What’s so amazing about Paula? What do you like BEST about her?
She has a very calm and loveable aura and mesmerizes every person she runs into. She is very friendly, interested and open, but has her own personality and way to live her life. She’s a true velcro and I can always rely on her. She is very sincere, grown up and responsible, but she also loves to be goofy.

How would you describe your relationship? 
We are deeply in LOVE with each other.

Do you know about her secret passions? 
Swimming and diving for stones. Hunting mice and squirrels. Walking in the woods and sniffing everywhere. Eating fish. The color pink. Persuading restaurant staff and bar tenders to bring her food.

Do you have a secret code? 
Our secret code is TRUST.

What makes her listen no matter what? 
All I need to do is tell her “Schau mal!” which means “Hey, look!” and she’ll immediately turn towards me. Food goodies do the trick as well.

If your dog were a person – who would she be? 
A real lady.

Why do you love her?
Because together we are ONE.

What was the funniest thing your dog has ever done?
From one day to the other she started to carry my towel from the beach, all the way up to the car. She was 10 when she decided to do so, no one has ever showed her how to has she ever seen any other dog do it.

Did your dog ever bring you closer to other people?
She’s contacting people all the time and connecting whenever she’s outside.

Where do you leave her when you have to go away for a couple of days? 
Since she is 14 now, I try to avoid leaving her alone or with someone else. She used to stay at her “grandparents”, who are the aunt and the uncle of my ex partner.

Is there anything that annoys you about Paulina? 
Nothing.

What are your favourite things to do with her?
Swimming in the sea, walks in nature.

Any dreams you’d like to come true with Paula?
We now have spent 14 years together full of many memorable events, adventures and journeys. My wish is to offer her the best life so she can enjoy her retirement to the fullest as long as she wants.

Is Paula part of the family and part of the household? 
She is my daughter, sister, and best friend, sure she sleeps with me too.

Any advice you would like to share?
Think deeply about the breed, size and especially character/personality your dog should have and what YOU can offer to the dog. Talk with several dog owners about their daily life experiences.
Make sure you fully understand that any animal is a being with a soul, heart and personal needs and desires. It has a fully working brain, senses when things go well or wrong. It needs your time and attention like a kid or any close family member, and shows an individual understanding/perception of things/life one should respect and support.
You will be responsible for a being for a minimum of 8-14 years – is this a life concept you have really bought into it with all consequences (work & life situation now and later, vacations, meeting new people/having a (new) partner, medical treatment, etc.)?
Be honest to yourself about the reason you want to have a dog. Don’t make yourself and, even worse, the dog unhappy. They trust us 200% and need to rely on us. Don’t break their heart!

What makes Your dogs so amazing?  
They are incredibly affectionate and simply the best companions.

How would You describe your relationship? 
Our relationship is profound. We live in perfect symbiosis.

Do you know about Your dog’s secret passions?  
Absolutely. Patanegra and walks in the countryside are their secret passions.

How do you communicate and understand each other? 
We share an unspoken understanding; no secret code is needed.

Do you have a “trick” that always works?  
Simply calling their names is all it takes.

If your dog was a person, who would they be? 
Mario would be like Rocco Siffredi; Claretta, a Grace Kelly.

Why do you love them?  
I can’t explain it. I just love them wholeheartedly.

Has your dog ever brought you closer to other people?
Frequently, people are drawn to us to pet the dogs.

Where do you leave your dogs when you have to be away for a couple of days?  
We never leave them; they are always with us.

Is there anything about your dog that annoys you a lot?  
No, nothing at all. They are perfect to me.

Are your dogs an integral part of the family and household? Do they sleep in your bed?  
Absolutely, they are cherished members of our family who even share our bed.

Any advice for someone contemplating getting a dog but struggling to decide?  
Having a dog is an incredibly special experience; I can’t imagine life without one.

Will you tell me how you met each other?
One of my daughter’s friends had found a litter in the countryside and was looking for adopting families for all the puppies, including Gus.

