‘I used to be the kind of person who shouldn’t have a dog’
For writer India Knight, having a second chance for a family dog has changed her experience of being a pet owner.
‘My daughter uses him as a pillow!’
There isn’t a mood that can’t be improved by going for a walk or just looking at your dog. They chill you out. It isn’t that everyone is so needy that they must be loved by animals, but they are life enhancers.
I have a Soft-coated Irish Wheaten Terrier called Brodie, who is three. He is my favourite thing in the world, apart from my children and partner. The breed is very good with children, and he is a trusty companion. My daughter uses him as a pillow and opens his mouth to inspect his teeth! He has been very unifying.
I have been with my partner for six years, but Brodie is not a child substitute. When you get a dog with somebody, and you are knocking on a bit and not going to have a baby, it’s slightly weird, uncomfortable territory. We are clear that Brodie is not a ‘dog-baby’ as that is really not cool! But he is part of our coupledom in an okay way. He enhances the family group and is very much part of it.
Before Brodie, I had another terrier, called Otis, and I was a good example of the kind of person who shouldn’t have a dog. I was a single mum with two little kids. I worked hard, and the dog was the last thing on the list. Brodie is very much near the top. Lots of people loved Otis, but he wasn’t anyone’s number one, which is sad. It was such a contrast getting a dog now and seeing how joyous it could be.
My book, The Goodness Of Dogs, introduces dog keeping. It’s not rose-tinted – they do make demands on your time – but I’m not strict at all. Brodie sleeps on every bed, sofa and pillow. He has a Christmas stocking but doesn’t have special outfits. And we do mark his birthday with a delicious raw bone.
We are clear that Brodie is NOT a ‘DOG-BABY’ as that is really not cool! He enhances the FAMILY