Saying Goodbye is never easy. In my job I do a fair bit of overseas travel. Heading somewhere sunny and warm as winter deepens its grip is always welcome but there's one huge downside.

Saying goodbye to my hounds and my ever patient wife is always really hard, but Lottie and Bomber don't really get why I am scooting out the door suitcase in hand.

Their look of puzzlement and my own realisation that I won't see them again for a week or two makes saying goodbye incredibly difficult.

A tear or two has ben shed by me on more than one occasion.

One of the least spoken about facets of greyhounds is how expressive they are. Their big soft brown eyes and spring loaded ears, plus a tail that does double duty as a whip/helicopter rotor can tell you all you need to know about how they're feeling.

When a walk is in the offering, their ears go straight up and they'll wag their tail hysterically. Another happy gesture is cheek puffing and this often happens before a walk. Like many other greyhound owners, I find it incredibly hard not to laugh and smile at unbridled sheer joy they exhibit.

Now Me and any my wife are about to head off for a vacation, thankfully my in-laws (who are great with both hounds) are dog and house sitting. I wonder how my wife will cope?

I'll no doubt still be a teary eyed wreck.