What’s so amazing about him?
He is the cutest guy, so happy and kind that it’s contagious. Just looking at him will make you smile.

What is your relationship like?
It’s based on love, irony, provocations, mischief…

Do you know about his secret passions?
He can get enthusiastic about anything: Food, balls, running in the meadows, rolling in the grass, playing with other dogs.

What type is your language? Do you have a secret code?
To tell you the truth, I got so used to decoding, interpreting and understanding his body language that I often don’t even remember that he is not speaking. He also seems to understand many of my words and maybe even more so the tone of my voice. However, he can get quite naughty sometimes.

Do you have a “trick” that makes him listen no matter what?
Throwing the leash towards him, as they told me to do, seems to works quite well. Or attract him with his favorite toys which are fake bones and balls. He usually gets it.

If your dog were a person – who would he be?
A very kind and affectionate child.

Why do you love him?
He’s been with me ever since he was three months old. I remember when I first saw him curled up in a shoe box. I watched him grow up. How could I not love him?

An unforgetable moment with your dog?
I will never forget when, a few months old, he ran away from the meadow where I always take him.  He had lost me and ran home chased by an old man. Luckily some people caught him since he had crossed a very busy road. In that very moment I understood how much I loved him and what it meant to lose him.

Has your dog ever made it easier for you to interact with other people?
Many people stop to pet him, this way you get to talk easily, even to perfect strangers. I actually made a lot of new friends in the neighborhood – with and without dogs.

Where do you leave him when you go away for a couple of days? How does he take it?
I leave him with my children. When I return he usually goes crazy with joy. Must be because of the food I prepare for him.

Is there anything that bores you about him?
There are dogs that he doesn’t like much and he barks when he sees them, even if they are far away. Furthermore, he sheds a lot of hair.

What do you like to do together most?
The walks

Do you dream of doing something special with your dog?
I would have liked to do a rescue dog course but he is not the right breed and he has never wanted to go swimming in the sea.

Is your dog part of the family and 100% at home? Does he sleep in your bed etc?
Gus is just one of the family to an extent where my son doesn’t even want him to be called dog. He doesn’t sleep in my bed, but climbs onto sofas and armchairs.

Any advice you would like to share?
It’s definitely challenging. And quite a commitment. But you’ll find that a dog lifts up your mood, no matter what. If you’re ready for that, go for it.

What’s so amazing about Georgi?
His heart is bigger than himself. He loves life, and he is such a funny guy!.

How would you describe your relationship? 
We are very close and respect each other.

What are his secret passions? 
Sleeping on my pillow when I’m not there. Luckily, Bichons don’t shed since they don’t have fur that would lose hair. So, he’s the perfect dog even for allergy sufferers.

How do you “understand” each other?
He observed me closely at the beginning, and I did the same with him. We each learned the other’s language; additionally, I attended dog school (with him), but mainly to understand him even better.

Do you have a “trick” that makes him listen no matter what? 
I do: crispy chicken skin! It’s magic

If your dog were a person: Who would he be? 
A understanding, calm, and loyal friend who always makes me laugh.

Why do you love him?
I love him for who he is, just the way he is.

What was the most memorable thing Georgi ever did?
One evening, I took out the trash and didn’t realize he followed me, nor did I notice he was still outside when I came back in and closed the door. It wasn’t until an hour later that I noticed he wasn’t with us. I opened the front door, and there he was, patiently waiting to come back in. He didn’t bark, he didn’t scratch, he just waited. What’s always funny is right before bedtime, he sneaks into my bed and hides under my blanket because he knows he’s not supposed to sleep in our bed. But we can never bring ourselves to throw him out. He just knows exactly how to get to me.

Did your dog ever bring you closer to another person or to other people?
Yes, to myself.

Where do you leave him when you have to go away for a couple of days? 
At my mother’s, who has known Georgi since he has been with us, as well as with our loving dog sitter, who also has a very strong bond with him.

Is there anything that annoys you about him, sometimes? 
Nope.

