I went to Whitstable a couple of weekends ago. Though a little too Northcote Road-on-sea for me to really fall in love with it (I prefer the less gentrified, but equally charming Kentish coastal town of Deal – but then, I’m bias), the place is obviously famous for its delicious fresh seafood, and I can’t fault it there. If you don’t fancy paying restaurant prices to slurp and sloosh on molluscs, down at the fish-market in the harbour, next to the Crab and Winkle restaurant you can get rock oysters for 60p each, deep-fried whitebait with tartare sauce for £2.50, and bags of shell-on prawns for £3.

It was here that I met Henry – a Goldendoodle – a rather remarkable cross between a poodle and a golden retriever. The large dog had a mane of white, fluffy dreads, a gentle nature – and – most intriguingly, a penchant for prawns. Now, my old dog Bertie (God rest his halitosis-ridden soul) used to have a real thing about chocolate and cheese-rind – devouring them in a near-rabid frenzy whenever he could get his paws on them, but fish and seafood were lost on him. Henry was a whole other beast, it would seem, as he sat obediently in wait of his fishy fix – then savouring them lovingly.

I’ve never seen a dog eat prawns with such poise. But then, I’ve never seen a dog eat prawns before. Is it usual? Do you know a canine with a liking for fishy treats? Or is Henry a one-off gourmand pooch? Do tell.