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Our friends roll their eyes at her many soppy names: Budge, The Budgkin, Budgie Bear, Budge Nut… it goes on. Perhaps we need to get out more. I blame my family who are equally obsessed with their canine friends. My dad believes we should treat dogs like humans, and his is a regular presence at the dinner table. My mum has a voice for her dog – they have conversations that I often walk in on. My siblings and I are told we must always say a proper hello to the pooch otherwise we might hurt its feelings.
Why is the bond so strong between human and dog? I believe it is because our relationships with them embody the characteristics we strive towards in all relationships: companionship, loyalty, affection, trust, acceptance and forgiveness. We engage with them and they engage back, with no agenda apart from asking to be fed, stroked or to say: ‘Come on, it’s time to go for a walk.’
When my dad used to visit my granny in a home, he would always take his terrier with him because it brought her so much joy. The nurses would take the dog to visit the other patients, putting a smile on all of their faces. Dogs have a therapeutic effect, particularly with old people and children. You are never lonely if you have a dog.
Recently I returned to Mary Oliver’s book, Dog Songs – a celebration of the human-canine relationship and the meaning it gives to our lives. Her dogs took centre stage, famously inspiring her work. In her book, she writes: ‘What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?’ She could ask members of our local council who are trying to ban dogs from a nearby park. A dispute has developed between dog-lovers and antis in the neighbourhood. You could write a sitcom about the many squabbles.
The photos of the Queen that appeal to me most are the images with her many corgis. The love she had for them and they had for her is clear to see. Those pictures capture moments of affection where there is no judgment or critical eye, just complete trust. I’m sure the ones she left behind miss her terribly.
Because you read about dogs
Also by Cressida Bonas
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