A Day in The Life of a Commuting Canine
I don’t know what a mortgage is. But I do know the 8:17 to London Bridge from Croydon gets very busy.
My human calls it ‘the London commute.’ I call it advanced obstacle training with briefcases.
Friends, neighbours and fellow commuting canines– welcome to a day in my life.
7.30 am: The pre-commute patrol
Before any emails are sent or meetings are joined, there’s important business to attend to. A quick loop of the block. A status update for the neighbourhood lampposts. A firm but fair stare-down with the squirrel community.
City living has its perks, especially from my home. Everything is close: parks for a quick morning stretch, coffee shops for my human and plenty of interesting smells that appear overnight and absolutely require investigation.
By the time we’re heading home, the commuters are starting to appear. Laptops in bags. Coffee cups in hand. Everyone is walking quickly.
That’s my cue. The morning commute awaits.
8.10 am: The station routine
Stations are fascinating places for a dog. So many shoes. So many bags. So many packed lunches I can smell…
My human taps through the gates (the overground is free), and we wait on the platform. I’ve learnt the rules: sit nicely, stay close and don’t try to make friends with every single person.
Some commuters smile when they see me. One lady calls me ‘the emotional support colleague.’ I’m not entirely sure what that means, but she scratches behind my ears, so I’m happy with it.
When you commute every day, you start to recognise people.
There’s the man with the bright yellow backpack who always smells faintly of croissants. The lady with the big headphones who says good morning to me every single day without fail. And the gentleman who pretends he doesn’t like dogs but still drops a sneaky ear scratch when he thinks no one is looking.
When the train arrives, we hop on and find a quiet spot. I curl up by my human’s feet while the city rolls past outside.
9 am: Office dog duties
Once we arrive, I head straight to my workstation (a sunny patch of floor near the window).
Office life suits me. Provide morale support during difficult meetings and occasionally patrol the kitchen.
There are also biscuits. Not always for dogs, but hope is important.
By lunchtime, I’m ready for another walk. The good thing about living in a dog-friendly city like London is that green spaces are never too far away. A quick park trip and we’re both ready for the afternoon.
5.30 pm: Home time
The journey home is quieter. People are tired, headphones are on, and everyone seems to move a little slower.
I usually nap on the train back. Commuting is surprisingly tiring when you’ve spent the day greeting half the office.
Back in the neighbourhood, we take one last stroll before heading inside. My human makes dinner. I supervise.
Then we settle in for the evening, usually with me claiming the best seat on the sofa.
Why Pet-friendly living matters
For dogs like me, the details of where you live make a big difference. Being close to stations makes the London commute easy, while nearby parks, cafés and walkable streets mean there’s always somewhere to explore.
All NHG Homes developments in London work for the whole household – paws included. So, if you’re looking to make your house a home with a four-legged friend like me, even in a busy city like London, you’re in the right plac
Explore pet-friendly living across the capital
Choosing somewhere that suits both your lifestyle and your four-legged companion can make everyday life that bit easier. Explore homes available through Shared Ownership with NHG Homes, or for more commuting tips, visit our news and insights page.
