For the last week, I have been dogsitting for a buddy while he's out of town. Let's get the formalities out of the way - here's a photo for the cuteness freaks:

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Jenkins is so much better than most people. True, she sheds more hair than most, and the constant pestering when there is food available grates a little, but in general, she's just the best.

I love the utter happiness that she displays when I come in at the end of the day. She gets so excited that she sprints all around the house, yapping excitedly, incandescent with joy. Heck, it's not even at the end of the day. If I pop out to leave out the rubbish, that's the greeting I get when I return two minutes later. How many people get so excited to see you that they almost wet themselves?

I didn't much like living on my own when I did it for a few months, but with a dog in the house, it's completely different. She domintes the house, but in a good way. How many people could do that?

She's also a really good listener. She'll lie there and never interrupt, unless it's for the occasional reassuing lick. There's no me me me with her. Sure, she'll let you know if she needs to go out and poo, but that's the extent of her needs. How many people are that simple?

She's not even really a dog. She doesn't waste her time with the usual doggy things. No fetching, no chasing things, no snapping at flies. She doesn't even bark properly. It's less of a 'WOOF' and more of a 'HUUUUUUUU'. Doesn't even like other dogs. I swear I can hear her tutting disdainfully when the another dog walks by.

Alas, our ways must part on Saturday. I'm not going to lie, it will be nice to sleep without smelly dog breath in my face all night. It will also be nice to be able to wear black clothes again. I'll really miss everything else about her though. She's the best.