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 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.

What’s so amazing about Ulisse?
The thing I love most about him is the enormous love he gives us every day. He is an affectionate little dog and is very playful.

Who would he be if he were a person? 
He would certainly be another brother!

Do you know about his secret passions? 
Ulisse loves to spend his time playing with us and taking long walks. He loves going out with us and every time he sees us going out he places his pet carrier in front of him, thus communicating his intention to come with us.

How do you understand each other? 
Our language is based on a few simple words and gestures.

Did your dog ever bring you closer to other people?
Ulisse makes me feel part of a group. Meeting other dogs and their owners during the walk offers moments of discussion and light-heartedness… It’s wonderful to see Ulisse play with the other dogs and having fun!

Where do you leave him when you have to go away for a couple of days? 
He has never been alone so far. When we are out of town the other family members are there to look after him.

Is there anything that annoys you about him? 
Whatever he does, he always makes me laugh! A bit less when he nibbles on my designer bags, yet never enough to get angry. Or when he wakes me up at dawn – I still find him adorable.

What are your favourite things to do with him?
Playing, going for long walks and sleeping in each other’s arms.

Any dreams you’d like to come true with your dog?
I’d love to take him travelling one day!

Is your dog allowed on the bed?
He is. After carefully cleaning his paws, which we do every time we come back from a walk.

Any dog /advice you would like to share?
Well, getting a dog is a commitment, most probably you’ll be forced to let go of something else. But that’s nothing against the unconditional love they have for you, without asking for anything in return. It is a pure and disinterested love, inexplicable I would say.

Please tell us about yourself and your dogs!
We are Carsten and Carlotta Teubel, both in our 50s, entrepreneurs, currently living in Berlin. I, Carlotta, used to work in the fashion Industry, Carsten was in finance. Together we created the brand Worldpearlslove, now we’re looking for new challenges. Our dogs are Noosa, a Labrador Retriever, 6yrs old, and Bali, a Miniature Dachshund, 3yrs.  Noosa comes from a breeder in Germany (Hessen) and was the only chocolate lab in the litter. His two black brothers got adopted, his mother and four sisters died after birth. So Noosa was “raised” by a foster dog-mom for his first few weeks! Bali got adopted from a family in Berlin when he was nine weeks old. We thought he would be an “ordinary”, normal sized dachshund but he grew into a big miniature one. 

What’s so amazing about your dogs? 
Noosa is our CCO (Chief Cuddling Officer) and will do everything for cheese. Bali has the heart of a lion in a sausage costume and is the little big “security guy”. 

How would you describe your relationship? 
Noosa loves his freedom. But when it comes down to it, he’s very close and affectionate. Bali is always by our side, to an extent that he loves to sleep under the sheets (with us) at night. 

Do you know about their secret passions? 
Noosa loves swimming and rescuing everything and everyone in the water. The most passionate lifeguard! Bali loves to sleep in the sun, no matter how hot.

How do you “understand” each other?
We talk like we would talk to other fellow humans: Gentle conversation instead of commands.

Do you have a “trick” that always works?
Both of them are easy to handle, very smart and understanding. But since we’re together ALL the time really, they think they don’t always HAVE TO obey. But there’s one very powerful “code” that always works and it is HAPPIHAPPI (german slang for EAT EAT). They’d come immediately from wherever they are.  

If your dogs were persons – who would they be? 
Noosa is such a cool guy. He could be Steve McQueen or Denzel Washington. Bali has something of Clint Eastwood about him, but also of Hugh Grant, the womanizer. 

Why do you love them?
Because they are our furry sons. We are family. 

What was the most memorable thing your dogs ever did? 
Noosa once brought home a little bird. All we noticed was a very tiny bird’s foot hanging out of its mouth… He must have picked up the little one off the ground, maybe he had fallen out of his nest. And he definitely wanted to save him! Noosa would never have done him any harm. 
Bali amazed us right from the beginning. We remember very well that he slept through the first night. We had already prepared ourselves to go out at least three or four times, as we used to when Noosa was little. But we  woke up the next morning, everything dry and the little one still fast asleep. He should actually be called “easy and dry”.