What are your favourite things to do with him?
In winter, we love to cuddle on the couch, take long walks in nature on nice days, and teach him tricks. Bichons are very eager to learn and love to have fun. Unfortunately, this trait often led them to be used as circus dogs.

Any dreams you’d like to come true with your dog?
Georgi loves travelling with us. He’s a patient car and train passenger and quickly adapts to new places and environments. I would love to travel around the world with him – by land and water, by train & ship, and on foot.

Is your dog part of the family and part of the household? Does he sleep in your bed etc?
Yes, he is 100% part of our family.

Any advice you would like to give to someone who wants to get a dog but can’t decide?
A dog means a lot of responsibility. Dogs are like a dependent child, they never really grow up. You’ll lose your freedom and have to take care of him for life. He depends on you. But he will give you all his love and undivided attention, comfort, and above all, a lot of joy. You’ll live healthier, move a lot, and spend more time in nature. And you’ll have a loyal friend constantly by your side. A dog can help children in a family to better understand all living beings and also overcome the fear of dogs. As a toddler, Lara was somewhat fearful of dogs, but since Georgi joined us, she knows how dogs are and sees them as lovable beings that need to be protected. Now she loves all dogs and engages in every dog encounter without prejudice or fear.

Where did you meet?
It was love at first sight when we met him together with his brothers and sisters at his breeder, who later became our friend, Erica. That sweet look and that wagging tail couldn’t help but win us over! It wasn’t easy for me (Patrizia) to decide to adopt another dog after having my sweet Labrador, Syria, with whom I had shared 17 years of my life. But Mauro knew very well that it was exactly what I needed. And in fact Aris, with his shy sweetness, won me over right away.

What’s extraordinary about Aris?
He is a dog that immediately demonstrated incredible sensitivity and sweetness! He can understand and make himself understood with a simple look. Furthermore, his ability to always be there is wonderful: discreetly, when he sees you tired; with enthusiasm, when he knows that you want to play and have fun; gently, when you’re feeling down – sitting in front of you and waiting for you to put your face on his shoulder.

What kind of relationship do you have?
We would define our relationship as an emotionally asphyxiating one: Aris is our shadow, he never loses sight of us. As a good sheepdog he treats us as if we were his flock, always making sure that everything is ok, ready to make sure that after dinner we are all on the sofa to relax a bit. He really is a 4-legged friend, who doesn’t need to talk to make us feel good. He is equipped with a biological clock: from the morning alarm, at 6 o’clock, the time of our morning walk – which incredibly becomes 8 on Saturday and Sunday, when it happily accompanies us to the bar for a coffee and to greet his bartender friends -, passing through the end of work time when, accompanied by Mauro, he comes to pick me up every evening. To then conclude his work as a shepherd at bedtime, when he calls our attention to remind us that it is time to go to sleep.

What is he most passionate about?
Aris loves being with us, wherever we go: whether it’s an excursion in the woods, a trip to the shops or a simple evening at a pizzeria, he is always happy to walk, meet people, explore new places. Even when we’re talking about distant destinations, he is always ready to jump in the car and look at the landscapes we travel through, happy to face new adventures… just like Lassie.

How do you “understand” each other?
All we need is a look, a nod, a magic word and Aris immediately understands exactly what we are asking of him.

Do you have a trick to make him do what you want?
Aris has a huge love for carrots and cucumbers! As soon as he hears the metallic noise of the “carrot peeler” he runs ready to carry out any arduous task to win his favorite snack. Yes, he really is a nutritionist’s dog! In the summer we prepare water and cucumber based ice lollies for him which he loves!

If your dog were a person – who would he be?
He would undoubtedly be a philosopher: thoughtful, dreamy, always looking for the meaning of things and careful to understand people’s moods. His name, Aristotele, is no coincidence.

Why do you love him?
We couldn’t say “why”: He is Aris, you can’t help but love him. Indeed, we are certain that without knowing him, you already love him too.

