'WHEN CAN WE HAVE A DOG?' MARLEY & ME DOES THE TRICK...

THERE have been so many dog movies this year already that my children - and one young man in particular - has kept asking 'When can we have a dog?'

My wife wondered if I should take our children to see Marley & Me in case they wanted one even more.

But, having already seen the film, I figured they ought to see it in the secret hope it would put them off.

So far... so good!

Since they saw the film on Saturday, not once has any of our three asked for a dog.

I reckon it has made them realise just how hard it would be to look after one.

How restrictive it would be.

How the dog might wreck our house (including the children's things and not just our sofa).

How it would mess everywhere.

How it would smell.

And how, after all that, it would die.

Yup, the good news is that our house is set to remain dog free.

Yippee!

I remember meeting the dog which played the most recent Lassie when it came to Brum some three years ago. It was a beautiful thing,with a lovely long coat.

But that meeting taught me two things.

Even Hollywood dogs lose hairs.

And even Hollywood dogs smell. Make that Smell. Or even SMELL.

And if there's two things I can't stand it's dog hairs and dog smells. Yuk.

Until the day comes when I can afford to live on a farm with a dog that earns its keep outdoors, no way will there be one coming through my front door.

Thanks Marley. You've played a blinder.