Did your dog ever bring you closer to another person/other people? 
Of course they do. We’ve got in touch with the whole neighborhood. With people we didn’t know before and then became friends and with people we never actually wanted to know. That’s life.

Where do you leave them when you have to go away for a couple of days? 
We did it only a couple of times when we travelled far during the winter. The dogs were in a dog hotel outside of Berlin. The last two years we’ve lived in Ibiza where we’ve got the lovliest dog sitter. She lives near San Carlos and both the dogs just adore her and her hippie attitude.  

Is there anything that annoys you about them? 
Oh yes: Noosa loves to sniff each square centimeter in the street. A normal walk can take hours And Bali loves to bark: outside, when he sees other dogs and inside, when the door bell rings. But then again, that makes him an alarm system on four paws, doesn’t it?

What are your favourite things to do with them? 
They love to walk in the forest which they do three times a week with their dog walker. And they love nice restaurants, because they know they’ll get to try delicious pieces falling off the table. We all love playing in and out of the water, catching balls, cuddling and scratching, stroking and swimming. 

Any dreams you’d like to come true with your dogs? 
Living with them close to the sea and beach. 

Any advice you would like to share? 
Think about one thing before getting a dog: You do need time for them. They only want to be with you. How much space you have is not so important. It is your time that they need and deserve. 

A rainy day in Monopoli. What are you up to today?
We just came back from a long walk along the Adricatic coast. I’m always amazed how tenacious Tita is for being so little! She can run for hours and never gets tired. Maybe that’s also because I take them out all together. Being part of a pack makes it more entertaining, I guess. To tell you the truth, Tita is everything one would never expect from a Chihuahua. Super sweet with everyone, not aggressive at all, a Chihuahua anti cliché. All my five dogs have learned to live in a hierarchy, that makes my life easier. And they’re all very affectionate and loving! So I guess that’s what we’ll do today: Lie on the sofa and cuddle. Wait for the thunderstorm to pass and for the the sun to come out again.

How do you communicate with your dogs?
We understand each other perfectly through looks, a whistle, some exclamation, never shouting because there’s no need.

Do you know their secret pleasures? What do you do to spoil them every once in a while?
Fresh meat is always a winner, that works no matter what. Then there is this treat they adore, from the animal shop: a piece of dry beef. They all go crazy for it! Especially my little rebel, Pupi, the Bali dog.

You brought a Bali dog home?
Yes I did, couldn’t help it. I found her on a street, very sick and super tiny. Because I didn’t want to leave her, she was sent on an incredible journey: All the way to Jakarta at first where she got a new passport, then on a plane via Istanbul and Rome to Puglia. Eight days on the road and in the air, looked after by living, helping hands. But Pupi is a hero, she made it.  And we love her unconditionally.

Getting back to your latest arrival, Tita: Who would she be if she was a person?
She would be a tribal warrior girl! You may not believe it but she once chased a big dog just by barking at him, her little mean kind of barking.

You travel a lot, sometimes stay away for weeks. Where do you leave your dogs in the meantime?
There is a young woman close to where we live: She is a dog trainer and very happy to keep them while we travel, which is at least twice a year for about a month and a half every time. The dogs adore her! And they are just as happy when we come back. It would be lovely to be able to take them with us every time we leave. Unfortunately not everyone welcomes them the way they should. I once went to Miami, where there are parks for small dogs only, where they can play we each other safely. Isn’t that phantastic? In Italy, especially in the South, they’ve got as whole different approach, a different mentality really.

What’s your favourite thing to do with your furry kids?
Long walks by the sea are our favourite. I try to do it every day! We’d spend at least two hours outside. During the winter, when we’ve got the beaches around Monopoli for ourselves, it’s even more exciting. They love to run together and I enjoy the moment of peace, every problem you may have gets lighter, any bad mood disappears while you’re walking, in nature, with your dogs.

Any advice you’d like to share?
Dogs make our lives richer and I would suggest everbody to get one. But I think not everyone is capable to understand how to really make a dog happy. Dogs need all our love, yes, but they also need to be treated like dogs. They need long walks even though they are small, they don’t need to be over clean, they need to eat dog food to stay healthy and they need rules in order to be happy.  They need to run free and they need a pack leader to run back to.  The most beautiful thing that happened to me with my five dogs is to understand that dogs love to live with other dogs, love to play together and to sleep cuddling each other. They have their own rules to live together peacefully.

