Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby is a famous wee terrier here in Edinburgh. He's known as the incredibly loyal dog who stayed beside his master's gravesite for fourteen years. We read a story about him to the girls, and since then they have been in love with him. Katie even insisted on buying a stuffed terrier of her own. With their interest in this cute dog, we decided to go visit his statue and Greyfriars Kirkyard to see where he and his master, Auld Jock, are buried.

It's not a very long walk from our flat. We put Dani and Claire in the stroller and walked with Katie there. Claire was being a bit of a grump once we got there, so we mostly made sure that we saw the gravesites for Bobby and Auld Jock. Katie really enjoyed walking around and looking at everything. I even talked her into posing for me behind a black metal fence.

Here's some of the information I was able to find about Greyfriars Bobby. In the early 1800's, a man named John Gray moved to Edinburgh. He was universally known as "Auld Jock." According to historical records, he soon joined the Edinburgh Police Force and was required to have a Watch Dog. So, he obtained a Skye Terrier and named him Bobby. After a few years on the Police Force, Auld Jock got tuberculosis and died on February 8, 1858. He was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

Bobby was so loyal to Auld Jock that he stayed on guard at the grave until his own death in 1872. He would only leave the grave to eat. During this time, people would stop at the entrance to Greyfriars Kirkyard to listen to the 1 o'clock gun and watch for the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.

The book that we read to the girls said that Auld Jock was a shepherd who was fired by his boss and died soon thereafter. This is apparently the story that was told by Eleanor Atkinson in a 1961 Disney movie about the dog. And, while the official Greyfriars Bobby site says that the beloved master of Bobby was a policeman, there is some speculation that he may have been a farmer, not a shepherd or a policeman.

With all that said, though, Greyfriars Bobby is one famous little pooch and he's known all over for his incredible loyalty! Our girls now want us to go out and get them a terrier. And, I almost want to do it.... Then, I remember how much work a dog is and think we've got our hands full as it is! So, the stuffed dog will have to do.