Crossword Genius

Wife in London area that hurt child’s dog (3-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bow-wow

'child's dog' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'wife in london area that hurt' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'london area' becomes 'bow' (I've seen this in other clues).
'that hurt' becomes 'ow' (exclamation of pain).
'w' put within 'bow' is 'boww'.
'boww'+'ow'='BOW-WOW'

(Other definitions for bow-wow that I've seen before include "Cry of a dog" , "Dog's bark" , "A childish dog?" , "A child's pet or toy dog" , "Child's name for dog" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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