When your dog wants to be involved, in everything

We’ve all seen the hazards of unwanted interruptions from family members during work calls over the last year. 

I had my own experience of this the other week. I was due to have an interview via Zoom for a writing job with a US-based company. Because of the eight hour time difference it was scheduled for 5pm. This was not ideal as it’s when Flossie has her dinner and she can be quite lively and vocal afterwards. 

So, I planned meticulously how I would manage it. I would feed her early and settle her with a chew downstairs while I took the call upstairs at my desk. I would leave all the doors open to mitigate any chance of her whining loudly in protest.

The plan went well at first. However, the conversation lasted for longer than I anticipated. After around half an hour, I heard paws thundering up the stairs.

Flossie sashayed into my office, fluffy tail wagging as she head-butted my legs. I was mid sentence as I attempted to discreetly move her away. She put her front paws on the windowsill behind me so she could look out of the window. I hoped she wouldn’t start barking.

My interviewer showed no reaction to this invasion although he must have been able to see Flossie bustling around. I tried to contort myself without showing it on the screen and nudge Flossie out of the room. She was having none of it. 

It was distracting. I attempted to convey my writing experience in an articulate manner while a dog version of a slippery eel pushed its way under my legs. At one point I had to half stand up to make way for her. I probably looked like I had trapped wind.

Thankfully, Flossie didn’t go into full-on vocal mode. She eventually got bored and took herself off to lie on my bed.

And, although there was no acknowledgement that my canine companion had attended the interview, it all worked out ok, and I got the job.