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When I entered into a relationship with a pet owner nearly two years ago, I wasn t prepared to have to fight so hard to win his affection. The dog, that is.
Clifford s dad and I matched on a dating app in the autumn of 2019. Previously, I had been stepmother to two rambunctious staffys, so I thought wooing a red miniature poodle would be a piece of cake.
Did I need to try a little less?
Credit:John Shakespeare
I met Clifford on the kind of scorching autumn night in Melbourne when the air is so thick you can barely stand your own company. Pretty quickly, it became clear that if I didn t pass the pup test , things were going to get awkward. Looking around the living room, I sensed I was the underdog in this fight. There was a framed OBEY THE POODLE poster, and a little model Clifford, made from wicker, on the sideboard. Most concerning of all, there was no sign of a dog bed.