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From first thing in the morning when you are greeted by a wet nose to the excited tail wag when you return from work, you know that your dog is by your side, always. But why do dogs matter? What do they do for us without us knowing? We partner with a fantastic individual and a vital charity to investigate.
The Power of Getting Up and Out
It’s hard to describe the feeling of lacing up your hiking boots and heading out on an adventure with your furry friend but research shows there are many mental and physical health benefits to doing just that. It’s only in recent years that scientists have wanted to quantify and qualify this feeling, helping dog owners to articulate what it means to have your dog by your side.
Pets have evolved to become attuned to our emotions and behaviour. Have you ever noticed your pet cuddling in when you aren’t well and appreciating their affection even more? They can gauge your emotional state and will try to understand what you are thinking and feeling.
Research shows that 48% of dog owners adopted dogs to get more exercise and will average around 48 minutes of walking a day to help ensure they increase their pet’s quality of life. This has lots of health benefits according to the NHS, as walking briskly with your dog can help you to build stamina, burn excess calories and make your heart healthier too.
What Does Alfie Mean to Billy Billingham?
To celebrate that companionship and the value of having a dog by your side, we’ve teamed up with Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham, Chief Instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins, and his Bulldog Alfie. Billy’s favourite part of the day is first thing in the morning, at the crack of dawn. There’s nothing he loves more than getting up and getting out. One of the best things? He’s got Alfie and he’s always by his side.
Alfie is a registered Service Dog and flies around the world supporting Billy and his wife Jules. Billy has seen the impact that the military can have on an individual and mentions how incredible he finds it, when Alfie just knows his moods. Alfie will always stick by him, whether out exploring nature or sat on the sofa for a cuddle.
What is an Assistance Dog and Why Do They Help?
You may have seen us talking to Becki Gude about training your own assistance dog in the past, but what is an assistance dog? Assistance Dogs UK describes them as; “Dogs that have been highly trained to carry out a range of tasks and alerts that support a disabled person or person with a long-term medical condition”. Examples include guide dogs for people that have visual impairments and assistance dogs that can provide support to people with a clinical diagnosis such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Meeting with BRAVEHOUND
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We sent Billy and Alfie to meet with a charity Carnilove are proud to support – BRAVEHOUND. BRAVEHOUND supports former servicemen, women and their families through the provision of training and assistance dogs.
Billy met with Eddie and Leah, just two of the veterans the charity supports. Eddie and Leah shared their stories with us and how Hagrid and Gizmo support them. Eddie says that if it wasn’t for Hagrid, his three year old NewFoundland, he’d almost be housebound. He joined the army in 2000 and felt his mental health decline. They diagnosed him with complex PTSD and a complex depressive disorder. He was housebound, but Hagrid gave him the confidence to go outside and go for walks in the countryside. They now go everywhere together!
Leah says she was really low – Chihuahua, Lhasa Apso cross Gizmo is the only reason she is still here today. She doesn’t do anything unless he’s with her. He distracts her, takes her out of her own head and gives her access to a ‘normal’ life. Gizmo comes with her everywhere and is by her side, all the time. He helps her go out and explore, knowing that he’s right there.
Incredible Dogs Need Incredible Food
Billy Billingham says “The key to a healthy body and good wellness is nutrition” – and this is why he chooses Carnilove for Alfie. Carnilove is crafted with a deep respect for the longstanding history of pet and human companionship. The ingredients and ratios in Carnilove’s formulas are inspired by the pre-agricultural diets of dogs and cats, whilst using modern production methods and technologies. The wide spectrum of carefully selected wild-origin meats, such as reindeer, duck, pheasant, turkey, lamb, wild boar and salmon, corresponds to the composition of natural prey and ensures intake of important amino acids.
Some of Alfie and BRAVEHOUND’s favourites include:
