Fess up time

Judging from the comments to my last post, it’s pretty clear to me that there are plenty of us out there in thrall to our pampered pooches. I speak as one who bought a motorhome (pictured) to ferry her hounds round on holiday and then bought a bigger one because it wasn’t quite to our, er... their collective taste. Come to think of it, we also bought a bigger house because of them! And of course, we’ve said goodbye to exotic holidays (no loss really, much prefer going to Stoke on Trent and Birmingham), romantic weekends sans chiens (we won’t kennel our lot), long lie-ins (someone always woofs us out of bed eventually), an economical car (have you see the new tax rates for people/dog carriers?), clean floors (twenty dirty paws!), 10-hour cruises (I wish!), normal pockets (not stuffed with poo bags), personal decorum (wiggling through a hedge on my belly to retrieve an escapee) and relaxing walks (without five snouts continually poking their noses where they don't belong).

Of course, we are also considerably poorer financially – beds, house collars, walking collars, fleecy coats, waterproof coats, winter coats, one set for the house, one set for the boat, one set for the motorhome, soft toys, pigs’ ears, Frontline, Drontal, Pet Passports, Champagne, caviar....But the huge upside is we are very much richer in terms of mental, emotional and physical well-being, courtesy of the special relationship we enjoy with our hounds. I’m sure that’s something that every dog owner identifies with....So come on, spill the beans. What’s the biggest sacrifice you’ve made for your mutt? What has been your greatest dog indulgence? Fess up, I know you want to.