedience for Adult Beginners". Well, I can't really agree on the "adult" part, but "beginners" is OK. I found that class a bit more interesting, since it wasn't so much waiting around for your turn, but I can't say I didn't get attacks of boredom. Mum had to take me off the training ring now and again in this class too, because I was really acting a nuisance from time to time. At least that's what she thought. I was just trying to make it more fun! Also, I might be a bit peculiar, but I like doing things my way, and when I want it. I didn't like to show the teachers or the other dogs and their owners that I really could do all the stuff we were taught. I must admit that sometimes I did exactly what was expected of me, and you should have seen the surprise on everybody's faces! Mum usually got her surprises in my good obedience behaviour the day before or the day after class! Days like that I just got this urge to really please mum, and to show her that I really did listen to what she and the teachers told me. Times like that, mum usually asked me if I was the same dog she brought to class.

Now, I must admit that this thing with obedience isn't really my thing, and to be honest, it's not really mum's thing either, so she has promised me that I wont have to take any more obedience classes. What mum was after in taking this class was normal day to day obedience, not the kind you have on dogs competing in obedience. Also, she doesn't really have the time it takes to do all the training stuff you need, so at the moment we don't go to any class at all. We might take up something else, who knows, but at the moment we're just doing stuff for our own pleasure.

Oh, by the way, I got a diploma from that obedience class as well, so we do have proof I went there!

I've also been to one dog show, when I was 8 months old. It was an unofficial drive-in show that was arranged by the club where we took our classes. Actually it was the teachers in the puppy training that told all of us to go there, because it could be fun to get a judge looking at all us dogs. Now, my mum is a bit weird from time to time, and she has absolutely no clue how to act in a dog show, so I can tell you this: It was an experience! Mum had only been to maybe three shows in her life, and that was when she was a teenager and she was only there as a spectator. Now she got this idea she was going to show me, just because those teachers said it could be fun.

As I said, it was a drive-in show, and it said to come there between 9-11 am. My silly mum didn't realise it would have been best to come very close to 11. Her idea was to get there as early as possible, get a judgement on me, and then we could go home. One thing she had asked the teachers that told us to go, was if I was expected to walk around in a ring together with other dogs, since mum knew I wouldn't walk if it was so. You see I think it's stupid walking around in a ring with other dogs, not being able or allowed to say hello or to play! Mum was told that there were no walking around with other dogs, just mum and I and that was it.

Anyway we got there just after 9, and it didn't take too long until our number was called out and we walked into the ring. Mum didn't have a clue which way to go, but fortunately there was a lady there who told us what to do. I found the ground very interesting, loads of smells that came up, so I walked around with my nose to the ground most of the time. Then some other lady, I think she was the judge, wanted to have a look at me up at a table. I didn't mind seeing this lady, but I didn't want to stand properly, since mum and I hadn't practised that. But the lady was looking at me all over, even at my teeth, and I gave her a little kiss because she seemed nice. When she was done, we got a surprise, because we were told to come back again later, for a second judgement. We got a red and a blue ribbon and I don't know what they were good for, but we were told by someone to put them on my lead. Now the waiting started... We waited for hours and it was so boring, even if mum's parents and some friends of ours were there to keep us company.

Eventually it was our turn again, and what a luck! We were supposed to walk around in the ring with another black cocker boy, and when seeing that, mum knew she could count on me. She was confident that I would either walk with my nose to the ground, or desperately trying to get to this other cocker who went to the same class as us to get some fun going. I had the same thought as mum, so I acted just the way she had expected! We didn't have to get back again, but I got a purple bow and a diploma that says:

"Pleasant puppy of excellent type. Beautiful head and expression. Enough neck, good back. Enough front and chest for the age, good angles front and back. Moves well" (Maybe it sounds strange in English, but blame it on mum's translation!)

Well, that was my career as a show dog, we tried it, but didn't see the fun in it so we are not going to do it again. Mum says that in her eyes, I'm the most beautiful English Cocker Spaniel in the world, and she doesn't need someone else to tell her, or to have it in writing or ribbons and bows. If she suddenly fancies a bow, she can make one herself!

Just like mum, I'm very helpful, at least I like to think so. As you already know I help mum at work, and that shows how much I enjoy helping out, especially since it's all non-profit work. I do believe I deserve my own salary every month so I could go out and buy my own doggy biscuits! But, I don't mind doing it for free! I also help out with things around the house, like helping mum packing her bag in case we're going to visit someone over night. When I see she brings that special bag out, I usually start running to get whatever clothes I can find and reach and I put them around her bag. Sometimes I take things out of the bag if I can't see a good purpose for her bringing it, and replace them with stuff we really need to bring. I believe it's very important to bring at least one of my chewing bones, so when mum isn't looking, I usually put one in the bag.

I also enjoy helping mum getting dressed. To do that, I usually put my head down one of her trousers legs, to open it up for her so she easily can get her foot in there. I also help her make the bed and that is most fun when she decides to put new sheets in the bed. What I do is that I grab a pillowcase or maybe a sheet and then I run off. A huge sheet can be a bit tricky to run with, but I sure do my best. I'm also very good at getting all the pillows from the sofa down on the floor. I think it's a good idea to get them down every now and then to make sure there aren't any weird stuff behind them.

