Despite being an older dog, Bella has bounced back from her recent health scares to accompany Grace on her European adventures

We got Bella in January 2020, and she has been the best companion. She’s a rescue dog from Battersea so has come with a few challenges – luckily, she will do anything for a treat! Since we adopted Bella, she’s had a couple of health scares, including a bout of chest cancer and her cruciate went too. We aren’t sure how she managed to hurt her cruciate, considering she spends a lot of her time under a mountain of blankets on the sofa...

She’s added so much to our adventures

Luckily, she has bounced back from all of this to join us in our campervan for a tour of Europe. We’ve been away since April touring the continent, from Amsterdam to Bulgaria. Bella has mastered lots of modes of transport too. She’s been in cable cars, a blow-up kayak and a doggie rucksack when we’re on our bikes. She even joined us at the top of Jungfraujoch, which is the highest train station in Europe.

Bella has been such an angel the entire time and has added so much to our adventures. We even have personalised bandanas for each country so that we can keep track of where she has been! We couldn’t imagine a better dog to have in the van.

Not only has Baxter helped Jenny through her struggles with depression, but now he’s inspired her to start her own business

We adopted Baxter from a rescue around six or seven years ago when he was two years old. He was found abandoned! He is now about nine and he has helped me through bouts of depression which I get from time to time. He knows when I am struggling mentally and doesn't leave my side.

The pure, unconditional love I feel from his cuddles is so healing

The pure, unconditional love I feel from his cuddles is so healing. He is brilliant with the children, and we adore his huge tongue that constantly sticks out of his mouth like a piece of ham! Baxter snores like a tractor, but he still sleeps in our room like a king. He loves his walks and meeting new people – he’s so loving.

Baxter, along with my other dog Lola, have inspired me to bite the bullet and start my new dog walking business, which also benefits my mental health hugely. This has led me to researching dog behaviour, body language and lots more to give my dogs the best possible life, as a thank you for what they do for me every day.

From her clumsy nature to her friendship with the family kitten, Wulfwynn has brought endless joy, love and laughter to Em’s life

Wulfwynn enhances the lives of myself, my husband and our young son with her affection and antics. As an Irish Wolfhound, she is completely unaware of her size, and clumsiness is definitely the order of the day. She trips over her own legs, bumps into things, and insists on trying to sit on our laps, despite being far taller than I am on her hind legs, let alone our son!

She can be a bit of a mess too, always emerging from the woods covered in leaves and twigs! However, all this awkwardness disappears when she reaches the ferns on the edge of the woods during our daily walks. Then, she flies like a bird, leaping and bounding through the undergrowth – a thing of beauty and elegance.

She insists on trying to sit on our laps, despite being far taller than I am on her hind legs

She is particularly funny with our Bengal kitten. They are definitely partners in crime. Montmorency the kitten knocks things off the piano so that Wulfwynn can chew them! They chase each other round the garden, play-fight (Montmorency giving as good as he gets), and then curl up together.

One morning, when Montmorency was still a tiny kitten, and Wulfwynn was already coming into her full size, we came down to find that we had accidentally shut both animals in the kitchen together overnight. Wulfwynn was lying on the hard floor, looking aggrieved, while the kitten was sprawled luxuriously on the huge dog bed, looking smug with satisfaction! Such joy, such love, and so many laughs!

Eddie joined Sam’s family as a companion for her other dog Alfie, and since then he’s made everyone’s lives better!

When we got Eddie, we already had one dog under the age of two called Alfie. Alfie has always been full of energy. He loves playing with other dogs in the park, particularly when he’s being chased, so he can show off his speed! We knew Alfie would love a dog companion, so we brought Eddie home.

From day one, they became best friends

From day one, they became best friends, doing everything together! They spend most of the day playing with the same toys and chasing each other around the park, garden or house, and then evenings are spent cuddling up and sleeping together.

Eddie adores his older brother, following him around everywhere and copying everything he does. Because of this, he’s learnt everything so quickly! Eddie is also one of the cuddliest puppies I’ve ever known – he loves being around people and his favourite thing is to snuggle in the evenings on the sofa. Eddie has brought both us and Alfie nothing but joy!

10 days was all it took for the ultimate friendship to blossom between Captain and his owner Danny

I looked after Captain for 10 days while my friend went on holiday, and within those 10 days we built such a great friendship, in the park playing ball, taking pictures.

He was more of a kitchen dog and stayed in the hallway at my friend’s, but I had him on my lap, sleeping next to me in my bed with loads of cuddles. When my friend came back and I had to give my new best friend back, I was in bits crying like a baby. That night I felt so lonely and sad. I missed the little man so much, the next day at work I had to ask how Captain was. “He’s OK but seems a tad sad,” they said.

Apparently he started to whine and howl a lot and would not get out of his bed – he was heartbroken. The following day my friend approached me and said “would you like to have Captain back for good?” Now at this time captain was 11 years old, but those 10 days changed his life. It was a dream come true: “yes yes yes I want him!”

I had to wait two days before I could collect him. The days dragged but Sunday finally came. I was so excited I couldn’t wait to get him, and when he saw me he came running and jumping at me. He could not wait to come back. He’s now 16 and won’t leave my side, cuddles me all the time, and he actually smiles in his sleep. He changed my life so much, he’s my best most loyal friend. He helps with my mental health and gives me a reason to make my life better!

He actually smiles in his sleep

After joining Julie’s family during the pandemic, Amber has quickly adapted to their active lifestyle, offering endless cuddles and support

Amber joined our family in May 2020, just after the first Covid-19 lockdown. She made our Sprocker very happy as we had lost her previous companion in February. She had been a farm dog with two previous owners and she had never had a collar or been walked on a lead, so she was a little barrel on legs!

She has been a godsend to our family

She soon adapted to our active lifestyle, enjoying Canicross, hiking, canoeing and camping. Although she is not a trained therapy dog, she has been a godsend to our family – always there for a cuddle, looking out for us and keeping us happy all the time.

Her favourite things are sleeping in the full washing basket and lying upside down for belly rubs. She also forms the Canicross dream team with my youngest son and they have a magical bond.