According to the pet charity PDSA, 51% of UK adults have a pet, with 28% reporting dog ownership. An enormous 10.6 million domestic pet dogs!
Another charity, Dogs Trust, lists friendship and company, getting fit and keeping active, and advantages to mental health as reasons why people choose a pet dog.
You’ll have seen pictures of my pet pooch in several of my posts, and I’ve no doubt she’ll appear in many more.
Blossom, our working cocker spaniel, has just turned seven years old and we’ve had her since a pup.
One of the great things about Blossom is that she’s pretty chilled. Not much (apart from fireworks and postmen) stress her out. This means that we’re able to welcome other dogs to the house without too much drama. She gets a bit clingy when there are other dogs about, and there’s the occasional growl if they won’t let her have a favourite toy, but that’s about it.
This has meant that we were able to look after my mum’s dog, a placid, stubborn, slightly portly old lady Beagle named Molly, during and after my mum had a spell in hospital.
We’ve recently had my sister-in-law to stay with her 0-100mph youngster called Sky (if there’s a door open she’ll make a run for it to scout the neighbourhood for cats).
And just now we’re dog-sitting my sister’s dog. Roxy is a Vizsla – all legs and energy and affection but not a lot of brain.
Blossom takes all these visitors in her stride (I’d say it’s tolerance rather than welcome!) which means that we can welcome guests, help out friends and family and generally have a lovely time, sharing our home and our lives with the four-legged friends who make everything bouncier, waggier, more cuddly and just…fluffier!