High-end hounds and cossetted canines are having to learn new tricks in this pesky lockdown. Not only are the legs being walked off them on a daily basis but home, usually partially deserted at given times, is a now constant whirl of activity. There are endless Zooms, round-the-clock supervision and no sneaky snoozing in the master suite.

The life of lockdown dogs is harder than it seems. Their owners’ tempers are frayed. No one is going to the office or school or gym or golf or even for a coffee; teenagers are acting out, mothers haven’t a second to themselves and men, having taken possession of prime real estate at home to WFH, have extended their dominion to rule every kitchen.

How are dogs and their owners faring in lockdown? We invited owners to share, and want you to share too … tag @theglossmag in your pictures and videos on Instagram and use the hashtag #GlossyDogs.

Caroline Kennedy and Lucy

Founder of public relations agency, Kennedy PR, Caroline Kennedy shares how Lucky Lucy, her five-year-old Kerry Blue Terrier, has been a great distraction and de-stressor throughout lockdown, spoilt as she is …

“Once affectionately called Lovely Lucy, our five-year-old Kerry Blue Terrier should now be called Lucky Lucy, and all thanks to the virus. As Covid served up its annus horribilis, Lucky Lucy was enjoying the best year of her life.

“To begin with, she became an only pet last March when her Schnauzer mate, Paddy, moved in with his Aunty Louise, [designer Louise Kennedy] full time. This meant Lucy got to double down on everything as stay-at-home orders kicked in. Extra treats, extra toys, double the walks, our total attention was on her. She even got to sleep at the end of our bed because we couldn’t possibly leave her outside the bedroom door on her own. She modelled for photos morning, noon, and night, constantly complimented on her good looks. Her life is great, and in truth, she has been a great distraction and de-stressor for us at home.

“I fear we may have turned Lucky Lucy into our own Nellie Olesen, so spoilt has she been these past months. It’s difficult to resist every command she delivers with her big black eyes. It’s hard to ask her to move over on the sofa for fear of disturbing her; it’s hard not to share comforting roast dinners so now she’s shunning her nuts; how could I not take her to Herbert Park for walks when the excitement barometer explodes with one reach for her harness. It can be tricky on the phone when she’s nosing it out of your hand with a look that says, “Are you on the phone, AGAIN?” Even a trip to the vet had its positives during Covid. Lucy had a medical scare early in May so going to the vet was special as she got the surgery’s full attention as the sole patient present. Same when she needed a groom. She and Paddy went together, and they were the only dogs in the room.

“God only knows what will happen when we get out of this pandemic and no doubt post-Covid separation anxiety will manifest. She may even be called Poor Lucy for a while when her full-time minder, cook, playmate and cuddler goes back to work in the office…” @ckennedypr

Helle Moyna and Milo

Founder of Nordic Elements Studio Helle Moyna uses sheepadoodle Milo as her excuse to escape the world for a little while in lockdown …

“I started 100 days of walking on January 1 to ensure some ‘me time’ as last year was a blur of work, homeschooling, teenage boys mood swings and a husband working from home… Milo the sheepadoodle is my best friend, he is literally my shadow anywhere we go and the sweetest, daftest dog you’ll ever meet. We walk about 5-7K every day (within our 5K) taking in UCD’s forest paths, walking along the coast to Seapoint through Blackrock park, Sandymount beach, Mount Merrion Deerpark and more. On goes a podcast, my weekly favourite is Rosemary and Beatrice McCabe’s Not Without My Sister, they are hilarious and brutally honest about their life experiences which is refreshing. It reminds me how lucky they are to be so close to each other now, I desperately miss my sister who is a nurse back home in Denmark – we FaceTime every other day but it’s not the same as being together. It’s been a year since my last trip home to Denmark, hopefully we can travel again later this year. Until then it’s Milo and I.” @nordicelementsstudio

Anna Rose Charleton and her collie, Lassie-lookalike Suki!

For those of us with a “lot on”, a dog needy for a walk can push us outdoors, into much-needed respite from lockdown life. Busy radio-head Anna Rose – planning and MC’ing her radio station, Quarantine FM – is grateful that her pup doesn’t let her work away without a break…

“My collie Suki is LOVING lockdown life. She was apparently born on a puppy farm somewhere in the midlands and had a very tough start in life which left her quite anxious and nervy. She hates strangers coming to the house, hates being left alone in the garden and loves company and snuggles with her family members – so, everyone being in the house all the time, available for petting and cuddles and walks, with no visitors ever is her dream come true! These days she often gets two or three daily walks from different family members which further adds to her happiness.

“My usual walking route with Suki under 5k restrictions is along the Dodder river, which runs through Rathgar and Milltown. We either walk or run and Suki knows the route so well at this point that she was once off the lead in the Dodder park with my sister Clara (dogs are allowed off the lead in the Dodder park), got spooked by a loud bang, took off running, and ended up running all the way home! It’s about 2km from the Dodder park to Rathgar road with several road crossings and turns and incredibly Suki made it the whole way and even found the right house. A genius doggo…

“We often stop off at Ernestos Café in Rathmines. Try the oat milk matcha latte – Jonathan Smith the owner makes a mean one!

“Suki is quite distinct looking (she bears more than a passing resemblance to Lassie) so she gets stopped and admired at least once per walk. However it’s not very often she’ll return the admiration and let a passing human pet her. She’s a sleek diva to be admired from afar, which is incidentally perfect for Covid times.

“Many other doggies stop for a sniff too, but Suki is generally not interested. We see many of the same dogs and humans on our walks through the Dodder park but she has not made any friends she’s interested in keeping. Her favourite things to sniff are honestly random street corners, it’s sometime impossible to drag her away from them! I dread to think what she’s smelling but I suspect I know …”

When the two lassies return from their precious excursions, Suki relaxes in the company of her loved ones. “Suki loves to lie on the floor nearest to the largest group of humans, ideally as far away from the back door leading to the garden as possible for least possible risk of being put outside. She gets so excited for her walks that by the time we get home she’s pretty exhausted from the hullabaloo and lying down being gently foot-stroked is just the tonic.”

As the founder and coordinator of the radio station QuarantineFM, Anna Rose needs to be online a lot of the time. She says Suki stars in some of her posts – “Suki mostly features on my Close Friends Instagram story, with an occasional pop up on my main feed, or on my radio station’s social media pages. She’s the station’s resident pooch!”

This lockdown, Anna Rose says she is grateful for the walks – don’t get her wrong – but she’s ready for more variety in her outdoor adventures. “It’s great to get fresh air and get out of the house, but I’m more than ready now for a life of fewer walks and more concerts and gyms!”

It’s clear that dogs have an ability to change our perspective on animals – and Suki has had such an effect on Anna Rose. “I’m sick to death of walks at this point like many others, so Suki’s boundless enthusiasm for the mere mention of one is helpful in forcing me out of the house. Honestly, I’m not really an animal person, and before we got Suki I was pretty wary and distrustful of dogs due to an incident in the Burren in the 90s involving my sister’s leg and a Jack Russell terrier. But Suki has changed my whole perspective and I’m mad about her, totally obsessed. She’s my warm and cuddly emotional support pupper and I wouldn’t have made it through lockdown without her snuggles.”