Crossword Genius

Barking resident's wretched existence? (1,4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

a dogs life

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'wretched existence?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for a dogs life that I've seen before include "An unhappy existence, fraught with problems" , "Rotten existence of canine kind" , "miserable" , "A wretched existence of canine kind" , "Bad time!" .)

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