What is the funniest thing your dog has ever done?
Once, during a walk, we were stopped at the traffic light, because it was “red”. At the “green” moment I give Aris the command to cross. But he, realizing that Patrizia, distracted by something else, had not yet left, went back, literally took her by the hand, delicately grabbing her wrist, and helped her cross amidst the amused smiles of the motorists who had stopped at the stoplight.

Has your dog ever made it easier for you to interact with other people?
Absolutely yes! When we walk with Aris many people stop to greet him and cuddle him. We always tell ourselves that Aris generates happiness: people look at him and smile! There are those who can’t help but remember their youth and the TV show “Lassie”, those who simply want to cuddle him… but no one can resist him! And those who know us when they meet us alone ask us about him!

Where do you leave him if necessary?
Where we leave him?!? He comes with us – everywhere!

Is there something he or she does that particularly annoys you?
Yes, when he throws a tantrum to eat! He is not a greedy dog ​​and there are times when he refuses to eat and we always have to find a trick to convince him. The most effective method? When Ivo, our cat and playmate, tries to get close to his bowl to steal his kibble. Only at that moment Aris decides to eat.

What do you like to do together most?
We love walking together in the early morning. Every day, whether it’s winter or summer, whether it’s raining or sunny, we and Aris enjoy this moment of ours: This way the day starts off on the right foot!

Do you dream of doing something special with your dog one day?
We do: We would like to take him to Scotland, the homeland of this breed. Wouldn’t it be marvellous to explore and enjoy those wonderful landscapes with him?

Does he sleep in your bed?
Well, no, just because he never wanted to. But apart from that all spaces are at his disposal, even if he has some places that he prefers over others. He loves his pillows: one at the foot of the bed and the other near the sofa. So he can be next to us in our moments of relaxation.

Your advice for someone who would like to get a dog but can’t decide?
We also thought about it a lot before welcoming Aris, well aware that work and commitments could make everything difficult. This is because a dog is not a toy, nor a whim, but a life partner who deserves and requires constant attention and presence. The simplest example? Whether it’s Christmas or Sunday, whether it’s raining or snowing, he needs his walk and can’t be ignored! But Aris has shown us that a dog is capable of integrating perfectly and adapting to the rhythms of the family, reciprocating our commitment with unconditional love, trust and presence, something that probably no human being is capable of giving. That’s why we would recommend everyone to adopt one. The arrival of a dog at home changes your life, yes, but definitely for the better!

DOG ICE CREAM

All You need:
– popsicle molds
– ⁠a jar of natural white yogurt (without added sugars!!)
– ⁠1 serve of fresh fruit or vegetables (apple, carrot, cucumber, 4-5 strawberries…)

We chose cucumber because Aris is fond of it, but carrots, cooked courgettes, cooked spinach, or how sugar fruits such as apples are also great.

Procedure:
Cut the vegetable or fruit into small pieces and pour everything into a bowl, mixing it with the plain yogurt.
Then blend everything with a mixer and place the mixture in the molds which should be placed in the freezer overnight.

Aris has no problems with plain yogurt, in fact he really likes it. But for “intolerant” dogs it is possible to replace the yogurt with plain water: the consistency will be less creamy but the taste and the refreshing effect are guaranteed

PS: For other recipes and food suggestions (for animals as well as humans) by the nutritionist Patrizia Lamberti follow on Instagram nutrizionista_lamberti.

How Bowie and I met?
Well, he was brought home by a friend who had found him and two little brothers walking on a provincial road. The two little brothers had been adopted. And this one, the shyest of them all, was all alone in this world. My friend told me to help out until she would find a long-term accommodation. I said yes, sure – no idea was I was getting into. Because from there, from my house, he never left again. We called him Bowie. His generic, as a pharmacist it’s all about generics, would be the Malinoi spepherd. 

Bowie is the most intelligent and intuitive dog in the world! No kidding. Bowie really is extraordinary for his intelligence and his intuition.

