Meet Digger, The Farmer mag dog

Real name and nick name:
Digger. But I also go by Digger Dog, Digs and Dig Digs.

What is your favourite thing to do on the farm?

Confession: ‘My’ farm is not really mine. My mum is the editor of The Farmer and so we are city slickers. But we love travelling in remote Australia and so regularly go to a farm owned by Kelly in Ben Bullen, and there I have hundreds of hectares to myself. I am pictured here by the river relaxing on my favourite grass mound. Kelly has five staffies and a goat, and I love chasing the goat.

Have you ever done something really naughty?

I spend my days at the office, and love eating the waste paper bins and the handles of spades (Digger by name, Digger by nature) but one day I ate an entire pile of magazines. I thought the office looked great covered in confetti, but no one was happy with me. I did see mum trying not to laugh though.

What is your worst habit?

Jumping on my parents at 4.30am or breathing in their faces until they feed me. I’m a bit rock solid, so my landings are not gentle. They call them Digger Bombs. Oh, and getting into the kitchen at the NBC and trying to steal the chef’s chicken and chips.

What is your favourite food?

I am allowed pig ears and sardines and they are good. But really, I just want bacon, fried chicken, pizza and chips with chicken salt. All available at the bowlo where our office is. It’s amazing what some customers will give away if I show them my cutest face. And the little kids are usually a pushover.

If you became famous for one thing, what would it be?

Having a gold leaf coat. I sparkle.

Is there something that drives your parents mad?

Waking them up too early by staring them straight in the eyes for an hour. And sitting on the shopping bags demanding all sorts of things from the shops.

If you could have another animal as a friend, what would it be and why?

I have a best friend called Chewbacca (Chewie for short). He’s a groodle, and so we’re a bit of an odd couple really. Staffies usually eat oodles for breakfast.

Favourite toy or thing to play with?

A spade I found in the garden, and a duck that honks when I squash it.

What does everyone love about you?

I have endless love to give, give really great cuddles, and my impersonation of a butterflied chicken makes everyone laugh.

Any last words?

I hope we move to the country one day – I am working on convincing my parents to buy a farm. Last time I was there I saw this big herd of enormous black dogs with huge heads and hoofs and weird big ears. They look a bit dopey but I reckon they’d be fun to play with.