Where did you meet? How did you connect? 
It was in 2006, when a friend of my husband Sixto was looking for a home for some puppies he had found. We were living in Mallorca at the time, where the animal shelters are overcrowded and dogs are put to sleep after 2 weeks. Since I was travelling back and forth between Munich and Mallorca at the time, it was not the right moment to adopt a puppy. So I said no. But one day that friend passed by and brought us this little black and white puppy anyway. So we had a dog! 
Although I wasn’t entirely happy about the timing, it never crossed my mind not to take the little guy in, because I knew that otherwise his future wouldn’t have been very promising. Billy turned out to be a shy puppy, a bit clumsy at times.  But he always knew exactly what he didn’t like. And that was activity! To go jogging or cycling with him was impossible. Even swimming wasn’t his thing. So he wouldn’t join in when we went out with our Mallorcan fishing boat to go swimming in the sea. Billy was happiest when his family was home, chilling.

What’s so amazing about Billy?
He is extremely loyal and faithful. Not long ago we lost our two Jack Russel girls, who were his whole world. These 3 doggies, together with our 4 cats, were an incredibly harmonious, close-knit animal family. It was extremely hard for him to lose his two ‘siblings’ within only a couple of months. At first he was very sad and looked for them everywhere. His bond with one of our cats became very close after the death of our two Jackies though.  As sad as it was to see him mourning, it is so nice to experience this new, very close friendship between him and our tomcat Rübe.

How do you “understand” each other?
Our connection is intimate. He is the apple of our eye. We believe he is the most kissed dog on earth! Basically, now that we only have one dog, and he is already at a blessed dog age, everything evolves around him. We understand each other blindly. After so many years, we know each other so well that it’s not a problem that he can’t hear anymore and that his sight doesn’t work properly either.  We are simply a perfectly attuned team. I have never had a dog that was lucky enough to grow so old and I enjoy every single day with him super intensely.

Do you know about his secret passions? 
His passions have changed over the years. These days he loves his acupuncture sessions, which he receives regularly from our vet for his arthritis. She works with aromatherapy and Billy enjoys these sessions very much.

Is there anything he always appreciates no matter what?
Although he is a senior now, he is always up for silliness! He still loves to run his zoomies in the garden. Not so fast anymore because of his arthritis, but still full of energy and craziness.

If your dog was a person – who would he be? 
That’s easy: my husband Sixto! The two of them have so much in common. They both prefer to take things slowly and carefully. But at the same time, they are super smart and highly sensitive. Sport and exercise are not really their thing. But delicious food and cosy hours in front of the fireplace are.

Why do you love him?
Because he is the most loyal and faithful being I’ve ever known.

Did your dog ever bring you closer to other people?
I think Billy has intensified the bond between me and my husband Sixto, who loves Billy as much as I do. And the connection with my stepdaughter Teresa, who is an adult now and has a dog of her own, has also intensified through our shared passion for Billy.

Where do you leave him when you have to go away for a couple of days? 
A tricky issue. We actually don’t travel very often because of our animals. When we do, my mum comes from Germany to keep ‘Prince Billy’ and the cats company.

Is there anything that annoys you about Billy? 
When he was younger, he had a strange way of communicating with other males. As a result, he was bitten a few times. That was a difficult time. I trained him a lot back then and it wasn’t always easy. I’m glad that now, as a senior, he no longer has any problems with other dogs.

What are your favourite things to do with him?
I love to go for a walk in the forest with Billy early in the morning, right after waking up. It’s our very personal quality time together. We walk through nature – at a slower pace than before. We enjoy the peace and the pleasant smells of nature.

Any dreams you’d like to come true with your dog?
If I could wish for anything, it would be to have him around for another 16 years.

Is Billy dog allowed in bed?
Of course he can sleep in our bed if he wants to! He usually lies by our feet and then later jumps into his dog bed next to ours. I think it is complete nonsense to think that this could lead to dominance problems. It goes without saying that he is part of our family. I cannot understand why people have a dog that only lives in the garden and is not allowed in the house. Even though it is not uncommon here in Spain and many other southern countries.

