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Tell Winalot about the life lessons you've learnt from having your beloved dog: £200 voucher prize!
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2. Dogs don't care about your looks, or your job, or your designer interiors. They care about people being kind, generous and understanding. Smart pups.
3. If a dog needs something they tell you straight. No apologising, no hoping others will guess, no worrying about how others will judge them. "I need water", simple.
My current pack are 2 dogs and 2 bitches - all neutered - whom I love trillions. Monty's a VERY hairy Chinese Crested Hairless Dog; Maisie is a chestnut JRT; Rory's a chihuahua x JRT and last but not least, Isla who's a little fawn chihuahua.
Our boy is everything to us he's such a loving loyal amazing dog always puts a smile on our faces especially after a long hard day the minute we walk through the door these howling with excitement to see us and covers us in doggy kisses it lights up the darkest days with his goofyness he loves to play ball and destroy any rope toys he gets
Zeke is super funny he eats like a human when we gave him carrots which he loves he holds it in his paws and nibbles on it! It's so funny to watch also he is the master of yoga his sleeping positions are hilarious! And he has to be touching me when he lays at my feet or has his nose or head behind me
Zeke brought out so much confidence in our daughter she was always wary and scared of any dog and being bullied at school was the worst zeke brought her so much companionship and helped her through it alot he knows when she's sad and never fails to pick her up
I relocated to the countryside to live on my own with my beloved young Spaniel Jester. I had a small enclosed garden which was perfect to allow him out in between our long countryside walks.
However Jester quickly learned to unlatch my rickety garden gate and he would be off. Fortunately he never did any damage but he used to like chasing birds, sometimes I would be seen running across several fields trying to catch him.
Although I was new to the area very quickly Jester and I became known locally. If I wasn’t spotted running after him or calling his name I’d be knocking on neighbours doors embarrassingly asking if they’d seen him.
It wasn’t very long before I knew almost everyone in the village and Jester became something of a local celebrity.
I couldn’t afford a new gate so tried various methods to secure it. I was distraught one day when having secured it for the umpteenth time, this time with bailer cord, Jester somehow still managed to untie it and escape.
A local young farmer recognised him bought him back to me. He thought it was hilarious and was so kind. He offered to properly fix my gate and replaced the latch to make it Jester proof. We have become firm friends ever since.
Life Lessons that Jester taught me are, that even the most mischievous dogs give you endless love and companionship and are definitely worth any amount of trouble (although I probably wouldn’t have said that whilst running across a rain sodden field in my dressing gown on a dark evening!)
Jester made me more friends than I would ever have made alone. He also helped me become part of a community.
Our first dog as an adult was a little pup who had been found abandoned in a field and was believed to be barely 5 weeks old
The second rescue dog we adopted was Pep. A glorious German Shepherd, she was 18 months old but had been rehomed 5 times in her short time. Fur full of knots and dangerously underweight, she needed lots of patience to learn to trust us. It took months to encourage her to walk a short way from the house, and it was explained to us by an Animal Behaviourist, that it was likely she was frightened that she would not be returning home. In time, Pep was the most calm, people friendly dog. She adored our new grandchild and taught her to be kind and gentle with animals, something which is still apparent today. Sadly, Pep developed cancer at just 8 years old and her death was my Granddaughter's first experience of loss.
Our current girl called Mavis, was rescued from the streets of Romania. Nervous in new situations, the sweet girl who is now about 8 years old, needs so much patience and understanding. Quiet and timid, she still hides under a coffee table if anyone new enters the house, but adores people that she knows. For safety, I cannot let her off of her lead when out for a walk, as a new dog entering the same field even at a distance, sends her high-tailing to her home. As I suffer from anxiety, I can totally understand her, but the times when she overcomes her anxiousness and makes a new friend, my heart swells. She has taught me bravery and trying one's best to overcome fear.