The things that no-one warned you about..

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

My spaniel has no "Off" switch.

My collie is far too clever.

(But I love them both to pieces and wouldn't swap either of them for all the tea in China)

That no matter how small your darling dog is/ was, they take up the whole sofa leaving everyone else sitting on the floor.

I miss those days.

Labradors are omnivores, they also eat things that are not actually classed as food or even edible.

They smell, every part of them smells, their mouths, their coats, their farts, their breath, I can walk into a room and I know the dog is there just from the general odor of labrador that hits me like a brick!

They shed, oh my god, luckily we have a cleaner and no carpet, and he spends a great deal of time outside!

That I would fall so utterly in love with his big sloppy self!

That DH would become smitten and cuddle her as much as his cats!

That dogs could smile :) Our collie cross loves to show off his pearlies, followed by a friendly sneeze (what's that all about?!)

That I would be wiping poo from a hairy bottom at least once a week. That when your child is in hospital having an operation, your mind still thinks momentarily " I hope the dogs ok at Mil's and isn't missing me too much, is eating enough, is being played with enough, is being cuddled enough" This is from a non dog person too, who had to be convinced that getting a dog was a good idea... I love how she crept in and stole a piece of my heart.

I had no idea how much I would love him. Also, how proud I would feel when someone says how handsome he is! (You'd think I'd given birth to him!!).