Any advice you would like to share?
I think it’s good people think very carefully about whether a dog fits into their lives or not. It is a big responsibility. A commitment over many years. A dog is a social being that wants to be near its people. It doesn’t matter how small the flat is. What matters is the amount of time you can spend with a dog. A dog with a big garden can be significantly unhappier than one that lives in a small flat. Also, I would never buy a dog, I would always adopt. Even pedigree dogs and puppies can be found in animal shelters. It is important to choose a dog that really suits you. A senior person should rather not get a dog with a great urge to move. For me, loving a dog is one of the best things in life.

Where did you meet the dogs that changed your life, Nina and Tito?
I met Nina on the beach of Pozzallo, in Sicily, on January 1, 2020. All alone and eager to cuddle, this big puppy started playing with my son Giacomo and spent the rest of the morning by our side. Even though Giacomo insisted, we couldn’t take her home with us, first of all because we were on the island for the Christmas holidays, second because in our hotel in Ragusa dogs were not allowed. Last but not least we didn’t even know if she belonged to somebody (even though a her severe dermatitis suggested she didn’t). Reluctantly, we left her on the beach to play with another dog she had met in the meantime.
The next day, we went back to the beach to look for her, we simply couldn’t forget about her. We arrived fairly late and there was no trace of the little dog, so there was nothing left to do but to go for dinner. Leaving the restaurant and just about to hop in the car we finally saw her: She was waiting for us right there! The message was clear: This dog had chosen us and we certainly couldn’t leave her there. So we called a vet who left his family dinner to join us, examine the dog for any serious health problems and to check her for a microchip. Nina (the name we had chosen for her) was in good health, luckily, didn’t have a chip and was supposedly 6 or 7 months old. Unforgettable, the advice the vet gave us on the way: “Wait for her first heat and have her sterilized…”
Within a few hours we threw away our plane tickets, rented a car, booked the ferry and left for Milan. But the surprises weren’t over. After about twenty days Nina began to change. She seemed to be suffering, was very lethargic and anything but herself. Fairly worried about her, we had her examined again and found out our puppy wasn’t only healthy but was expecting no less than nine puppies! The first heat we had been waiting for was doomed.
By the time she was about to give birth, Covid struck. And even though she was lucky to be in the clinic, only four out of nine puppies survived, due to the strong medicines she had taken to combat her dermatitis.
We called the little ones Tito, Kobe, Cookie and Belle. Thanks to lockdown, they grew up in the warmth of our house, with the adventures that the garden of our condominium had to offer. The people of the house, especially the kids, were happy about the distraction, to have someone to play with etc. By the time the puppies turned 3 months, we had found families for our puppies and, two of them found a home just a few kilometers from our house, the other two didn’t even change the adress: Tito stayed with me and Kobe, his sweet little brother, lives upstairs and spends most of his days with his mom and brother.

In what way did the dogs change your life?
In Milan there are many dog ​​areas to let the dogs run free and socialize. Thanks to Nina and Tito I have met many people and some of them have became true friends. But the real revolution in my life is the small artisan company that produces tailored garments for dogs: I couldn’t find good-quality raincoats at acceptable prices, so I bought some fabric and had two raincoats made. Wearing them in the dog area and on the streets of Milan, many people asked me to make one for their dogs too. My company was born! Not only a new thing to do in a completetely different and quite inspiring sector, but also some kind of therapy at the time: While I was getting separated, my new business gave me the stability I needed and helped to reorganize my life. Nowadays I attend all the important fairs of the sector, I get to meet many new and interesting people. A whole new life in a whole new world. Without Tito and Nina this would never have happened.

If your dogs were people – who would they be? 
Nina is a petulant spinster aunt, who scolds the little as well as the big ones but who melts into an embrace of the people she loves. Tito would be the funny, nice, good cousin, always ready to go out for drinks with friends and have a great time.

Do you have a “trick” that always works? That makes them listen no matter what?
The sentence “Let’s go to the pastry shop for breakfast!” works wonders. That goes for everyone in the family by the way!

