I can’t say I’m proud of it.
Some readers will think it’s disgusting, though an equal number of people will sympathise.
My dog likes to sleep on my bed.
First he wasn’t going to be allowed on the sofa.
That didn’t last long.
Every evening he is in prime position, snuggled between the two of us.
Next he wasn’t going to be allowed on the bed but once dogs get away with something once, it’s difficult to get them out of it.
So I was a little apprehensive when we decided to check in at Longueville Manor for two nights for a pre-Christmas treat.
Would he be on his best behaviour?
And, anyway, should a romantic weekend be, well, sans chien?
Zippy is a bit of a scruffy mutt, especially now that his winter coat is grown and it has been a while since his last branchage.
And with longer fur comes a bit of doggy smell which dog owners will know only too well, especially after a romp on the beach.
Actually Zippy (who, readers may recall, enjoyed a two-night stay at the five-star Old Government House Hotel in Guernsey in the summer) fitted in very well and he didn’t put a paw wrong.
He was welcomed enthusiastically at the reception desk and made a fuss of.
He liked our deluxe room, conveniently situated on the ground floor, with direct access to the gardens.
It was equipped with a dog blanket, pink rubber ball, food and water bowls, poo bags and treats.
Not just his usual treat, but special apple, mint and ginger treats.
He was on holiday, after all, so it was only fitting that he tried something new.
Dogs are allowed anywhere at Longueville Manor except the restaurant.
So after his first walk he came into the lounge with us where he curled up happily under a table near the open fire.
Other guests and people having their Christmas parties seemed pleased to see him.
The best thing was waking up next morning, to be able to walk out of the French windows without even putting on collar and lead. Holiday mode for him too.
He ran.
This is a dog who trots.
Even on the beach he trots.
But he was positively joyful at 8 am on a chilly windy morning, chasing leaves being carried in the breeze.
He was also aroused by the squirrels who scampered off up trees.
Later in the day we enjoyed a longer walk from the manor grounds, through woods and along public footpaths I never knew were there.
Zippy returned to the room with muddy paws.
He had also got ground and leaves on his muzzle as he tried to bury his new ball.
We had to make sure he didn’t jump on the bed in that state!
I don’t think we need to have worried.
It was nothing compared to the state of Monty, the one-year-old labradoodle belonging to the hotel’s owner, Malcolm Lewis.
When we met him on Sunday morning, Monty was amusing himself in a muddy patch next to the duck pond.
He kept retrieving his ball from the water.
(Malcolm explained that they had bought a brown dog specifically so it wouldn’t show up the dirt on his fur after country walks.)
He said that the hotel usually has a dog staying at any given time (both from abroad and from the Island) and they’ve never had a problem.
Perhaps it’s more likely that there will be a problem with noisy children or inebriated adults.
A hotel owner who has a dog is most likely to understand the desire of some guests to bring their canine companion with them.
And admittedly people who want to go to a five-star hotel with their dog usually have a good dog.
[figure caption=”Zippy waits patiently during breakfast
Picture: David Moody” title=”Zippy stays at Longueville ManorPicture: DAVID MOODY” align=”right” url=”/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/12497955.jpg” id=”1704259″]
Possibly Zippy’s favourite moment of the weekend was when we ordered breakfast in our room.
A plate of bacon, sausage and eggs was put on the low table at nose height.
His patience was rewarded with a few mouthfuls.
But in return we were rewarded with a distinctive whiff that was released while relaxing later in an alcove in the lounge.
Perhaps Zippy had relaxed too much.
(It was ironic that we had been put in a room called Fragrant Cloud.)
There is a Facebook picture doing the rounds which shows a cute dog with the words ‘can you tell me the story of how you rescued me again?’
We thoroughly enjoy reminding Zippy that this time last year he was in a pound in Spain having been wandering the streets for I don’t know how many months.
He is one lucky dog.
But equally we are very lucky dog owners.
He does not bark, he has a robust bladder, and he is just a little bit lazy in the mornings, enabling him to lie in comfortably until nine o’clock on a Sunday morning.
Oh yes, he totally deserves a bit of luxury at Christmas.
