Adog is for life, not just for Christmas, as the slogan goes. And, if recent trends in the pet industry are anything to go by, it seems more people are viewing this as a treat rather than a warning. In the US, spending on pets jumped from $28.5bn in 2001 to $40bn last year, while pet lovers in Japan shelled out more than a trillion yen (£4.7bn) on their beloveds.

Indeed, with the advent of doggie spas, doggie gyms, "doga" (dog yoga), doggie acupuncturists and more, it's easy to see where the money goes.