Why do you love them?
Because they are my dogs and they are full members of my family.

Where do you leave them when you go away for a couple of days? 
Nina and Tito have a dog sitter who loves them and who I chose extremely carefully watching him “at work” for a few months. They go for walkies every morning. I usually take them out very early in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. They have never gone to a boarding house or slept alone.

Do they sleep in your bed?
Yes, they do. Luckily I have a kingsize…

Any advice you would like to give to someone who wants to get a dog but can’t decide?
Think about it very carefully. The dog is not a toy, it is an important and constant and sometimes heavy commitment. It is the choice to take in a child who will never grow up and who you will have to take care of for its entire life. Don’t get a dog for the children! They will soon get tired of it and you will have an extra child. But if, after thinking about it really well, considering the many changes and commitments you will have to face, you still decide to get a dog, then (unless you are in love with a particular breed) go to a kennel or shelter and choose your friend for life there. You will recognize him among thousands and its love for life will be the best reward.

PS: Want to know more about Marcella Magliucci’s artisan company and her taylormade products for animals? Check it out on Instagram @zampaly_pet_shop

Dogs have always played an important role in your life, right?
Absolutely. A few months ago my beloved Chester passed away and we are still mourning. He was a Labrador mix that came from Mallorca. I loved him so much and it still hurts. He is around, I can tell, but we cannot communicate the way we used to. In any case, I miss him a lot, that’s why I’m looking for a new Labrador mix or a Retriever. It is important for me to have a dog that is well behaved and big enough to scare off strangers. A dog that is easy-going and respects me no matter what. I’m not the one to go jogging with him for hours and I’m not very consistent in my education either. Poquito, the little Portuguese, looks like a miniature wolf. His body is tall, but the legs are short. Unfortunately, I can’t let him run free: He has already killed a few chicken at my neighbor’s. So we usually wait for the chicken to go to sleep and then go for our evening round (laughs). On the leash, most of the time, because as soon as he sees a rabbit he’s gone.

How did you meet Poquito?
I picked up Poquito at the Bahnhof Zoo train station in Berlin, eight years ago from now. He came from Portugal in an animal protection van, a tiny puppy, no more than four months old. Someone had found him in a rubbish bin. This probably explains his fear of men, especially men with white hair. It’s pretty obvious he was traumatized. Chester came from Mallorca. He had always been on a chain, as a guard dog of a big construction site. All he ever got to eat were chunks of hard bread. That’s actually why I left Mallorca after 10 years: I couldn’t stand how they treated the animals. There were abandoned dogs everywhere, in front of every house, even where no one lived. I went horseriding often and happened to see so many of them on a short chain in lonesome courtyards, exposed to the blazing sun, often without fresh water and with very little to eat for how skinny they were.
I had to go away, I couldn’t stand it anymore. The situation has improved in recent years, from what I understood. There are people who try to take care of the dogs now. But when I moved there 20 years ago, the conditions were different. In Mallorca there’s a saying that having a dog in front of the house signifies you have money, enough to feed a dog as well. When I think of how many I wanted to save, I could have adopted ten and more!

You’re saying you’re not very good at educating your dogs. How do you manage?
I look at Poquito. Guess what. And he understands. As if it was telepathy! I don’t have to raise my voice or educate him. I do it through vibrations. And with the intensity of my features. He can laugh, he must have learned it from me. And if I look angry, he knows it’s getting serious. He definitely reads my features and I read his. Then of course what I adore about him is his character, a cheeky, sometimes naughty little boy. He can walk on his hind feet, even turn in circles on two legs!

What is your relationship like?
Very mature, I guess, because Poquito is a loner. Not a pack dog like the Beagle that lives above us. And he doesn’t stick to me that much. He goes into the garden alone and lies in front of the gate for hours, watching who is passing by and, sometimes, barking at the neighbors. He’s like a little Indian, he kept his wilderness. And I’m kinda Indian too. I need a dog like him, free, with his own personality, not a dressed up one, sitting on a sofa. I also need personality in my photos. And truth. Those are the things that I’ve been looking for my entire life. Poquito is perfect in that sense. Oh my God, I’m in love with him. What was the question again?

