Welcome to my diary - Nov 21st 2008

He's probably the most famous dog in the north of England, star of the long running ITV series Out of Town.

He's the cantankerous Border Terrier on a string who has raised canine political incorrectness to an art form.

But where does the name Raq come from? Well you have to be old enough to remember the BBC Home Service to answer that question.

The original Raq was a Spaniel owned by the world's first natural history broadcaster, the Rev George Bramwell Evens. He was better known as Romany of the BBC (used to get an audience of more than 12 million - eat your heart out Big Brother and other ghastly, overblown, junk programmes) and for years has been a hero of the bearded chap on the other end of Raq's string, the broadcaster Eric Robson.

Up to now you've had to wait for a new series to hear Raq's take on everything from wind farms to Victorian church restorers, but now you can read his ascerbic diary and interactive fan club.

Each month there will be Raq's rant with which you can agree or disagree. If you disagree we suggest you don't join the fan club because the object of the exercise is to build up a body of sensible dogs and dog owners who can change the world. Not instantly you understand but that's the long term aim.

One other word of warning. We don't want woofy little messages and notes signed with paw prints because Eric and Raq agree that people who do that are obviously barmy.

But to leaven things a bit, each month Eric Robson will be nominating a favourite walk that's guaranteed to delight your dog and stretch your legs.  The first one will be found here during the first week in January.