Politicians and their pets: Christine Jardine

Pet’s name? 

Brora (she is named after the village whose lights I see twinkling across the Dornoch Firth when I am in Portmahomack at our family base there.)

Breed?

Cockapoo. Officially her colour is called ‘apricot’ but we call her ginger.

Age?

10 months.

How long have you had her?

Eight months

Where did you get her?

Kirkcaldy

What can she do?

That’s quite a difficult one, but she does basically what she is told and is incredibly agile

What do you love about her?

She is a very happy dog who loves people and, it turns out, other dogs. Her coat is lovely and soft and lots of people say she is just like a teddy bear.

What special talents does she have? 

She somehow manages to make people laugh at what she does. She is hugely entertaining and the way the curls around her mouth sit, she looks as if she is smiling.

What’s her best trick? 

She knows the names of her toys and will bring you the right one... usually.

What are her most annoying habits? 

Like most dogs she has a thing about shoes and you have to make sure they are out of her reach. Although she is also quite determined to get onto the back of the sofa so she can reach the book shelves and the hanging wine glasses which she likes to push with her nose to make tinkle.

What’s the worst thing she’s done? 

Oh she is much better than some of the other dogs I’ve had. The worst thing she has done so far is chew the buttons off a dress – I had one pup that we had to keep out of the fridge by putting a child lock on it. He also destroyed a sofa bed!

Do you think of yourself as a pet parent or pet owner?

Pet owner.

What’s the most exorbitant thing you’ve ever purchased for your pet?

A too large bed and too expensive cushion.

What’s the most ridiculous thing you have bought or done for your pet?

A teddy bear which looks like her, although it is actually a dog toy.

What’s your first pet or animal-related memory?

Being taken to choose a boxer puppy when I was just four. It was love at first sight. She chose me and I wasn’t interested in any of the other puppies.

What was the first pet you ever had?

That boxer called Shani. I had her from I was four until I was almost 17. She was such a fantastic friend that I have had a dog even since. Several of them were boxers, then a labrador/collie called Cookie and now Brora. They are just fantastic to have around.

What would be your dream pet?

The one I have just now.

If you could be any animal what would you be?

Oh I quite like being a human, but failing that, probably a chimpanzee. They are my favourite non-domestic animal.