It was a sort of community arrangement. If it was dog walking time, we all went. A restless dog spelled stress and anxiety amongst the human household. A loving and attentive dog made us all happy and content. Even an outbreak of canine worms was a shared experience.
Our whole existence revolved around the dogs, whether decisions on holidays, short day trips, consideration of overnighters, the prospect of visitors and even casual callers all had to be thoroughly thought through from the point of view of our hairy, shaggy family members.
For all of that, it was a great time and we all benefitted greatly from it, especially our children who would often, when they were little, be found curled up in a pile of dogs on the living room floor. There is also something valuable to the human soul in having responsibility for another living creature.
The practicalities of being a doggy family were clear.
We were in charge of feeding, exercising, entertaining, cleaning up after and keeping our two hounds out of harms way.
It could be hard work.
Our active animals intent on charging about in the muddy fields, muddy riverbank, muddy park and mud flat beaches did generate considerable muck and grime which ended up on our clothes, through the back of the car and all over the house upon our return.
As well as the actual dirt there was also that distinctive damp doggy smell that permeated all of the soft furnishings. Unfortunately we would soon become acclimatised to the pungent odours when in close proximity. It would take a short spell away or the grimacing look on the face of a visitor to the house to make us realise that there was certainly a bit of an atmosphere.
What to do?
We invested in a good, heavy duty combined wet and dry vacuum cleaner. The discovery that wearing rubber soled boat shoes and adopting a shuffling motion across carpets could remove all stubborn dog hairs was a revelation. These actions dealt with the collateral damage.
As for the grubby dogs- well we could certainly have done with this advertised invention.
Fed up of the struggle involved in washing your pooch when it returns muddy and smelly from a walk in the forest?
Tired of having to clean the bathroom after you've perhaps wrestled with an unwilling dog intent on escaping as you, shampoo in one hand, shower head in the other, succeed only in flooding the place?
Simply no longer willing to make regular and sometimes costly trips to a specialist groomer to have your faithful four-legged friend washed and blow-dried?
Help is finally at hand in the shape of Shower Dog Corner - a washing machine for man's best friend - now available in France.
It only takes a half-hour session in, what to all intents and purposes is, a dog washing machine.
You simply put your dog in the machine, close the door . choose the programme and pay your money before sitting back to watch as the dog is automatically sprayed with water and shampoo for just four minutes and then blow-dried for the remaining time.
The machine is veterinary approved uses less water than would be required during a session at a conventional parlour and gentle so as not to strip away the protective grease contained in the fur.
It has proven particularly user friendly for big dogs and "those of a nervous disposition" who might be refused entry to a more conventional grooming parlour.
Now, if only there had been invention out there to pick up the dog poo off the lawn?
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