HAPPY COLLIE-DAYS FOR 'SPOILED' PET PATCHIE

A DOG owner says she is excited to involve her pet Patchie in every part of Christmas, from helping her decorate the tree to having his own seat at the dinner table, saying he gets "spoiled more than anyone in the family.

- By JENNY GARNSWORTHY Press Association reporter

Rhiannon Thomas, 37, says Patchie the border collie is a central part of the family, and a part of all their festive traditions, including having his own Christmas jumper.

Rhiannon, from Tregarth, Gwynedd, got Patchie as a rescue dog in 2020 when he was seven weeks old, after he was "thrown out at a farm".

"He's just a massive part of my life," Rhiannon said.

"I don't have children, but he's like a child to me. He's included in every part of my life."

Rhiannon, who is an unpaid carer for her mother Beryl, who has Addison's disease, takes Patchie everywhere with her.

She said in the buildup to Christmas, he accompanies her when she goes shopping for presents.

When it's time to decorate the tree, Patchie helps to unpack everything, and they even turn it into a game as he helps take bags down from the loft with his mouth. He then puts his head in the bags and gets the decorations out with his teeth.

He also has his own advent calendar with dog biscuits hidden behind each window, so he can join in with the countdown to the big day.

Rhiannon said on Christmas morning, her husband Huw takes Patchie out for his first walk of the day while she prepares their meal.

She said: "We open presents first when we first wake up, and he'll open his presents."

Patchie will get some new tennis balls, a squeaky toy in the shape of Optimus Prime from the Transformers films, and a squeaky snake this year, she added.

They will then be joined by Rhiannon's mother and her two whippets, Eliab and Yentl, for their Christmas meal.

Patchie wears his Christmas apron for the meal, and gets stuck in with all of his humans' favourite festive treats.