Ever since Lulu joined the family, she’s been the best walking buddy Lucy could ask for

Lulu came into our lives 18 months ago, when she chose me at the rescue by placing her paws on my knee and looking up at me. My daughter and husband (who isn’t a dog person) fell in love with her, too, and she was one of my inspirations for setting up my own dog grooming business.

She’s improved my social life

She’s not only got my husband and I out walking each day, but she’s also improved my social life. I now stop to talk to other walkers, which is so helpful as we didn’t know anyone here when we moved.

Joanna’s dog Oscar (pictured) has been the perfect role model for her younger Cockapoo, Albie

I’m very lucky to have two wonderful, funny and cuddly Cockapoos called Oscar and Albie, who are my fur babies. My youngest, Albie, is a rescue who was sadly abused as a puppy and pushed from pillar to post with three different owners.

He came to me at only 18 months old, after he was literally hours from being put to sleep by his previous owners, who could no longer handle him. He had a lot of behavioural issues, which has taken a lot of strength and tenacity, but we’ve gradually worked on them together!

They absolutely adore each other

Albie and his best friend Oscar, who’s eight, absolutely adore each other. Oscar has been Albie’s role model and inspiration to learn to be a good doggy, which I am so grateful for. They give me so much joy, from cuddles in bed to days on the beach, swimming in the sea with them.

They are always there for me no matter what I’m going through. They always put a smile on my face, and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.

Lorraine wasn’t sure about getting another dog, but from the moment she saw Suzie, she’s never looked back

I wasn't the one who wanted a dog. We'd had one many years before, and it broke our hearts when she had to be put down due to illness. But when my hubby showed me a picture of this little ball of fur (Suzie is a Toy Poodle), the first hurdle was over!

We visited her and brought her home the same day. Immediately, I was under her thumb. Suzie spends most of her days with 'Dad' and greets me as though I've been away for months, not hours. She likes her walks and playing with her ball over the big fields. She loves helping around the garden and sitting on her dad's lap for a snooze and sunbathe.

She makes home life that little bit sweeter for us all

She's with me most evenings – it's almost like we’re tied together by two feet of invisible string. We play with her favourite doughnut toy, and I've found myself reading my book out loud as if she's listening! She sleeps in her upstairs bed on the floor next to me. I always have to say ‘night night’, or she won't settle down.

She also sits in front of me, does a little wave of her paws and 'talks' when she wants attention. Suzie’s a little ball of fur that makes home life that little bit sweeter for us all.

Recent months have been tough for Tracey, but with Bryce by her side, she can get through anything

Bryce is my best friend. He is profoundly deaf like me and so we share a very special bond – he even seems to understand all the signs I’ve taught him.

My dog has been a fantastic companion

He has a crazy sense of humour, and snores so loudly he gets a fright and wakes himself up! My dog has been a fantastic companion to me, especially recently. As everyone’s been wearing masks, it’s meant I can’t lipread and this has left me feeling more isolated than usual. Staying at home and relaxing in the garden with my furry companion has given me the boost I need to get through.

After a few turbulent years, senior rescue dog Danny finally found his forever home with Annabel and her family

Danny is a German Shorthaired Pointer from Cyprus, where he was found in a kill shelter. He was looked after in a rescue shelter then flown to the UK and sent to a foster home. A few months later, he was adopted.

He’s very fit and active for his age

But after nine months, his owners’ circumstances changed, and they had to make the hard decision to find him another home. This is where we came in. We adopted Danny the day before lockdown, and he joined our other two GSPs.

He’s a very vocal boy, and certainly lets us know when he wants something, whether it’s his meals or his tennis ball, his most favourite thing ever! He’s very fit and active for his age, and he loves his walks with his fur brother and sister – another Cyprus rescue who we adopted last May.

Katie and her family were struggling with Freddy’s behavioural issues until Frank the pug came into their lives

Six months ago, we rehomed Freddy, a five-month-old Husky cross. He was a kind, funny bundle of energy. A month or so after his arrival, we started to notice some strange behaviours. And, after months of back and forth with vets and behaviourists, it was established that Fred suffered from a stress disorder, verging on PTSD.

With lots of work, Fred has been improving day by day, but the one thing that didn’t change was his distress when other dogs walked away from him or didn’t interact.

I work closely with a rescue centre in my job. They asked if we’d try fostering as it would help us with Fred, while also helping an unwell pug who wasn’t happy in rescue. We went over with Fred and took them both for a walk in the forest. Frank, the pug, was pretty tolerant of Fred’s manic leaping and pawing – he just waggled his little bottom and carried on.

Instantly it was like they understood one another

Frank moved in and instantly it was like they understood one another. Frank was due to have BOAS surgery so his breathing was awful, and quite hard to listen to. Fred’s yelping in the car ended almost instantly and instead he would lean against the wall of Frank’s crate, and Frank would lean back onto him.

Fred is still erratic at times, but Frank has totally changed him and our famiy life. He’s 10 days post BOAS surgery now and is the happiest, most loving boy. As both are rescues, we cannot ever imagine how someone chose to abandon either of them.

I think it’s important for people to see that dogs which require more work are also more rewarding. Everything we achieve with Fred or Frank leaves us full of pride. The boys are the very best of friends and we’re so glad we took the leap into changing Frank from our foster dog to Fred’s big (or little) brother.

The two happiest, kindest, oddest pair of dogs in the world, but the best match!