For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a dog mum. We just had a cat when I was growing up, but my nan had a gorgeous golden labrador called Penny, and whenever we would visit, I remember a large part of our weekends were a long walk along the River Thames with Penny by our side. I have a photo of my brother and me with Penny, taken in my nan’s garden when I was about 6 years old – it’s up on the wall in my home office.
I left home, embarked on adult life, and through my 20s my career choices and personal life just didn’t allow for having pets, least of all a dog. I was often working long hours with nights away from home, and so it just wasn’t practical or fair to commit to having any pet. So I had to settle for puppy cuddles and occasional walks when visiting friends. Then in my mid-30s, my circumstances changed – I was single and settled back in Sheffield, had a more ‘regular’ office job, my own house and small garden, and a next-door neighbour who was a regular dog sitter. My best friend also had a greyhound who I occasionally looked after, so the dream was closer to becoming a reality. And I then met my partner, whose family had 2 dogs at the time – a Staffie/labrador cross and a Yorkshire terrier…. total chalk and cheese personalities! Plenty of dogs to ‘borrow’, but this only made me more certain I wanted one of my own, and I was starting to work out the sort of fur-baby for me. Kids have never been in my life plan (see my blog post here for more on that) but a dog was definitely on there – and in fact, was on my #40before40 list!
Luca – Our Rescue Staffie
So in mid-2017 (so shortly after turning 40 in fact) we signed up with a nearby rescue centre Rain Rescue and soon found a dog for us. Luca looked so much like my partner’s Staffie-cross when he was younger that we felt drawn to him and filled out our application.
We arranged to meet him and fell instantly in love – and the feeling was mutual. Within days, this boisterous yet affectionate 7-month-old puppy Luca became ours, and my life as a dog mum began.
We chose to keep the name he already had. Luca is derived from the Latin name, Lucas, meaning “bringer of light.” and he absolutely has been for me.
My top 5 wellbeing benefits of being a dog mum
- A constant companion
- Whether I’m having a good day or a bad day, I always have a listening pair of ears who does so without judgement and mostly with undivided attention! And with Luca, I am often guaranteed a chatty reply! He’s such a character, loves to let me know when the postie is arriving, and whenever anyone is walking by, with or without another dog! The various noises he makes to get your attention are hard to describe, ranging from your typical bark to noise more reminiscent of a Wookie! And his little snuffly snore when he’s snoozing is so soothing to hear.
- Affection and connection!
- It’s true what they say, that Staffies are gentle, affectionate dogs who adore people. Whilst he may be a little temperamental around other dogs, he absolutely loves humans, especially his own. Any visitors to our house can be assured of being brought a cuddly toy, as he then wiggles his butt and wags his tail, doing laps around you for several minutes, as he’s so excited he simply doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. It’s pretty hard not to smile when you get a greeting like that! And when out on walks, he helps me to connect with others, as many people want to say hello to him as much as to me. When the evening comes, he loves nothing more than to cuddle up with us on the sofa or curl up in the nook of my knee at bedtime – who needs a hot water bottle when you’ve got the warmth of a dog for company!
- Reason to get outdoors
- Come rain or shine, having a dog means getting outdoors. Even if it’s simply getting into the backyard to clean up after them, or just a short walk around the block, it certainly helps to have a reason to get some fresh air in your lungs and some sun on your skin to top up the Vitamin D levels that are so important for both our physical and mental health. Spending time with dogs, who have a natural capacity to open up to each moment as it unfolds — the sights, sounds, and smells — can also motivate us to follow their example. I certainly find myself taking more notice of my surroundings when I get away from the busyness of life on our walks.
- Exercise
- And on those better weather days, getting out for long walks with our Luca is so good for both of us. There’s no real need for a gym membership, as a brisk walk and a strong pull on the lead guarantees me to have raised my heart rate and get some cardio! Add to that the hills of Sheffield where we live, and the beautiful Peak District on our doorstep, I’m certain of the time to appreciate nature around me, and keep those leg muscles strong along the way!
- Routine
- Dogs love to have a routine, and they do a great job of helping you stick to one too. Morning is where it begins, with a shake, a downwards dog stretch (of course!) and a gentle whine to wake me and get me up and out of bed. It starts with feeding him his breakfast, followed by another vocal message for his chew stick (he has to brush his teeth afterwards!). Then it’s a nudge of his nose at his lead hanging on the kitchen door signalling he’s ready for his morning walk. Similarly, Luca knows exactly when tea time is approaching (around 5 pm) and does a great job of nagging me as my workday is coming to an end, trying to climb in my lap most days! When working from home it helps to force me to stop and make sure he is looked after, and in turn that I look after myself.
What the research says about the benefits of pet ownership
It’s not just my view, research shows that owning a pet is really beneficial to our overall well-being. Pet therapy speeds up mental illness recovery, helps to reduce anxiety, particularly in children, and can significantly help those with disabilities to develop coping mechanisms. For many people struggling with depression, pets provide a level of unconditional love and support they perhaps aren’t getting from friends and family, as well as a reminder that you are needed. That feeling of being essential in another living creature’s life is a strong motivator for recovery.
The responsibility of caring for a pet also helps us to take responsibility for caring for ourselves. The need to get out of bed, to feed, socialise and exercise them (if it’s a dog in particular) can really help with our overall wellbeing. If you need to feed your pet you are far more likely to feed yourself too!
Pet ownership is not for all of us, but the benefit of spending time with and caring for animals has so many benefits and can be done in many different ways, without necessarily committing to owning a pet. It’s important you make the right choice for yourself, and the Mental Health Foundation provides some great advice about choosing the right pet or exploring other options in this article.
Duty Calls!
And right on cue, as though he knows I’m writing about him, Luca has reminded me what time it is (erm… around about 5 pm… so feeding time!) and is telling me in his own inimitable and indefatigable way what my priorities should be!
Frustrating as it may be at times to stop what I am doing and look after him, I wouldn’t change it for the world – he really is the best thing to happen to me. I mean, how can you say no to this face?!