Our relationship is a special one for me because he changed my life. He changed it because I have never had animals. My parents didn’t like animals, they were even afraid of animals. I could never even think of having one at home, or, like now, wanting another one! Bowie changed my sensitivity towards not only the animal world but also made me understand many other things. It’s a relationship of gratitude, no less than that. At least on my part. Maybe even on his part because if he hadn’t met me who knows if he’d still be alive. I’ll always be grateful for having added something special to my life, for increasing my sensitivity.

His passions? Well, unlike other dogs of his size he doesn’t care much about food. He loves to roam freely, run on the beach, not be on a leash.

We don’t have a special language, for sure not a stereotyped one since he’s never been trained. It depends a lot on the situation. What I usually do is try to make myself respected at least in the most important issues. And he respects that. Anyway: A sausage is always a valid reason to make him do what I want!

If he were a person he would certainly be my third child who arrives perhaps late in life, unexpectedly. And for this reason the mother has a particular eye on him.

We love Bowie for many reasons! Because he is patient, whatever we do to him, pet him all over, kiss his ears, things that perhaps shouldn’t be done with dogs. But he would sit there waiting, patiently, and accepting our perhaps excessive effusions.

Bowie never did anything strange but one thing he did made us laugh a lot. It was eating a half-frozen fish that I had put on the stove and waiting to come back in the evening to cook it and I received a phone call from my daughter who said, “but Mom, did you forget to defrost the fish?” In reality Bowie had made it disappear. Very discreetly, really, without even moving the plate where I had placed the fish an inch.

Bowie never made it easy for me to interact with other people, because he is so afraid when we are around other people. He often barks when he sees an individual dressed in black with a hood. It’s an outfit, a certain kind of person, that scares him a lot and therefore I have to try to physically place myself between this person and him to reassure him. With me as a filter he remains calm. Otherwise, since he is afraid, he would try to defend me from what agitates him.

When I have to leave I usually take him to Giusi Luperto (3299212222) who is a certified dog trainer. Giusi is very good with dogs of any kind and her dog made friends with Bowie over the years. But when I go to pick him up he pretends to be angry. He is thrilled when he sees me but as soon as he gets into the car he turns the other way and doesn’t even give me a glance. I do know that he is happy there, Giusy always sends me videos of him playing with other dogs. And it is good for him to socialize with others of his kind. But he has to make me feel that something wasn’t right. Every single time.

Let’s just say he doesn’t do anything that bothers me. I’m sorry that he has this controversial relationship with the surrounding world when we go for a walk. But it was my responsibility not having accustomed him from an early age to socialize with the outside world. I always kept him at home a lot, he used to play in the garden and never became familiar with the outside world.

What we love to do together is go out where he can be free, where there is no one, on the beaches when there are no people, countryside. I would like to let him have many more of these experiences, in places where he can be free for whole days and wander around without having to be on a leash.

Bowie as I already said, is my third child, as well as the third brother of my children. Of course he sleeps on the bed, on a sheet that I put there for him. In fact what he does is move up and down all night, according to his needs.

Advice? It’s actually not what everyone says: Think carefully about getting a dog, etc. etc. Even though it is true that a dog is a responsibility and therefore we need to think about it. But it’s also true that if I had had to make the decision to keep him rationally, I would never have accepted him. So without knowing it I would have given up one of the most beautiful things that happened to me in life. Sometimes decisions made on impulse are the best. Because they make you discover a world of affection, sweetness, wealth that I would otherwise never have known.

PS: Marcella’s pharmacy is located in Lecce, Casciaro pharmacy. She also sells veterinary drugs.

* Together with a handful of other swimmer friends Marcella created the Association “SwimilSalento”, with the intention to surround the heel of the boot. 222 km in the open sea, swimming freestyle, in the summer as well as in the winter.

I’m not really a dog person, 
nope, I am actually a cat person. Always have been. Dogs I consider a rather uncouth and filthy lot. They greet one another by sniffing each others bottoms. Which other species does that? Yuck! Certainly not cats, they greet each other and their human by presenting their faces, like any other civilised species. Oh, and have you ever seen a cat peel a dead frog from the tarmac to eat it? I haven’t, but I have seen lots of dogs eat all kinds of shit. Again: Yuck!

