“Our dogs just make everything special”
The search for Great British Dogs is back, sponsored by WinalotAE. Our new ambassador and Paralympic medallist Lauren Steadman reveals how her German Shepherd Meric %HOOH KDV KHOSHG KHU VWD\ SRVLWLYH GXULQJ D GLIðFXOW \HDU
Idecided to get Meric Belle when we lost a previous German Shepherd and it left a massive hole in the family. My dad wanted to call her Belle, but then my grandad Michael Eric passed away. We shortened his name to ‘Meric’, and she became Meric Belle!
Meric was my first puppy, forever biting everyone’s ankles. When my sister Ellie moved out, she was sad not have Meric there all the time, so she went back to the kennels where we got her.
They had a couple of dogs that they had planned to show at Crufts, but apparently Robin was too big. It turned out Meric Belle and Robin had the same dad and different mums, so they’re half brother and sister. Ellie saw Robin and he melted her heart – she didn’t even ask her boyfriend before taking him home!
Since then they’ve grown up together, had Christmas together, gone camping and got up to all sorts of mischief. It’s a beautiful thing that has brought us closer as a family. We’re quite an active bunch anyway, so I’ll just say to Ellie, “Shall we go and walk the dogs?” These dogs can walk up to eight miles, so it’s great to go and find a woodland walk and let them loose. Our dogs just make everything special.
A lockdown lifesaver
Meric Belle has been my shadow during lockdown, and really helped reset me whenever it all got too much. I’ll be working on something at the computer and she’ll just look up at me and we’ll go for a walk. She just wants to be near me – she’s always there for a cuddle with totally unconditional love. And if she really wants to get your attention, she’ll find something of yours, parade it in front of you and then run off!
I was obviously pretty upset when the Paralympics got postponed due to Covid-19, because I was where I wanted to be, training-wise. I was getting really strong, in a really good rhythm. Now I can’t wait to get back to a really solid schedule of training with my coach. Hopefully the race schedule will start up next year, and I would love to bring home the gold next year in Tokyo. After five years of hard work, that would be amazing.
And whether I’m training or doing a TV show, I love thinking, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to get home and see Meric Belle for a big hairy cuddle!’ Nobody loves me more than she does. I’ve never seen a human react to anyone the way she reacts when she sees me, whether I’ve been away for a couple of days or a number of weeks.