Literary Pets – Wessex, a wire fox terrier

There are few dogs that have sunk their teeth into as many famous literary legs as Wessex, a wire fox terrier. The dog was purchased by Florence Hardy, Thomas Hardy’s second wife, in 1913, because she wanted a dog for security. She got more than she bargained for. Hardy was not pleased at first, but he warmed to the animal and ‘Wessie’ soon became a spoiled and adored member of the household at their home, Max Gate, on the edge of Dorchester. Wessex had a good pedigree and was related to King Edward VII’s dog Caesar.

Unfortunately, Wessex had a nasty temper. He once took a chunk out of John Galsworthy’s leg, he nipped the postman, tried to eat the food from a fork J.M. Barrie was about to put in his mouth (Wessex was allowed on the table during meals), and bit George Bernard Shaw and Rudyard Kipling. The only visitors whose legs escaped unscathed were T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), whom Wessex liked, and Prince Edward (later Edward VIII) because the dog was locked away for the duration of the royal visit. He terrorised the servants, who frantically shut doors so they could work without getting harried. The dog was fond of having the radio on and would wake Hardy early so that it could be turned on for his enjoyment.

Eventually, his biting days came to an end and Wessex grew paralytic. He had to be taken to the Dorchester vet to be put down in 1926.