Pickle has brought nothing but happiness to his owner Lyndsey and her family

Pickle is a lockdown puppy, as we got him in July 2020. I am a nurse and have worked throughout the lockdowns. From the moment Pickle came into our house, he made us laugh and gave us all a reason to smile again. He truly was a ray of sunshine in a pretty grey and miserable year.

He always knows if we’re going out without him

He’s a clever dog, and always knows if we’re going out without him. When he can sense this is about to happen, he’ll refuse to come in from the garden, stopping us from leaving! His favourite thing to do is chase after balls, so every time we walk him, we take about three with us. One is for him to chase, one’s for him to carry while he runs and the other is a spare, because he’ll inevitably lose a ball along the way.

My dog has recently helped me to raise money for the charity Dementia UK. We did a 100km walk for them in just three days, and Pickle joined us every step of the way. We’re very proud of him.

After spending her whole childhood wishing for a dog, Kate finally got Daisy, and she’s brought nothing but love into her life

For my whole life, I wanted a dog but, despite my protests, my parents never gave in. When I went to visit Daisy, the first thing she did was climb onto me and steal my keys. The breeder and I spent ages trying to get them off her but, being the cheeky madam she is, she was not giving in! In that moment I knew the little monster was mine.

I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t fallen for her charm

Daisy is the most loving dog, although she does have an independent streak. She absolutely loves other people – I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t fallen for her charm. When I worked in a girl’s boarding house with children from across the world, she was a lot better at soothing them when they were sad than I was.

Daisy has no dramatic story. She doesn’t know many tricks and she isn’t the most obedient (unless very good treats are on offer!) but I love her to pieces and can’t imagine life without her.

Lucienne has watched her dog Marley grow from a timid pup into a happy-go-lucky dog, and she couldn’t be prouder.

Marley came into our lives at five months old, as a sensitive but funny pup. He didn't like loud noises and eventually stopped going out for walks in the evening as he was scared of fireworks, and associated them with the dark.

He is a big tail wager, and developed 'Happy Tail Syndrome.' After the third bout, his tail was amputated but this hasn’t stopped him wagging what he has left.

A wonderful, gentle soul

Marley is a wonderful, gentle soul and is the most patient pal to our two children. We now live in the countryside, which means all his fears are easing. He loves his walks and snuggles on the sofa, and apples are his favourite treat.

He truly is a beautiful boy, greying around the face and getting slower over the last few years, but such an important member of our family!

Emma had always been scared of dogs, but Lenny quickly changed all of that. Now, you’ll find them snuggled up on the sofa together.

We rescued Lenny from an animal sanctuary when he was 16-weeks-old. He had been born there and was adopted at 10 weeks, but the family eventually brought him back.

I have always been frightened of dogs, but my husband and children absolutely love animals. We initially went to the sanctuary to adopt a cat, to see how I would get on with my first pet. But instead, we came home with Lenny.

Loves being a part of the family

Lenny is a 32kg Lurcher cross, who thinks he is the size of a Jack Russell! Our nickname for him is ‘little Lenny longlegs’. He spends most of his time cuddling and dozing on the sofa – he loves being a part of the family. He has no concept of personal space, and often just jumps up onto your lap. He also enjoys playing with the kids in the garden and going for long walks in the forest, where he spends his time looking for squirrels.

Not long after he joined our family, we found out my husband’s friend had rehomed Lenny’s mum a few months before. This means Lenny is able to visit her on a regular basis.

He’s so loved and has brought a lot of joy into our family life. He’s soft and affectionate with all of us, and it’s safe to say I’m now a converted fan of dogs! You’ll often find me sat on the sofa, enjoying a long cuddle with Lenny.

Sox’s funny quirks and boundless energy are an endless source of joy for Georgia and her family

Sox is such a positive influence in my family’s life. He’s a quirky little dog who manages to make friends with any species, whether that be dogs, people or highland cattle! He is best friends with some highland cattle calves, who always vocalise when they want to see him.

He is best friends with some highland cattle calves

Often Sox will bring his toys out around the house, but then refuses to give them up, turning it into a game of chase. He also likes to climb up onto his dad after his dinner, nip his earlobe after giving him tons of kisses, and then fall onto his back for cuddles as shown in his photo. Plus, he loves to cuddle and play about with his 14-year-old Collie-Lab brother, Max, who’s sometimes a bit grumpy with him.

Sox has this thing about crawling along the floor using one of his back legs to propel him forwards – he’s been doing this since we got him back in 2016! He’s a Lakeland Terrier crossed with a Jack Russell Terrier so he’s a bundle of energy and full of character. But we wouldn’t have him any other way.

Gill is so proud of how kind and intuitive her dog Lola is, especially around those who need her most

Lola, a white and black Staffie, burst into our lives in 2018 as a seven-year-old rescue dog. Our other dogs had died that year and Lola was the bundle of joy we all needed. She came on a visit from the Rescue centre and never left.

She gets super excited every time she sees an adult and always greets them with enthusiasm. When she sees children, however, she’s much calmer and more relaxed. Lola is our granddaughter’s best friend.

Lola is our granddaughter’s best friend

Once, a little lamb found its way into our garden and got its head stuck in the fence. Lola stayed beside the lamb and started to bark until I came to find her. She helped me to save that small creature’s life, which is just another example of how loving and sensitive she is.