Mumsnet users share how their dog helped them and their family

[YanaMumsnet]

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Sleepeezee have recently released personalised dog beds, and to celebrate International Dog Day on the 26th August and dogs all year round, they’d like to hear about the ways your dogs have helped you and your family.

Here’s what Sleepeezee has to say: “British bed manufacturer Sleepeezee is proud to launch a collection of dog beds, in partnership with Battersea Dogs Home, which offer your companion a great sleep. Two distinct styles are available in a selection of sizes and colours, all of which can be personalised with your dogs name on.”

Perhaps the need to get out and walk your dog each day has helped you feel fitter and stronger? Or has the task of walking the dog helped your teenager gain some responsibility and independence they enjoy? Have you or your children learned any important lessons from your dog? Maybe being greeted by your dog’s smiling face and wagging tail at the end of a tough day helps you deal with stress?

However your dog has helped you and your family, share on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list) and a Sleepeezee dog bed.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
Insight Terms and Conditions apply

My dog Barney ensures that I never have a lie in! He feels it's his 'duty' to ensure we both get up at the crack of dawn, and greet the day. Then a fairly long walk follows, keeping us both fit and healthy.

On our walks we meet fellow dog walkers and have chats, ensuring that I'm never lonely, while Barney prefers sniffing other unsavoury areas of any dogs we happen to come across.

He teaches us all about responsibility and obedience. We are slaves to Barney's needs - he's the head honcho. Whether out walking, playing ball in the garden, or making his 'chicken dinner', he shows his love and appreciation in so many ways.

My Labrador, Maggie has helped my middle child with his anxiety. He goes to her when he is feeling stressed and she calms him down.

She has also help us become fitter due to the daily walks.

My dog has listened to all my tears, and looked at me affectionately with big brown eyes. Not a single judgement in those eyes. I could tell him everything. He holds many of my deepest secrets.
No matter what my mood, he has always stood by me and kept me going, even when I didn't want to.

My parents got a dog when they retired and I believe it has done them the world of good. It's given them both a new focus, they are 'needed' and have responsibilities, they have to get out to walk it a few times a day & it provides companionship.
They'd never had a dog before and I know it was a huge step for them but is one of the best decisions they've ever made.

Our dog brings an even lighter and loving atmosphere to our home, he gets us out together exercising and playing games. We are more closely bonded than ever

I have had five miscarriages and no children but I have two step kids - Spike the dog has saved me - she makes me smile like no one else and is like my baby !

Our dog was a good friend for our daughter when she was very ill.

I swear this is absolutely true, but we had an amazing dog, Jake, who once in a while used to pick out winning lottery numbers. If you wrote them all down on separate pieces of paper, he would sometimes pick certain ones to sniff and paw at. Sometimes he'd just walk away, but if he did engage, we'd always win something, even if it was just a tenner. We never won anything big sadly! He was an amazing pet, much loved during difficult times and much missed.

Just being there giving such insane support when we were experiencing a bereavement

Having him means we have to get up and get out the house every day, even when the weather is a bit rubbish and we don't want to! The fresh air does everyone good, and helps us with daily steps. Plus he gives us a lot of love and enjoyment!

My dc is an only child and pets are a very important part of our family life. They are someone my son can talk to, get comfort from but also excitement, happiness and exercise.
The dog is a great leveller, he is good for our stress levels and he is a calming influence in our home.

my husband was ill a few years ago, and walking the dog has helped to recover, Also he barks when someone come to the door which is very reassuring

Our dog was a rescue and badly in need of some family love, she has taught our DD how to care for someone (She is a someone, not a thing!) how to think about other's feelings and how to control her emotions! An absolute godsend and we can't imagine how empty our lives would be without her.

