It might have been a typo in the book. Maybe it was supposed to be “fears” or “years,” although neither of those makes any sense. Maybe “oars”? Those Brits love their boats, after all. Just WAGing. Actually, WotNot has the best idea I’ve heard here so far, especially since that would make the line a subtle insult, too: calling solicitors dogs.
Ahhhhhhhh! Well, maybe that’s what the guy’s dad meant. I’ll take it as such.