"Somehow I can't imagine humans slobbering over you very often Fred - but then, there is no accounting for taste."

Actually, Dave, where I'm concerned people tend to drool rather than slobber.

In any event, I'm surprised you've never met my dog. I always bring him with me to the carol singing. Of course he doesn't come in the pub while the sing's on. But in accordance with the Royal's dog friendly policy (as it says on the door, please ask first, because they've two dogs of their own), I bring him in after the crowds have thinned out.

Then he lies there as good as gold while I have my dinner. Naturally we sit well away from the other diners as I'm not very keen on people feeding him scraps. Usually we take that single table to the left of the organ near the kitchen. Of course he gets his own dinner when we get back, but the management invariably give him a few dog biscuits. So that's the two of us well contented.