The man so obsessed with his dog he has her pic on his mobile.. not his wife’s
IT’S bad enough when a man has another woman in his life – but Tracy Busfield has to compete with a Great Dane for her hubby’s affections.
It’s 9st Indie that Alan curls up with on the sofa, it’s a photo of Indie, not Tracy, he has on his phone – and he even shares a bed with the bitch.
The 38-year-old software developer is obsessed with his 34in tall pet and his wife takes second place.
Long- suffering Tracy said: “Indie is like a child to Alan. There’s such a strong bond there, albeit a slightly bit odd one.
“It’s quite an extreme bond between this man and dog. But because I’ve had it for three years now it’s almost normal to me.
“It used to wind me up a lot. We used to fall out over it. But now I know it’s not going to change.
“No one is perfect and I’m very lucky in other aspects of our relationship. He’s so good to me in many ways that I tolerate certain things – like his other relationship.
“Alan will always choose her to sit with or to sleep with.
“His argument is that I’m not very affectionate. Indie gives him all the affection he needs.”
Spoilt
Alan realises his feelings for the dog are over the top but he isn’t about to change.
He says: “Part of me wonders if Indie is not really bothered by any of it and it’s all in my head.
“But since we got her, I’ve felt a responsibility to look after her and provide for her the best that I can.”
The couple met in July 2008, married in May 2012 and bought Indie the following April.
Tracy has a 25- year- old son Daniel from a previous relationship. He lives at their detached home near Worthing, West Sussex, and Indie is treated like his spoilt sister.
Tracy said: “We never thought about having children together. We’re both quite selfish. We like our lifestyle.”
But she and Alan – who both call the dog “Indiepops” – always act like Indie is their daughter. “We do say Mummy and Daddy to her. It is like talking to a small child. After having Indie, I’m glad that we haven’t had a child.
“Alan would be a nightmare and we’d be falling out all the time.
“I’m really consistent but he’d be sneaking her treats all the time. Indie drools puddles for cheese and we give her Cathedral City. The other day she had some Wensleydale. He must spend £40 a week on her food and treats.”
Ironically, getting the huge dog was 43-year-old Tracy’s idea in the first place. She recalled: “I always wanted a Great Dane. I grew up in a family with two dogs.
“Alan was quite reluctant to get one because of their size. It’s not something you take on lightly.
“But I did months of research about it because I wanted us to get it right. When I got her home Alan just fell head over heels.” Indie was eight weeks old when they bought her from a breeder in Nottingham. “On the first night, Alan was sleepin sleeping on the sofa with the dog because she cried,” Tr Tracy recalled. “I had d done my research and I k knew we were supposed to ignore her crying – but Alan gave i in within half an hour.” But s oppy Alan de defended his relationshi ship with the pooch. “Puppi “Puppies do melt your heart,” he explained. “Indie had a lot of baggy skin to grow into. You know when they give you that soft look and the eyes make you melt. “I’d give her anything. I think most true dog lovers would understand.” The man and dog relationship was to grow even closer. Alan made up a bed for Indie on the floor beside the marital bed – on his side of course. And soon she began to join the couple under the covers. Tracy recently came up with a way of putting sensitive Indie off wanting to join them in bed. “I bought this really, really thick heavy duvet, which Indie hated,” she said. “But Alan was like, ‘When are we getting rid of this b****y duvet?!’ He just wants the dog back on the bed.”
As a result of the close bond, the couple have not spent a single night away from Indie since she arrived.
Tracy desperately wants a holiday abroad and said: “There are a lot of places I’d like to go to, like Venice or the Norwegian Fjords.
Slobber
“I’d feel a little guilty uilty leaving Indie but I woulduld be sure to leave her with th someone I thoughtt would really look after her.
“Alan wouldn’t leave her though. Andd if we did go away withhout her, he’d be so anxious that it wouldn’t n’t be fun anyway.”
Furniture has become a bone of contention between Tracy and Alan.
She said: “Indie wasn’t supposed to go on the sofa.
“I’m the one who has to clean the dog slobber and hair off it and Alan wasn’t thinking about that. He just said, ‘ Well, she’s more comfortable on the sofa’. That may be so, but I get fed up with cleaning it. “I like to have a nice home with nice furniture, but you can’t have that if a massive dog is on it. Our dog trainer used to tell Alan off.” Indie had two years of training to try to improve her behaviour but Alan’s soft attitude made it difficult. “You wo wouldn’t think she’d had any t r aining,” Tracy lau laughed. “She does what sh she wants and gets away w with it.” Tracy works from home running an onlineo sales business anda Alan works in a nearbyn office – but pops homeho most lunchtimes. “That’s“T probably to see Indie,Indie to be fair,”f he admitted. “We’d never leave her alone at home for more than five hours and when she is alone we give her a toy with treats in. “We can’t leave her anywhere else though. Tracy’s mother lives across the road from us and she loves Indie. But if we leave her there for even five minutes she’ll stand at the front door scratching it and crying.
“Once we left Indie with Tracy’s brother Nigel for an afternoon and evening while we went to the theatre in London.
Worry
“We legged it and didn’t look back. But half the time we were apart my mind was on her.”
Alan added: “I certainly worry when Indie isn’t well or is unhappy.
“And I often think about what it will be like when she dies – the impact it will have on me.”
Tracy said: “I worry about the impact that will have on Alan. But at least when that dreadful day comes, we’re going to have a holiday at last.”