So, here I was with my cat Gigi and my opinions about canines and then my husband succumbed to a heart attack at age 54. Following that, Gigi’s was the only other heart beat in the house and we grew even closer, if that’s possible. Then I met Anna Marie, a painter, a poet, a gardener, a retired galley owner and curator. We became close friends and a few years down the road we decided to move in and grow old together.

Only problem: This fabulous person came in a package with two dogs, Sally the spaniel and Arthur the schnauzer. I call them “the stinkers”, and hence one condition of moving in was that the pooches have to go to the groomers every 6 weeks to have a bath and a haircut. 

And then the magic began. Those two dogs embraced me with their overwhelming love, no questions asked. To this day, they follow me wherever I go, they lie on the carpet behind me in my office when I work, they support me when I am down and they celebrate life with me when I am happy. They don’t have a mean streak in their hairy bodies, but if someone ever had the foolish idea to try and harm me when they are around, they would rip the attacker into little ribbons. They would.

But the best thing is: They are fabulous teachers. They show me every day how to be in the moment, how to be present, how to enjoy life. They don’t contemplate the past, nor do they worry about the future, they are always in the present, in the NOW. Their ability to be happy is endless and graciously they take me with them on this path to joy.

They still go to the groomers every six weeks, though, and they still stink. Partly, that has to do with our lifestyle. We live on the West Coast of Ireland in County Sligo and our walks take us not only to the beaches, but also through woods and bogland. Sally is now 15 and getting deaf, but out there in the countryside, she is still a pup, snuffling her way through the reeds, the grass and yes, the puddles and bog. When we come back home, the white in her fur is often almost invisible under the mud. Arthur, at age 7, is at the top of his physical powers and runs through the fields and forests like a demon on steroids. Same result: He gets filthy.

Mostly, we do not use leads. Anna Marie grew up in a rather grandiose setting with a family that had their own hunt and hence plenty of dogs in a kennel. She has known dogs since she could walk or talk and understands them instinctively. She has trained our stinkers to obey her commands so reliably that we can let them run free on the beaches and country lanes. Arthur occasionally challenges her status as the Alpha in our pack, but Anna sorts him out pretty quickly. And at the end of the day dogs are happiest, when the rules are clear and followed and everybody in the pack has their role and their status. 

I still love cats and I never allow a dog to lick my face, knowing where they have been with that tongue and what they have eaten. But now I am part of a dog pack, too, and am incredibly grateful for it.

Curious to read more of Barbara Bierach? www.bierach.com

How did you find your furry friend?
Unfortunately I suffer from asthma and animal hair doesn’t get along very well with my lungs. But I love them and I can’t do without them. I did some research and discovered the Australian Cobberdog, a breed not recognized in Italy. They were created specifically for people like me who have these problems. I had been looking for breeders in Europe for a long time until I finally found a place in Holland. We had to wait for years, there’s never ending waiting lists for this type of dog. Then, finally, Aruba was born in Markelo/Netherlands on January 17, 2020. We exchanged photos with the breeder and among the many puppies in the litter I immediately saw HER: the loneliest one with the lightest fur and she was the biggest of all. It was the day before the lockdown when my husband and I left for the Netherlands to pick her up. Aruba was no more than two months old then. If we hadn’t decided to go and get her spontaneously, who knows when I would have hugged her!
13 hours by car to get there and another 13 to come back. It was with it though: She sure kept us busy during Covid and made a sad and complicated phase a lot easier to deal with. Last but not least: Aruba (born as a Capricorn like my daughter and my husband) has kept the promises of her breed: She doesn’t shed and her fur doesn’t pick up as many external allergens as those of other breeds. She definitely is a hypoallergenic dog.

What is it that you love about her more than anything else?
I love Aruba’s clumsiness and her way of being present without ever being intrusive… except when eating! But the thing
I love most are her eyes: somewhat human, without malice.

