Several generations of British children were enthralled by the adventures of a dog who, after snacking on some substance, grew into a monster dog roaming and rampaging the countryside. He was called Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World, and now he has been reincarnated in New Zealand, albeit in a somewhat more socially acceptable role.

Digby, the Biggest Dog New Zealand version is my German Shepherd guide dog. Although big, he is a gentle giant. He accompanies me everywhere and requires a little shoe-horning to fit into taxis and Air New Zealand's small planes.

His contribution to the professional environment of mediation is, for the most, a silent one, lying quietly under the table. However, occasional yawns and canine groans can be interpreted as approbation or otherwise, following Mediator or legal counsel contributions.

Anyone attending a mediation who shares a discomfort over dogs can relax as, unlike his famous childhood fiction colleague, Digby is impeccably behaved.