Whenever I am asked for parenting tips – which happens more often than I would like – I avoid responding as much as possible because I genuinely believe everyone has their own way of doing it. For instance, in the midst of the Easter holidays with three small children, my current plan of attack is to do whatever I can to limit the amount of wobblies being thrown.
However, there is one thing that I am unequivocal about when it comes to how I want to bring up my kids – and that is around dogs. I believe having a furry friend can teach them so much.
When I was a kid I wanted a dog so much but my mum wouldn’t budge. Instead, I had a toy that went everywhere with me. He was called Scamp, he was fluffy, brown and white and was attached to a stick that squealed when I pushed him along. We did have a cat though; she was called Monkey. Cats are lovely animals but too self-sufficient and selfish to have as pets.
After years of torturing my parents with relentless requests, Chloe the Doberman arrived when I was 12. She was swiftly joined by her pal Zack. They were meant to be guard dogs for our house but had zero interest in being working pooches and much preferred chilling with my brother, sister and me.
So, we were put in charge of Chloe and Zack. I hadn’t anticipated all the work that was involved; we had to walk, feed and clean up after them. Dogs are a huge responsibility but that responsibility helped me become a well-rounded adult – which is why I have been insistent that my kids grow up with dogs.
At home we have Winston and Bertie.
Winnie is the 12-year-old Beaglier I bought when I was living in Australia (it cost me a fortune to bring him home. He was still a puppy and I almost let my friend keep him but dogs become a part of your family and I couldn’t leave him behind). He has such a personality and has even won over my husband, Spencer, who is neither a dog nor a cat person. I often come home and find him and Winston on the sofa.
Plus, my loyal dog of 12 years turned out not to be so loyal one afternoon when my husband and I were on a run in the park. Sometimes we have discussions that turn into disagreements that occasionally become arguments that can result in us both storming off in different directions. During one of these storm-offs I was absolutely horrified to see Winston trot off after Spencer. The cheek! When the kids arrived Winston was so chill with them – he remains really patient, even when they try to ride him like a horse.
With Winnie getting a bit older, I thought a new dog would give him a bit more pep in his step and the kids were also begging us for a puppy. We decided to get a rescue dog, and with the help of the charity Many Tears Animal Rescue, we were matched with Bertie last summer, a French bulldog and the cuddliest boy I have ever met. He was originally called Gollum, but we renamed him Bertie because much like a certain ex-Irish Taoiseach he is a big fan of a brown envelope.
The kids adore him, he is wilder than wild and is certainly keeping Winston and all of us on our toes. He needs around four walks a day and is yet to be fully toilet trained but he brings a huge amount of joy to our house. I really love the bond between a human and a dog and I wanted my children to have that. It will also teach them the responsibility of looking after something else, the importance of routine and to love animals hopefully as much as I do.
If you are thinking the addition of a dog to your family would be a great idea you would be right. I do think it’s important to get a rescue dog and to remember that, wherever your dog comes from, they are hard work. The carpets will get ruined and you may lose a few pairs of your favourite shoes; Bertie certainly took a big shine to my Sophia Websters.
But despite the rampant destruction of the puppy years, it’s worth it. Dogs will give you all the love in the world and nobody will ever be happier to see you when you walk through the door than your dog will be. Sometimes I’m gone just the length of time it takes to put the bins out and upon my return there is total mayhem from the dogs. It’s unconditional love for as long as they live. And that is something I want my children to always experience.
Vogue Williams is a TV presenter and podcaster
