Finally work is over, the Christmas rush has finally ended and I have a week of peace and quite, the office not bothering to open for the three working days between boxing day and new years. Even though I have a whole week I waste no time and quickly and impatiently remove the many layers of restrictive clothing, signing and smiling with relief and relaxation as I feel the air against my skin as I strip away my public persona of a working man, happy to be free from the life I'm forced to live, even if just for moment. 

I reach for the hook on the wall next to the one holding my coat, this one holding the only piece of clothing I will be wearing for several days, the one item of clothing that feels right and natural to me, an old dog collar, one showing signs of ageing, the leather strap almost falling apart from being used so much. I can't help but smile as I wrap it tightly around my neck, the feeling is comforting as I hear my name tag jingle slightly from the motion. 

I quickly pick up my discarded clothes and uncaringly shove them into the wash bin, before moving into the kitchen and getting a tray and three dog bowls out of the cupboard, filling one with water and another with dry shaped cereal, then placing them on the floor, my wet food already pre made and in the fridge ready to be placed into my food bowl. I then move into the bathroom, closing the toilet seat and locking a chain around it to prevent me from misbehaving and drinking from the bowl, I then place down my litter box and fill it, although I will let myself outside into the garden during the day, this will be my toilet for when it is dark or the weather is bad, just like it is right now, the heavy icy rain blowing against the window making me shiver at the thought of going outside to do my business. 

Lastly I set up my dog cage in the living room, one with a nice soft blanket for sleeping on, I always love sleeping inside my cage, it feels so safe, protected by the metal bars as they surround me. 

Happy with everything I drop down to the floor, the world around me growing bigger as I move around on all fours, going over to my toy box and using my mouth I pick out a toy and begin to play with it, chasing it around the room, my mind quickly forgetting about work, bills, stress, relationships, the complex human world and my life within it fading away, replaced with the wonderful simplicity of my life as a puppy, enjoying just living in the moment. 

I pant happily, breathing hard from my exercise, feeling thirsty I move into the kitchen and lower my face to the bowl of water and lap at it, drinking down the refreshing liquid. 

Feeling hungry I allow myself to get up on two legs and open the fridge, picking out one of the containers of preprepared meals, a simple meal of mince meat and vegetables, which I empty into my food bowl before getting back down on all fours where I belong, immediately feeling more comfortable as I lower my head down the my dinner and begin to eat from the bowl, licking my lips happily and contently as I finish. 

I wonder into the living room and look outside through the window, the rain outside continues to fall, spraying into the window as the wind blows, causing me to let out a slight whimper as I feel my bladder growing full, part of me wishing to go outside in the garden to relieve myself. I turn from the window and make my way to the bathroom, reluctantly I climb into the litter box, the litter not as nice as the grass would have been, and do my business, the sound of my piss hitting and soaking into the material below echoing around the room. I shake and step out of the bathroom feeling relaxed, letting out a yawn as I wonder into the living room. The lights on the tree fill the room with a gentle and warm dull light, my eyelids begin to grow heavy and I crawl into my cage and curl up on the soft warm blanket, quickly drifting off into a deep sleep. 

I awake from my sleep with a start, my head almost hitting the metal bars above me, my eyes blinking as I look through the thin bars of my dog cage, my heart racing as I try to figure out what the sound that work me was. I hope no one is trying to break in or something. I slowly crawl out of my cage and creep over the the doorway, sliding my head around the doorframe, relaxing slightly as I see the front door in the shadows, closed and very much locked. I step into the hallway and make my way through the darkness, still on all fours, making every step slow and quiet. Arriving in the kitchen I see that the backdoor is also still closed and locked, my body relaxing, the sound, whatever it was must have come from outside, nothing to worry about. While in the room I lap at my bowl and eat a few pieces of my dry food, before visiting the bathroom and relieving myself in the litter box. 

Still sleepy I return to the living room, as I enter something catches my eye, a new item is under the tree, its colourful wrapping paper reflecting the lights of the tree. Where did that come from? 

Curiously I tap it and then begin to unwrap the mysterious present. I look down at the item with slight confusion, a dog collar, one that was new and shiny, one with a small bell and a name tag. I look around still confused about where this came from but something about it keeps making me return my gaze to it, as if drawn to it, as if it is calling out to me, telling me to wear it. I reach up and undo my current old collar, the old leather strip falling to the floor as I reach out and carefully pick up the new one. It feels strangely warm and comforting in my hands, my fingers tingling slightly as I hold it. I smile as I bring it up to my neck to try it on, feeling like I'm being hugged lovingly as it wraps around my throat. The moment I secure the collar my body begins to glow and sparkle, my skin feeling tingly and warm, my mind feeling strange, as my cognitive abilities begin to change, my understanding of the world alters, concepts I used to understand disappear and become mysteries I can't ever hope to know, knowledge decreases, things I once knew, facts and skills, vanish. My body changes, my ability to balance and stand on two legs disappear, leaving me trapped on all fours, while my control over my hands and fingers reduce to nothing, not even able to grip anything, only support my body and tap objects. I try to cry out for help in my confusion but realise that I no longer know how to speak, the words and meanings completely lost to me, only a quiet bark escapes my mouth. I feel changes inside me, my stomach and digestive system altering, my taste buds tingle as they change, and I feel my crotch tighten as my balls disappear. What is happening to me!?

Suddenly it all stops, my body calms and the warm tingling fades. I stand on all fours, the position feeling natural and right, my mind strangely calm and peaceful, as if nothing had happened, as if nothing was wrong. 

"I see you found your present." I turn and see a large man, with a big white beard, wearing a red jacket, part of me seems to immediately recognise him and know who he is, feeling excited and overjoyed at seeing my owner. I pant as he lovingly strokes my head, not resisting as he attaches a leash to my collar.

"Well then, we still have lots of places to visit, we better get going." With that I feel a tug on my leash and obediently follow my owner.