Britain’s most pampered pooch is celebrating Christmas in the lap of luxury with 68 individually wrapped presents costing in excess of a £1,000.
Helena Mueller, 38, loves her Cockapoo, Lola, more than anything in the world and devotes her life to making sure that her dog wants for nothing.
On Christmas day itself, Lola will unwrap her gifts, which include premium toys and clothes- and a special doggie Christmas roast.
She said: “She’s changed my life so much, we got her because I have an only child, Harry, who was four at the time.
“That was on 5 September 2015, when Lola was eight weeks old- everyone was like, ‘Why are you getting a dog, that’s so much responsibility!’
“They said, ‘You can’t go out anywhere,’ and all these ridiculous things, but it’s just not true.
“We do everything together, she comes running with me and absolutely everything!
“I have to keep checking the ground in the summer though, to make sure it’s not too hot for her- I bought her a special buggy just in case.
“Yes I am obsessive, I don’t disturb her if she’s asleep- like if she’s cuddled up on me on the sofa and I want something, I call Mark and make him get it.
“Mark says, ‘Aren’t your legs working?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m not going to disturb Lola!’
“She came on a family trip to the cinema last week and it was brilliant- my husband wasn’t expecting her but I couldn’t leave her at home!
“So she came along wearing pyjamas matching mine- we have matching jackets too.
“I took a week off from work when Lola had her spaying operation, when Harry has a cold I’m just like, ‘Off you go then!'”
Lola’s pampering treatments include hour long grooming sessions in which she is shampooed with premium pooch products.
She is then given an aftercare brush and a trim if she needs it, all totaling a minimum of “150 a month.
Helena said: “My husbands view is happy wife, happy life- he knows where he comes in the pecking order- it goes Lola, Harry, him!
“He’s agreed to Lola’s separate bank account and her allowance of 100 pounds a month for any bits she needs, I’d say we can think about increasing her allowance.
When Helena, heads off to her job in insurance, she packs her pooch off to a creche service where Lola gets to boast to other dogs and boast about her luxurious life.
She said: “She goes to creche for half a day a week, so she can meet other dogs.
“I took my son out of school so that we could go to the photographer at this special place where, instead of taking your children for a day out, you take your dog.
“I would rather that Harry wasn’t able to spell ‘table’ when he’s 20, than have a gap in the family photo.
“There was just no way I was doing it without Lola- she’s the centre of my life! I have a ‘Lola folder’ with thousands of pictures of her, and a special bike seat too.
“The bike seat is from America, and people always look when we cycle past and they’re like, “Oh my word, look it’s a dog on a bike!”
“I am Lola’s groomer so I don’t spend money paying someone to groom her, but I am always buying her new shampoos etc.
“I put a post up on Facebook asking if anyone wanted to help me pack all of Lola’s Christmas presents- but people say to me on Facebook, ‘Please can you stop posting all the things you get for Lola because my dog will want the same things!”
The nation’s canines can expect to be showered with gifts, with owners typically spending £19.98 on their pets compared to just £14.78 on their best mates.
A survey of 2,000 pet owners by www.animalfriends.co.uk found that 71 per cent of pet owners plan to buy their animal an Xmas gift.
Helena said; “This year, she’s definitely getting more gifts than Harry… I tried to hide that from Harry last year, but this time it’s so obvious because there’s so many!
“You know, Lola never moans about homework, and she never complains about what’s for dinner.
“She had her first snow yesterday, and I came in and realised I hadn’t taken any pictures of Harry- but had absolutely loads of Lola, and that’s what always happens!
“Lola eats a raw feed diet, I order her food once a month and make a special trip to our favourite pet shop, where they have named Lola “Lady Lola” as they know how spoilt she is and how she’s treated.
“In fact we make an outing of it when we go there- they make me a cup of tea, Harry plays in the sand they have there.
“Lola will only eat out of one of her many pink fancy princess bowls- my friend was looking after her one day and went to give Lola her lunch from a clear plastic tub and Lola walked away from it!
“My friend then put the food into one of her daughter’s pink bowls and Lola ate it!
“Some mornings if Lola isn’t interested in her breakfast I will sit on the kitchen floor and spoon feed her to make sure she’s eaten as I hate to think of her being hungry while I’m out!”
Helena has been inspired by the reactions that she gets from people about the top notch treatment with which she provides Lola, so she has started up her own pooch-pampering business, Lola’s parlour.
She said: “People say, “Our only worry of giving our dog to you is, ‘Will we get it back?’
“Because they know just how much I love my Lola!
“I do love my Lola more than Harry- but don’t tell the papers that though!”
Lola’s lavish style includes, but is not exclusive to: her very own bank account and monthly allowance, a special doggy pram, and a bike seat.
She also has an extensive wardrobe featuring matching outfits with mummy, weekly creche visit, trips to the cinema and special doggy days out.
There’s also a cooling personalised water spray for hot days with Lola’s name on it, and her special raw food gourmet diet.
And of course- there’s the matching Christmas jumpers.
