Crossword Genius

No enjoyable existence if gas and dole cut (1,4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

a dogs life

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'no enjoyable existence' is the definition.
'a dogs life' can be an answer for 'existence' (I have seen 'Wretched existence' mean 'a dogs life' so perhaps 'existence' could also mean 'a dogs life'). I am not sure about the 'no enjoyable' bit.

'if gas and dole cut' is the wordplay.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'cut' is an anagram indicator (cut can mean mixed).
'if'+'gas'='ifgas'
'ifgas' put after 'dole' is 'doleifgas'.
'doleifgas' anagrammed gives 'A DOGS LIFE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

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

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
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