Nobody told me how much dog ownership would change my life…?

The above photo was taken within weeks of getting Clover. Back when I was full of hope and positivity… alright, perhaps a bit much. But the point is I was excited, slightly naïve and ready for the challenge of dog ownership… or so I thought.

I was right to feel slightly confident, I suppose. I think, as far as preparations go, I had done as well as any super organised, dog loving person would have done. I had everything I needed- the bowls, the food, the harness, the leads, the treats, the beds and so on. I also had the love, the excitement and the motivation to give this pup everything she needed and more. What I hadn’t anticipated, and could not have prepared enough for, was exactly how much this little floppy eared girl would change my life.

I touched upon this in my page ‘6 things to consider before you get a dog.’ Honestly, I wish someone had written it for me before I got Clover.

There are no life changes that Clover and I haven’t been able to overcome. I’ve just had to adjust my lifestyle to fit around her needs- which is to be expected when you get a dog. I knew I would no longer be able to go out for a spontaneous night out, or even a last minute weekend away (unless the places I was going were dog friendly), and that’s ok. Nearly three years on and it’s still ok. Truthfully one of my favourite places in the world is cuddled up on the sofa with Clover, so I don’t mind that I can’t always go to last minute plans. If I do go out for the day or the evening, then I have to plan it in advance so I can make sure Clover is cared for. It’s not always the easiest thing in the world to organise, and sometimes there is no care available… but that’s ok.

I also knew that I would have to get up early every day to let Clover out and feed her. Clover is actually a fantastic morning dog. She rarely eats breakfast until midday, even when I put it down first thing. She’s also never bursting for a wee. In fact, most mornings Clover comes and gets into bed with me and curls up next to me under the duvet… it’s the best part of my day. The fact I’m woken up by her suddenly pouncing on me at 5.30am and sneezing in my face is irrelevant. Early morning starts seven days a week are still perfectly ok with me.

I was also prepared that I would have to walk Clover every day from now until the end of time. Some days it’s much easier than others. Some days I can’t wait to take her out for a long walk, and I count down the hours until I finish work and until I can spend time with her properly. Other days I can’t think of anything I would less rather do. When it’s freezing, or rainy, or dark, or I’ve just had a really long crappy day, or I’m unwell and want to lay on the sofa all evening. Regardless, we go for a walk. I knew this would also be an element of my dog ownership life, and I was ok with the idea of that. Nearly three years on and it’s still ok. I also knew there would be dog hair on my clothes, in my car and on my bed- there is, and that’s still ok too.

Arranging Clover’s day care diary for the days when I am in the office is a bit of a chore. I have to plan a month or two in advance, and things become complicated if the dog walker is away, if I have to go into the office at short notice or if the weather is really hot so the dog walker cancels the walks. It also becomes complicated if Clover is poorly or injured ( see my diary entry about injured leg week!). I’ve got into a rhythm with it now, and I knew I’d have to do this sort of thing, but I hadn’t realised it would be a second full time job. (Just to note, my dog walkers are fabulous, helpful, brilliant people who do their best to accommodate myself and Clover and I would be SO lost without them). I’m also lucky to be in a job where I can swap my working from home days around when needed. If I was in the office full time and the dog walker went on holiday, I genuinely don’t know what I would do. So, the arrangements of day care and walking can take a bit more time and planning than I had anticipated, but it’s part of having and caring for Clover and so it’s very much ok too. I’d spend longer doing it if I had to… just as long as I knew she was cared for when I’m out.

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The lifestyle changes that I hadn’t been prepared for:

1) I can’t watch any tv programmes with animals in. Like literally none. I used to love a bit of David Attenborough, but after an entire episode of Clover barking at the monkeys, I have to swerve the programme entirely unless I am watching it in bed without her. Even if she’s in another room… as soon as she hears that monkey sound, or a any animal noise at all, she’s straight in the living room ruffing at the screen. She also jumps up at the wall and puts her claws into the wallpaper which has been up less than a year. Now, I’m as much of a David Attenborough fan as the next person, but not enough to sacrifice my wallpaper. It’s not confined to David Attenborough though…it’s literally anything with an animal on it. Countryfile, cruft’s (definite no go), even if a dog pops up on Eastenders she’s barking like nobody’s business. It’s the same for adverts where animals suddenly appear on screen. If I’m watching a film and a dog comes on screen I have to mute it immediately and hope for the best. It’s like an automatic ninja reflex now, I don’t’ even know I’m doing it. Oh, and whilst were on the subject of television… do you know what else is fun? When the ring doorbell advert comes on. Clover (like the very clever hound that she is) recognises that it’s the same noise as our doorbell and so starts ruffing at that too, legging it round the house and running to the front door. I also now mute those adverts, if I can get to the remote in time…