Sometimes mum sits down and put her feet into a foot spa and according to her that is very soothing and relaxing. When she does that, I find it most enjoyable to move everything around for her that she put within reach. It's really fun to move the towel, or her socks so they are just out of reach for her! Sometimes when I take her socks, I lay down just out of reach from her, with the socks between my paws and just look at her. Mum says it's a good thing I don't chew on her things, because then I would be in huge trouble. It is true though, I have never destroyed anything for mum, and I think I deserve praise for that!

One thing I don't like is getting a bath. That is actually very horrible. Usually I try to keep my eyes open to see when a bath is coming up, in order for me to have time to crawl under the bed and hide. But, mum has started a new technique when it comes to giving me baths. She prepares it in secret because she got tired of lying flat on her stomach on the floor trying to make me come out from under the bed. Now she gets towels out and prepares everything else when I'm not looking, then she calls me and I think I'm up for a cuddling time. She lifts me up and I start kissing her ear, and before I know it I'm in the bathtub! Once I'm in the tub, I just stand there with a miserable look on my face, the tail is between my legs and I'm most unhappy. The only good thing about a bath is afterwards. Then mum has a towel as big as a continent, and she wraps me in that, and I get to lie on her lap for some time. It's so comfy I nearly fall asleep. And after that, she lets me down, and I can start my Formula 1 race through the apartment! That is so much fun, running around as fast as possible, jumping on and off the sofa, on and off the bed, doing a head slide all over the rugs!! After a run-around I get really tired, and mum has to wrap me up in another towel so I can rest a bit more. But, after a while comes another part I don't like. That's when she puts me on my table and she takes out that horrible hairdryer! I don't like it because first of all it takes ages to get dry, and also I don't like the sound of that stupid hair dryer.

According to mum I'm a real coward, because I don't like any household appliances that makes noise. If she brings out the Hoover I run in to my hiding place under the bed as fast as a shot, and she says that the look of a terrified cocker spaniel is most amusing. At least she thinks I look amusing when I run back and forwards with my tail straight out, sort of crouching, trying to remember which way the bedroom is. It's the same reaction I get when I see her getting the mixer or the blender out. The only thing she can use without me getting terrified is the coffee maker.

I'm also terrified of firecrackers and fireworks. Once when we were walking through the park, this terrible noise started, and I didn't know where to hide. It was some fireworks, and the noise of it echoed all over the park, even though it was far away from us. As soon as I hear a noise like that I get really scared, and I want mum to carry me, or I try to find a safe place to hide. I didn't like the time around New Year at all, because every day there were fireworks. I tried to hide in huge piles of snow to stay there until summer, but mum wouldn't let me. I don't see the fun at all in fireworks, but mum says it's nice to look at from a distance. Like I'd care to look at something that sounds scary!

Since I'm a cocker spaniel, my coat has to be well taken care of or it will get matted. I'm solid black, and my coat is very shiny, and according to mum I look gorgeous after a good brush. The thing is I have really a lot of fur, and all sorts of things get stuck in it. Once when mum and I had been away all day during the summer and I'd been allowed to run around without a lead all day, having so much fun, there was an unpleasant surprise. My entire tummy was full of burdocks! Not only were they sticky, but also it made my coat a total mess and they were impossible to get out. Mum tried to get them out, and I tried to help out too, but it only made it worse. Eventually my tummy was a big mat. Mum really tried hard to untangle it, but once she was satisfied with one part, she found another place. What saved us was that it wasn't that long until I was going to the lady that trims me. Since I'm not going to dog shows, mum asked the lady to make my coat as short as possible, as long as you could still make out that cocker silhouette.

The lady who trimmed me told mum that the kennel I come from is known for having good quality coat on their dogs, and also plenty of coat on the dogs. It's not always mum is very happy about it, since she doesn't have time to comb and brush me every day, although sometimes it would be needed. In-between trimming appointments mum tries to keep control of my paws so they wont start looking like bear paws, and she takes away the beard I get. Also she tries to keep control of my head, since the hair up there grows very fast. After just a short while it looks like I'm wearing a badly made wig. A lot of mum's friends think I should have long hair on top of my head, because they think I look extra cute that way, but mum wants me to look like a real cocker spaniel. Sometimes on our walks, we have been approached by people, who believe I'm an American cocker spaniel, just because I have so much fur. I think they should see I'm an English cocker spaniel! All they have to do is to look at my beautiful long nose!

Before I got rid of all of my puppy fur, I was taken for all sorts of breeds I'm not even close to. Some people thought I was a poodle, and the funniest thing mum and I heard was this lady who thought I was one of those Afghan dogs! Eventually mum got so tired of all the questions about what breed I was, so she said that: "If anyone asks me again, I'll tell them you're a Rottweiler!"

Now I believe I have told most things that can be useful to know about me. Of course I have plenty of interests - and uninterests - that I will tell you about in another place!

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Copyright Yvonne Eriksson 2003