Nipper, the Listening Dog

If you are my age or even younger, you may have seen a logo on some music recordings of a dog listening to a gramophone (phonograph).

[Phonograph] from the Greek; Phono = sound,  graph= writing. →　Sound Writing


The phonograph is a device used for the mechanical recording and reproduction of sound.  In its later forms it is also called a gramophone.

The phonograph was invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison. Edison's phonograph was the first to be able to reproduce the recorded sound.


So what? You might ask. After all, you don't see many gramophones around lately. It's the 21st century, don't you know?


Even though I have seen the picture of a dog listening to a gramophone, I never knew the story behind it.

The dog's name was Nipper. After his owner died, the owner's brother took care of Nipper. This new owner of Nipper, found some 'records' with his brother's voice on it. Every time he played the record, Nipper will sit in front of the 'speaker' and listen, somewhat puzzled, but nonetheless listen intently to his master's voice.

The new owner was an artist. He painted Nipper listening to his brother's voice. Some years after Nipper died, this picture became a logo for the UK's recording company HMV - His Master's Voice. Later on, RCA Victor purchased HMV's right and Nipper became a RCA's logo.

It took some time before Nipper became a logo of any company, however. One US company laughed at the idea of a dog 'listening' to a record! But, 'listen', Nipper did.

Nipper had something that resonated within him with his master's voice. It was a familiar voice that he grew up with. It comforted him to listen to his master's voice even though his master was long gone.


We have many voices in the world. We don't 'hear' them all. The ones that we hear are the ones that we resonate with. The ones that 'speak' to our heart.

Sometimes, the voice speaks harshly in a self condemning way. We seem to 'hear' the harsh words loud and clear while we seldom hear the still small voice of love, compassion, peace, comfort and the like. When our mind goes on an auto-pilot and the 'mind chatter' starts, it is very difficult to hear the comforting self assuring words.


Both harsh words and encouraging words are present at the same time. Depending on which voice you pay attention to, you will listen to a totally different 'conversation.' All you need is a slight  'shift' in your awareness. Once you shift, you'll be able to 'listen' to the voice of your master any time.　U^ｪ^U


                                Whose voice are you listening to now?