2) I can’t relax in the garden. When I first got Clover, I didn’t have a garden. Just a small balcony area which was just about sufficient but not ideal for the little pooch. After a year or so of having her we moved to a house with a garden. I couldn’t wait to spend the warmer weekends and evenings outside with Clover, reading a book and enjoying a wine in peace. Ah- there’s that word again… peace. Not in Clover’s vocabulary… and let’s be honest, why would she be a quiet, sleepy, well behaved dog when she’s got the neighbours, the birds and lawnmowers to bark at?! As soon as our back door opens, she’s out there ruffing at things. Patrolling the garden, seeing off nasty neighbours, birds and gardening equipment. It’s good guarding really… it’s just rather loud. She is capable of being quiet in the garden, providing that no other neighbours are out and there are no birds etc around. Oh, also worth a mention here- the neighbour has a dog. So does the person whose garden backs onto ours. So all she has to do is sense that they’re nearby and she’s barking… which sets of the neighbours dog, and then the other dog. Shortly afterwards we have every dog in the street barking together like some annoying, out of sync choir. It’s not so bad in the Winter because it’s rare that neighbours are outside, or that the neighbours dog happens to be out at the same time as Clover. The warmer months, however… awful. Clover didn’t bark in our old house. Not at all. Since we’ve moved to our new house it’s like we’ve unleashed some sort of barking demon. Which brings me onto my next point…

3) I can’t go a day without Clover barking at passers by. When she’s not busy barking outside, she’s barking instead… which is fab. Again, not a problem in the old house. The new house, however, has got a lovely big window next to the stairs which overlooks the street. So when Clover isn’t zooming round the house, she’s sat on the stairs watching out the window and quietly ruffing at everyone who walks past. Car doors also set her off. If someone’s shut a car door a bit too firmly three streets down, Clover will hear it and she’ll tell me about it. If a dog walks past we’re in trouble. Her hackles go up and she’s either trying to get out into the back garden, or trying to fight them through the window. Not that she would ever fight another dog. She’s all mouth behind the safety of the glass in the window but as soon as we see that same dog when we are out walking (which we do, frequently), she’s got nothing to say for herself and tries to play with them. Which begs the question, why is she disturbing me throughout the day by barking at them if she’s going to do nothing about it?! If the saying ‘all bark no bite’ wasn’t already invented, then it’s safe to say that Clover would have invented it. She also does this weird noise which isn’t a bark, and it’s not quite a growl . It sounds like an injured pigeon calling for help. Anyway, she does that too at passers by… constantly. Oh and also she must shout at wheelie bins. Bin day is a laugh. As soon as Clover hears a bin being wheeled out she’s up barking and running round the house. Then the neighbours dog kicks off. See point two above.

4) I can’t go a day without feeling guilty. Probably a me thing. Office days are the worst. The guilt I feel as I leave Clover to go to the office for the day is horrible. I know she’s fine and that she’s either got a dog walker coming in or she’s getting picked up to go to day care for half a day… but I just feel awful. It’s the same if I go out for an evening or I’m running late home from work. My mum always says “dogs can’t tell time” and she’s right. Clover doesn’t know if I’m home 15 or 30 minutes later than normal… but I know, and I feel terrible. Even when I’m out and Clover is left at home with my fiancée.. still feel guilty. Riddle me that. I will do another full post on this, but it’s just something that I wasn’t anticipating about dog ownership. Or not to this extent anyway. Perhaps I’m just over sensitive or I need to get a grip but it’s just how I feel, and some days I struggle with this a lot.

5) I didn’t realise I would love her this much. Growing up with dogs, I always loved them all so much. I knew I would love Clover equally… but I was wrong. I didn’t think that it was possible to love a dog as much as I love her. Which probably sounds pathetic, I realise. It’s just a totally different love to anything I’ve ever experienced before. Maybe because she’s so dependant on me, maybe because she’s actually my own dog, as opposed to a family one. Regardless, I didn’t know I had so much love to give until I got Clover. I’ve turned into the equivalent of one of those annoying mum’s who constantly talks about her kids and shows you photos of them without you asking. I’ll get a photo whilst at work from the day care lady and immediately feel the need to walk round the office showing it to people. Before I got Clover, I swore I would never be one of those dog owners that had an Instagram for their dog… well just look at me now. Not only does Clover have an Instagram page of her own (link here), but I’ve also created this whole blog dedicated to having her. I knew I would love her, I just didn’t realise she would be my whole world.

Head back to my ‘Nobody told me about…’ page for more dog ownership topics that I wasn’t prepared for.

Alternatively, head to ‘the diary of my ruff reality’ of dog ownership for frequent, real time updates on the hurdles Clover and I face together.

Thinking of getting a dog? Head to my ‘top tips’ page for everything (some things) you need to know before you commit to a pooch!

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*Disclaimer- I have no animal related qualifications whatsoever. Which begs the question as to exactly how much of my advice you should take. This isn’t really an advice blog- not properly. It’s more of a ‘these are my experiences- maybe we can all learn from them’ type of blog. You should seek actual qualified veterinary/animal behaviourist/dog dietician advice if you genuinely have any dog related concerns. I’m just here to share the things I’ve learnt in my three years of dog ownership. Some of which may be useful- some not.*