For any would-be dog owners, I am going to tell you a little anecdote of the morning routine that goes on in our house such as it was this morning…

Our collie pup started whining at 6:10am because she needed a whizz – of course this set the other two off and then they ALL had to go out for a good old sniff and wees.

Rather than go back to bed – as it was nearing alarm time anyway – we got up and prepared breakfast – the little lab pup that we’re looking after at the moment wolfed his down and then proceeded to drink a gallon of water and immediately threw it up all over his crate…yum…just what I wanted to clean up this morning…

Then there was lots of fussing and barking as they wanted to play but our older collie isn’t the most tolerant of the lab pup which can make it a bit difficult.

Finally, as I got out the door – major barking – had to go back in to sort out the over excitement and move the puppy crate into the kitchen so they could calm down a bit (and not bring up any more food!)

Then, I got a text from my sister whose morning has gone something like this…’got a whiff of poo in the night so got up and cleaned it up before got on any feet, one of the dogs whined at quarter to six so rushed out but too late, poo all over floor again…’

Dogs are lovely and the relationship is rewarding and fulfilling – but if you aren’t prepared to pick up poo and sick in the early hours…think carefully!