Who is her point of reference in the family?
We live together 24 hours a day, I think I’m her “person”. However, she reserves her cuddles above all for my husband. She is in love with him, after all she is female.

What are her passions?
Aruba loves to run free, especially on the beach. She also loves our armchairs…

Is there a code you’re using to communicate? Something that always works no matter what?
Aruba always checks to see if I’m closeby. Even when she runs off for a couple of moments, all I need to say is “Hello Aruba!” and she instantly shows up again.

Who would she be if not a dog?
I don’t know people pure enough to be compared to my dog ​​or a dog in general. For me she is definitely a second daughter. I actually believe that I would give my life for her.

Why do you love her?
Because Battiato sang: “You are a special being and I will take care of you”. Aruba is my special being.

Is there someone to leave her with when you’re not around?
When we go on holiday I leave her in a wonderful place called “Tana Sweet Tana”. Aruba is very attached to us so we tried step by step to get her used to it. The first separation was heartbreaking for all of us, but she knows that we’ll always come back. Ok, ok, to tell you the truth: I always write a long list of recommendations for the guys who take care of her. Too anxious, can’t help it. But in my heart I believe that it is good for her to relate to other dogs every now and then. Funny enough, Aruba usually prefers humans to her own kind. In fact, she grumbles if any dog ​​invades her space, she is very selective but never aggressive, she simply ignores the others. But she has a biiig heart!

Anything that particularly bothers you?
There is nothing I can’t stand about her. But her worst flaw is that she is ravenous and you can’t leave food unattended. Like a shark she prowls around the kitchen, waiting for you to get distracted. Oh, and she has her own ideas. When she doesn’t want to walk in one direction she just stops and won’t walk any further.

What do you like to do together?
We love our walkies in the countryside: I enjoy the silence, she gets drunk on new smells.

Any dreams you would like to come true with her?
I would like to take her with me everywhere I go. Walking with her through Central Park, watching her run on a Caribbean beach… What a pity it is not to be able to share the world’s beauty with her.

Is she a 100% member of the family?
You bet! Aruba is in all respects a daughter and sister to Mia Penelope, my human daughter. She sleeps with us in our bed, even though she finds it hard to climb up. But we don’t mind helping out, picking her up and putting her back to sleep.
I have forgotten what it means to sleep seven hours straight.

Any dog advice you would like to share?
Those who don’t have a dog miss out on the opportunity to love and be loved in the purest way in the world.

How did you guys meet?
We have been living together since Ray was one year old. He came as a kind gift from a dear friend.

What did you like most about him?
What won us over immediately were his shyness and his innate sweetness and docility.

What kind of relationship do you have with your dog?
We simply cannot live without one another.

What’s his favourite thing to do?
His greatest passion is running in the countryside and hunting lizards.

How do you understand each other?
We understand each other with our eyes and with a few firm verbal commands. However, he can be a bit stubborn and, when he insists on not wanting to do something, it is not easy to convince him. He doesn’t give in even with the classic promise of a sweet reward. In these cases the only choice is to wait until he changes his mind.

Is there anything that always works with him? No matter what?
The only “trick” is not to consider him or pretend to leave him alone, that works fairly well. The whistle works, too.

Who would he be if not a dog?
If he were a person he would be shy, cuddly and fearful – but also very good and very sweet.

Why do you love him?
We love him because he is a part of us and we couldn’t live without him.

What’s the funniest thing he ever does?
He sometimes freezes sitting and remains immobile thinking about who knows what for a long time, even 20-30 seconds! Therefore our niece calls him the “thinking dog”.

Do you get closer to other people thanks to him?
Sure, we’re quite enjoying that Ray gives us the opportunity to meet other people – as it happened with you too

Who are his favourite people when you’re not around?
We leave him with my sister who is also madly in love with him. He knows he will be pampered and spoiled by her and my brother-in-law just the same.

