Learned Dog

[Bruce L. Sublett]

Andrew Dinn wrote:
>Clearly one of the key provisions for the Learned Dog's survival is his
>independence
>
>    "Oughtn't we to summon the owner...?" suggests Mr Dixon.
>   The Dog has begun to pace back and forth. "I am a British Dog, Sir.
>   No one owns me."
>
>Undoubtedly, this is a dog without a collar, never mind a name tag.

Looks to me like a nod to Alexander Pope's "Epigram Engraved on the
Collar of a Dog Which I Gave to His Royal Highness": 

         I am his Highness' dog at Kew;
         Pray tell me, sir, whose dog are you?