“Cats are not dogs!” is the opening line of P.G. Wodehouse’s short story The Story of Webster. As with so many statements originating in the bar-parlour of the Angler’s Rest, it’s unassailable fact.
I’m a fan of both dogs and cats and have lived with both. They have very different minds. Both are very intelligent, but in different directions. Dogs are natural born empaths, thriving on human interaction and group dynamics. They will work for humans for a morsel of affection (but deserve so much more). Cats are independent thinkers and not in the least bit subservient. This is why society is full of service dogs, but nobody keeps service cats.
My friend Martha, purveyor of all facts esoteric, recently told me about Riley the Museum Dog. He works at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston. His is such a feel-good story that I thought I’d share it for Christmas.
Riley is more than just another beautiful face. Born on October 14, 2017, this Weimaraner joined the MFA Boston family in January 2018 as the first museum dog trained to detect pests that could harm the museum’s collection.
Weimaraners are known for their incredible noses, making them great at scent work, tracking, search and rescue and even bomb detection. So, it makes perfect scents (sorry for the dad joke) for Riley to apply his nose to support the Conservation, Protective Services and Facilities departments. He sniffs out pests that can damage textiles, wood, and other sensitive materials.
I’m both a dog fancier and a gallery goer, so I think it’s a pity that Riley’s duties happen mostly behind the scenes. Mice and moths tend to wreck things in storage areas rather than gallery halls. But Riley’s a nice boy; when he was first introduced at a press conference in early 2018, reporters and visitors alike were delighted by his calm temperament and cute curiosity.
The museum partnered with The Boston Globe to publish the children’s book The Adventures of Riley the Museum Dog. The book sends Riley on a playful adventure chasing Wiley, a tiny moth with a big appetite for artwork, through the MFA’s own galleries. Through Riley’s travels, young readers encounter art from Egyptian mummies to modern glass sculptures. That’s a clever way to interest kids in art.
Anyone who has ever walked with a dog won’t be surprised at his human companion’s assessment of his skills: “It’s amazing. It’s easier for him to find it than a conservator would need to really comb through something, and it would take hours and hours,” said Nicki Luongo of MFA Protective Services. “Riley can run by something, catch a scent, and oh, there it is.”
And that story, my friends, is your Christmas gift from me. I’m going to go sit by the fire with my own canine companion and scratch his ears. A Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- Advanced Plein Air Painting | Rockport, ME, July 13-17, 2026
- Sea & Sky | Acadia National Park, ME, August 2–7, 2026
- Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026
Can’t commit to a full workshop? Work online at your own pace: