Dexter has perked up Elaine’s home life with his cheeky grin and outdoor escapades.

After losing my previous Labrador after 13 and a half years, life was far too quiet. Enter Dexter to shake it up again – a loveable, cheeky, friendly puppy who’s now seven months old now. He's very loyal, loves to please and will do anything for a hot dog sausage. He loves to play ball, chase the birds, collect sticks and run in the fields. Then its home for a bath and some chill out time on his sun lounger. With Dexter, life is now rich again and far from quiet!

With Dexter, life is rich again and far from quiet!

Katie knows how special her dog Koko is, and everyone that meets her can’t help but agree

I got my dog Koko when she was just six months old. She settled in straight away, and even though she had never been around children, she was absolutely amazing with my three right from the start.

Koko has a lovely temperament, she’s so calm and chilled that I really feel as though I have the perfect dog. When I first got her, I was able to spend pretty much all day keeping her company, since we were in lockdown at the time. After I went back to work, I was worried she wouldn’t adjust, but she took it all in her stride.

She behaves just like a cat

One of the funniest things about Koko is that she behaves just like a cat. She sleeps a lot and loves lazing around, so she’ll only go on a walk if you make her. I think she’d rather stay curled up on the comfy sofa all day long. When we do get out of the house, people always make a fuss of her because she’s so striking – you don’t see many Japanese Shiba Inus around here.

Koko also has a penchant for toffee popcorn, which is rather unusual for a dog. Her previous owners told us this and we were sceptical, but if you open a bag in another room she always comes running straight in!

Brody is always around to look out for Amy and her family

Brody is the most loving dog. He brought my partner and I closer togetherwhen we took him on his daily walks during lockdown. He is patient, caring and playful, and he always looks after our new-born son, laying with him when he cries, or staying at our feet when we feed him.

He always looks after our new-born son

He also has a great sense of humour and a very playful character. For instance, he likes to survey the neighbourhood as though he’s a watchdog, he barks at his treats and spends hours playing with his ball. Brody is a truly special dog.

It took Roxy a little while to settle in, but thanks to Gemma’s patience, she’s now a happy – and cheeky – pup!

Roxy came to me as a last minute foster dog. Since I already had a Bull Terrier in the house, I was worried about how the pair of them would get along, but they became such fast friends that it only took two days for me to decide to permanently adopt her.

I got to witness her cheeky side!

It was tricky at times, because Roxy hadn’t always been treated well before she found her home with me. I had to learn quickly what she was comfortable with and what scared her. But, after a few months she started to come out of her shell, and I got to witness her cheeky side!

Now we have had plenty of adventures together. Over the years we have climbed mountains and hiked all over the moors. She's helped me through so much, and is always there to look after me on my bad days. Roxy is my absolute world.

The joy that Lottie brought to Kerry’s life inspired her to start an online group to brighten other dog-lovers’ days too

Lottie has had such a positive impact on my life in every way. I was diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease and the doctor said I needed to try and live a happy, stress-free life. After a couple of years of researching dog breeds, we chose a Shih Tzu and here she is!

She’s changed the lives of our whole family massively. Personally, I’ve really benefited from the extra exercise and her calming influence. I have to take tablets each day but Lottie is definitely a pill I couldn’t live without! A dog is the best medicine.

She also brings such joy to our extended family with her love and attention. She greets everyone with a kiss and a cuddle, or rolls over for a tummy tickle! I can’t get out of bed in the morning without a Lottie cuddle – she doesn’t allow it. Lottie isn’t really one for tricks but chasing and fetching balls is one of her favourite things.

A dog is the best medicine

And she hasn’t just brought joy to us. I work in a school office and, after one particularly bad day during the pandemic, I came home, sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and Lottie next to me, and thought ‘I need something else to distract me from work.’

So, in January 2021, Barking Mad Cheshire came alive. It’s a group for dog lovers and businesses, and a year later I’ve got over 4,500 members. The joy and positivity that Lottie and the other dogs in the group have brought to so many people is unbelievable. I’ve received a number of messages saying how the group has helped people during sad times and got them through difficult days, especially during the pandemic.

Lottie is such a joy and I can’t imagine my life without her. She’s a loving, loyal little dog.

It took Blake a while to find his forever home, but owner Louise gave him his happily ever after

Blake was rehomed in March, when he was just eight months old. He’s a Pointer Cross and is very energetic, loving and playful. He had been through a couple of foster families before he found us, but we are his forever home.

He is a loving dog who enjoys cuddles, chest rubs and spending time with his humans. More than anything, he adores playing with a ball – though he doesn’t always like to give it back! Recently, he had his first taste of snow and just couldn’t get enough of it.

We are his forever home

Something else which he basks in is human affection – he’s featured in many a zoom call, always sneaking into the room when I have my back turned so that he can come and say hello. He’s even starred on a rugby pet calendar, for which he had to pose at Murrayfield stadium.

Earlier this year, my wife was made redundant and I had to undergo an unexpected operation. Blake has been a huge source of comfort to us both, and we simply couldn’t imagine our lives without him.