Our dog has helped my DD through her recent gcses and lots of friendship difficulties. She has some ASD traits and has found the last few years of teenage life very difficult to navigate coping with anxiety and loneliness. She says that just being in the same room as him makes her feel less anxious. He is a sensitive collie cross and picks up on moods and atmospheres. He is affectionate and by having to walk him it gives her the confidence to leave the house for short periods. He is loyal, non- judgemental and playful and has helped us all as we are anxious about her difficulties too. Such a calm and loving dog who is always pleased to see us all. We feel lucky to have him in our lives.

Rainbow, our rescued Lurcher / Deerhound cross puppy has brought us much closer together. We do everything now together as we won't leave her anywhere, so holidays are in the UK together and we have become much more outdoor active (walked Snowdon twice this year already and Cadair Idress).

Last Christmas our ADD was Sectioned for the 5th time and seemed to be beyond reach. She’d stopped eating, drank only up to 200-300mls a day and lay on the floor refusing to lie in the bed because she thought it was dissolving like the rest of her surroundings in her delusion. She couldn’t speak and barely made it to the toilet without help (she wasn’t drinking enough to go much anyway). After 2 weeks of coaxing and trying we started to get desperate, seeing no improvement and her getting weaker. We just couldn’t reach her in her far away world! New Year came and went. So we started talking about how much her dog Max was missing her, needed her and how she had stuff to do for him. Over 24 hours it was like a light bulb had gone on and she looked at us and started to say his name. Her first word in over 2 weeks! Staff allowed us to take her out into reception the following day to see Max. His overjoyed reaction, licking her and jumping on her lap, started her crying into his fur while she cuddled him and she repeated his name. For Max, she had a drink of calorie-laden pop. For Max she started drinking a milkshake build up drink. For Max she started eating and then being strong enough to start hesitantly walking to see him daily in hospital reception. After 3 weeks Medics allowed us to take her home as long as we stayed with her until she’d recovered. Every day she got stronger by caring for her beloved Max, until we felt we could leave them. At 7 Max has been her constant companion, her non judgmental friend and now, with this latest delusional episode, literally her life saver. They are inseparable and the unconditional love is mutual

A dog provides unconditional love and will never judge. My dog helped me through the grief of a loved one and was there to comfort me through the tears.

Our dog, Sam (aged 17 months) has helped my mental health and our family life. He is a constant happy being. I really enjoy time out taking him on walks by myself and as a family. He makes life more simple and shoes that all you sometimes need is a hug.

pamhill That’s a beautiful story x

Our ddog has been amazing. My DP has been hospitalised several times and had very serious operations (one very traumatic) and ddog never left his side when he was recovering. When my DS was being bullied she sneaked into his room and slept next to him. Now my ddad is really ill and needs constant care and she never leaves his side when he stays with us. She’s the most empathetic, caring wonderful dog. She’s a companion to us all and I love her dearly.

Rosie has made my youngest DD the happiest little girl ever, she's so lovely and cheers everyone up when we've had a crappy day.

Our two dogs have helped us in so many ways as family, firstly they have kept us all fitter than we would have been with getting us all out a few times a day walking or running. But more important than this is they have taught our kids to be responsible, caring and loving.

We got our dog when I was struggling to get pregnant and for 5 years it was just us and her and she gave me something to love and made us feel like a family unit. Having her really helped me during the years we were TTC.

We now have a DC who is 17 months old and she is absolutely brilliant with him, they love one another so much! I was worried about how she would respond to having a baby in the family but we treated her as we always have and there were no issues at all, she is the best dog we could ever wish for!

I also love the fact she gets us out the house early in the mornings for our lovely walks

We got our dog Dexter to help with my Dad’s dementia. He really loved him and that sense of love that a dog has for you can really lift your spirits when you’re feeling down
After my Dad died in April, having the dog helped us to get out and about, giving us a sense of responsibility. He’s been great for all of our mental health too, he can always make you smile on a sad day

he's just another member of the family

After losing my youngest son from an accident at school, I just wanted to curl up and die, but dogs don't understand they still need to be fed and walked, at first I hated it and just wanted to stay in bed. However eventually I began to live again, this would never have happened without Max my setter/labrador cross xx