We spoke to three dog dads about the unbreakable bond they have with their four-legged friends, and how it has changed their mental wellbeing for the better.
Ahmed and Molly
Barber-shop owner Ahmed Ahmed on how being gifted his English Bulldog puppy, Molly, now 18 months, changed his perspective on life.
How does your dog make you laugh?
“She trips me over all the time. She is just a funny dog, everything she does makes me laugh; she has so much energy and is so innocent with it, it’s endearing to see. With Molly, I am always laughing.”
What is your favourite thing to do with your dog and why?
“I take her to work with me every day. She is a barbershop dog, so she’s in the back of my shop while I work, and she loves meeting all the people. I love taking her to the big park across the road from the shop – we’ll go a few times, and she just runs up to people. She just really loves them.”
What part, if any, does your dog play in making you feel better when you are low?
“I don’t often feel low apart from when I’m missing my daughter, but during those times Molly always comes over to me and rests her head on my lap like she knows something is wrong. I always look at her and she looks at me and it makes me feel better. Then, quick as a flash, she’ll be up bouncing around trying to make friends with someone new again.”
Mike and Quentin
Despite falling into ponds and speeding into the odd park picnic, stylist Mike O’Gorman tells us how his 10-month-old Bedlington whippet - Quentin - keeps his mind content and his energy high.
Is there a story behind his name?
“As a child, me and my brothers used to read a lot of Roald Dahl books. Quentin is named after the illustrator of those books, Sir Quentin Blake, who always draws scruffy Bedlington-looking dogs.”
How do you think dogs are good for our mental wellbeing?
“I think they remind us to focus on the simple things. It’s so easy to get caught up in the noise of day-to-day life, but if you can eat well, exercise, get outside and play, that’s a good start.”
What part, if any, does your dog play in making you feel better when you are low?
“My lowest moments have been when I’ve been stuck in my own head, lost in a loop of not-great thoughts. Since getting Quentin, I can thankfully say these moments haven’t occurred. Caring for an animal has broken those bad habits; he reminds me to take a break and enjoy the simple things.”
Felix & nellie
For graphic designer Felix Garside, exploring new places with his 18-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier Nellie is a great way to boost his wellbeing.
What is your favourite thing about owning a dog?
“Teaching her tricks is very rewarding, and is great for tiring her out if it’s raining outside and we can’t go on a walk (she hates the rain). I also love just being able to take her everywhere I go. Watching her play with other dogs brings a lot of joy, you can just see how happy she is.”
How do you think dogs are good for our mental wellbeing?
“They give you a bit more purpose. In times where all you feel like doing is staying in bed, they force you to get up and feed them and take them on walks. I can feel the benefits of just getting out the house every day for a walk. As someone who struggles with being talkative when meeting new people, having Nellie has put me into those situations almost daily, which I think has been a huge help to myself.”
“They give you a bit more purpose. In times where all you feel like doing is staying in bed, they force you to get up and feed them and take them on walks.”
What part, if any, does your dog play in making you feel better when you are low?
“I think Nellie is super empathetic – she can tell what kind of mood I’m in and will act differently depending on that. Even if it’s something as stupid as being hungover, she’ll jump up on the sofa next to me and just chill. And seeing how happy she is as we go about normal life always makes me happy. Because of her breed, she often gets stereotyped, so when I meet people and they tell me how much they love her, and how sweet she is, that also brings me joy because Staffies are often mislabelled as aggressive.”