Your favourite thing to do with him?
Long walks and and nice nap afterwards, where we’re hugging each other on the sofa until he falls asleep on top of me.

Any dreams you’d like to come true?
I’d love to have a nice house with a beautiful garden, just for him.

Last but not least: Any suggestions for potential dog owners?
Don’t waste time: ⁠Ray teaches us to love unconditionally, gives us a world of beautiful emotions every day and improves the quality of our lives.

How did you find each other?
He was a gift in a time of great need. When I found out he was coming I went crazy with joy. I got to know him through the videos that the breeder sent (he was born in Civitavecchia and we live in Puglia). Then in April 2021, Covid times, we crossed half of Italy to go and get him. As soon as we met I immediately picked him up and from that moment on we never left each other any more.

Why is Barack amazing?
He makes everyone smile no matter what. Because he is clumsy, funny, simply “simpatico!” –  even when he sleeps. He thinks he is a Chihuahua but has the size of an elephant! That is why, about a year and a half ago, I decided to open his own Instagram profile “barackfacose”, to be able to share our moments of lightheartedness even with people we don’t know personally.

How would you describe your relationship?
He is my shadow, he follows me wherever I go and I don’t even remember what life was like without him.

His greatest passion?
Bread. He knows where we keep it so we often find him sitting there in front of the box, contemplating. He probably expects the box to eventually open up and feed him…

How do you understand each other?
I don’t know if this works for every dog, but Barack seems to understand everything I say, not just the basic commands we taught him during training sessions.

Who would Barack be if not a dog?
He could only be the former US President Barack Obama. Strong, ironic, brilliant. The name Barack was chosen in his honor.

Why do you love him?
I love him for so many reasons! He stole my heart with his infinite sweetness and his unpretentious love. He taught me so much about the virtue of patience, about the value of time, about the ability to appreciate the simplest things like the silence of a walk, gratitude and the ability to forgive because even when I leave him alone, when I return he he is always there, with his favorite stuffed animal in his mouth, ready to welcome me joyfully. Barack was the best unexpected surprise ever.

Do you remember anything particularly funny?
I do! Barack has always loved tennis balls. When he was about 6 months old I took him with me to a padel game. He spent more than half an hour trying to retrieve a ball on the sidelines through the glass. He made everyone laugh!

Has your dog made your life with other people easier?
Barack allowed me to meet and become friends with many people. I tend to be a very shy and solitary person but he helped me with this too. Now we have friends from the park, virtual friends from Instagram, friends from the neighborhood walk etc.

Do you have someone to leave the dog with when you leave?
When I’m not there I can leave him with my family. They take care of him as lovingly as I do. If they weren’t there, I don’t know if I would be able to leave, travel or go out with the same carefreeness. 

Is there anything that bothers you about him?
His stubbornness makes me angry sometimes. An example? When we are out and about and he has to decide where to go. He sits down and doesn’t want to walk until I indulge him. 

Your favorite activities together?
I love trekking with him in nature, going to the seaside or in the mountains, which are his favorite activities, too.

Are you dreaming of something special to do with him?
I would love to take him travelling more often, on all my adventures around the world. Unfortunately, the difficulty of traveling by plane and the impossibility of letting dogs into museums, churches and various monuments currently prevent me from doing so.  

Is this a dog that is 100% part of your family?
Barack is a member of the family in every respect. He sleeps in my bed, climbs on the sofa, has access to all the rooms of the house. A seat at our dinner table is the only thing he hasn’t gotten – yet.

What would you recommend to others who would like to take a dog in but cannot decide?
Do it, if you are ready to have your life turned upside down by a wagging tail, four little legs walking around the house and two eyes that you will no longer be able to do without. They will only give you unconditional love. But if you are not willing to sacrifice part of your time (and money), to go out in the rain, in the heat and the cold because walks are your dog’s favorite time, to clean your house when he is too young to understand that the needs arise outside or too old to be able to handle them, forget it. A dog is a living being that must be cared for, assisted, loved every hour of our life and forever, because it totally depends on us.