Dogs are the best therapy!

I know with everything going on at the moment a lot of people are considering getting a furry companion, so I wanted to give an honest account of adopting a rescue pup.

We went into it a bit blind if I'm honest. We visited Hillside rescue centre with the intention of finding out a bit more about the process, but that didn't quite go to plan.

We knew we wanted to adopt a small, older dog and we left with a 6 month old puppy that would soon turn into a small horse! (They saw us coming)

When we arrived at the centre we saw a lady carrying a ball of white fluff down the road. When she got to us she explained that he had just arrived from Greece and wasn't too keen on walking just yet. She placed him in my arms, he gave my nose a lick and I fell in love. He was such a timid, calm boy but 18 months on that couldn't be further from Basil! It's important to remember that these dogs will have been through an awful lot, they will be scared and nervous of the new world they've been brought to. With this in mind they might behave very differently at the centre to when they're comfortable at home. If you've ever met our mental dog, you'll know exactly what I mean!!

The main bit of advice I would give to anyone thinking of adopting a rescue dog is to make sure you, 1. have the time, and 2. have the patience.

Adopting Basil is one of the best things we've ever done. He's brought so much joy into our lives, but I'd be lying if I said it's been a walk in the park.

Basil was found as a street dog in Greece with his brothers and Sisters. He was rescued and taken to a shelter in Greece where they all shared a very small kennel. Luckily for Basil, and for us, the wonderful Michelle from Desperate Greekies brought him over to Hillside in Norwich where we met him.

He was very nervous of everything to start with. He was scared of other dogs and he wouldn't walk and would end up having to be carried. It took a good year of practice and patience before we got Basil to the point where he will confidently walk on and off the lead. That being said he still gets very anxious before a walk and will take himself off and hide as soon as he realises what we're doing! He's a very lazy dog and would much prefer to lay on the sofa all day if he had the choice.

Another thing we struggled with to start with was his fear of dogs. He was very unsure to start with and would snarl at any dog that came near him. It took an awful lot of socialising to get him to the point he's at now. He loves other dogs and is desperate to play whenever he see's one (Especially his girlfriend, Maggie from the same rescue centre) It's so important to make sure you are socialising them from a young age. I know that's quite difficult at the moment, but hopefully as lockdown rules are eased it will become a bit easier.

For all of the times Basil tests us, the good always outweighs the bad.

Adopting a dog is one of the best things I've done for my mental health.

Having his little face and wagging tail waiting for me in the mornings is always the best part of my day. I've also found he's made me more productive. There is no getting away from the responsibility of owning a dog. If I'm having a bad day, I can't laze around in bed for hours like I used to, I have to get up and look after him. This has been really good for me, particularly for getting outside in the fresh air more. Basil is a dog with a lot of energy and he needs at least 2 walks a day (normally 3) I've found walking Basil is a great escape for me, it keeps me active, increases my mood and gets me out of the house every day.

I'm a strong believer that there isn't much a cuddle with a dog can't fix, and when I've had a bad day he is always there waiting to give me a cuddle (and occasionally steal my socks)

I also feel like he understands me on a weird level (yes I know I sound crazy) but Basil is quite an anxious dog too. He has strange little 'moments' before we take him for a walk where he'll go and hide, and if we've spent too much time with him he will take himself into the kitchen and shut the door. Even dogs need some alone time!

If you're in a position where you can give a dog a good home, I honestly think it's one of the most rewarding things you can do.

I have linked Desperate Greekies and Hillside animal centre below