Dog Names that Start with Gr

One of the traits in canines that we value is that of allegiance.  The quality of loyalty generally is one accompanied by love and protection, and this is especially so in those pawed pets who are privileged to be called "family dogs."

Our pop culture spotlight for today, Greyfriars Bobby, was a Skye Terrier (May 4, 1855, to January 14, 1872) who lived in Edinburgh, Scotland.  This 19th-century canine is known for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his deceased, beloved master. As this true story goes, John Gray, also known as “Auld Jock,”  was a night watchman for the Edinburgh Police Department who owned Bobby. Having been inseparable for about two years before John's death from tuberculosis, Bobby was permitted to lead the funeral procession to John’s gravesite in Greyfriars Kirkyard (a kirkyard is a Scottish term for a churchyard which either adjoins or surrounds a church).  After the funeral, Bobby tried to remain at the gravesite but was dispatched by the caretaker, only to return, stubbornly refusing to leave despite weather conditions. The keeper of the kirkyard, aided by Auld Jock’s family and other community members, continued to try unsuccessfully to keep Bobby away from his master’s grave. Stubbornly refusing to be lured away from the grave for any reason, Bobby eventually won over the hearts of the people.  The community gathered together to build a shelter for Bobby, disobeying kirkyard rules.

Conditioned by repeated trips to the eating house at Edinburgh Castle, when the gun sounded at one o’clock, Bobby, having spent many a day there with Auld Jock; would run for his midday meal before returning to his perch atop John’s grave. Bobby spent 14 years sitting atop and guarding the resting place of his master, John Gray in this manner.  Word of Bobby's devotion became so famous that people came from all over the country to witness the midday trek to the eating house. Though the country folk of the area cared well for Bobby, he would not leave the grave of his beloved master until, at the age of 16 years, Bobby passed away.

He was buried just inside of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John’s grave, and memorialized with a drinking fountain fashioned with Bobby’s image atop it, placed at the intersection of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row, opposite the churchyard where both John and Bobby rested in peace.