If he was a person who would he be?
Something between Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. A part of him is like “I’m going to get really dirty now”, then the other part goes “but actually I’m quite a smart guy, well educated and super nice”. 

Who looks after him when you’re not around?
I have someone who comes to my house and takes care of the dog here. I want to avoid any other trauma for him and knowing that in a kennel there would certainly be men (impossible!) and other dogs (only partly possible), that would stress him out too much. My mother used to take care of the dogs when I was gone working. Now I have my roommate to watch out. But if she’s not around, it’s difficult. What I usually do is offer a “nice day in the country” to friends who already know him. And ask if they can open and close the door for Poquito. So far I’ve always been lucky to find someone.

Is there anything annoying about Poquito?
Well, it annoys me a lot that he kills. Because it scares me off and I don’t quite understand that my sweet little dog can turn into such a monster! But maybe that’s part of his character, being very similar to a Wolf. There are photos of white Wolves that look extremely similar to him. Also Huskies. And that’s where you have to be careful.
Many years ago I was shooting for Elle in Los Angeles. I photographed a little Wolf with the model. And I wanted to take this beautiful animal home with me, adopt it right away, it was so cute. The trainer told me that Wolves are not allowed to eat meat. They can only have dry food because once they smell fresh meat, they will kill. I ended up leaving the dog where it was at the time. But Poquito reminds me a bit of him.

Tell us about your favourite things to do together!
I actually really like watching him lying in the grass, playing with the ants and flies, feeling perfectly at ease with himself and the world around him. It’s such a lucky life he is living, without any sorrows. The only thing that counts is to live the moment. For dogs there is no past or future, they live and perceive nothing but the present. That’s what they are and that’s something I do appreciate. I learn a lot from him! He’s pure stimulation. The way he thinks, looks, smells and experiences the world with all his senses. That’s what we do when we’re together: go out in the woods. Take a look, enjoy and, each one of us in his own way, wag our tail!

Any challenges your’e facing now that he’s the only dog in the house?
Travelling with him is not easy. He will have to learn that now, because my son no longer lives in Germany and of course we want to go visit him every now and then. He has to learn to accept new places! I can’t always stay home because of my dog. But it’s difficult, he’s so scared: afraid of loud sounds, too many people… I took him to Kreuzberg, in Berlin, once. He wanted to pee on a tree. A woman came up and yelled at him that it wasn’t possible. That must have been traumatic. So travelling is and probably always will be our challenge. Because it would be nice if we could walk my paths together, too, and not just his walkies.

Any advice from someone like you who’s been working as a photographer for PETA for many years?
It’s true that I’m very connected to animal protection. PeTA (www.peta.com) for example have a beautiful page, where dogs that are free for adoption are introduced. Don’t take a dog because it looks so cute and it is still a baby! Go by its character, that’s way more important than his looks. Ask questions at the animal shelter, check if it is healthy! Those things are essential. A friend of mine adopted a dog in Spain, which ended up being totally vicious and doesn’t fit into the family at all. It was a mess to undo everything at the end. Try to take “your” dog for a walk first. Or get it from a foster family. At the animal shelter, they often don’t have time to study the dogs. Then of course you have to have the space to keep a dog, preferably a garden, and a lot of time. Leaving a dog alone too often is crucial. I personally cannot imagine a life without a dog. Especially for people who are alone the dog also replaces a partner, a very faithful partner. A dog is pure happiness! You can share things: go for a walk, eat together, meet people together. Thinking about it: I really want to get a second dog back so Poquito has a base. Because this dog needs it. And me too, I also need a second dog, absolutely.

PS: Gabriele Oestreich-Trivellini, born and raised in Hamburg, is a German portrait photographer, known as GABO. Kevin Costner, Eric Clapton, Boris Becker and many others posed in front of her camera. Gabo’s son is half Italian. For more info www.gabo-photos.com.

How did you meet Leo?
Leo is originally from Romania. We absolutely wanted to get an animal from animal protection, an issue I’ve been very passionate about for years. Saving a dog from unbearable conditions was our main target. Leo was picked out of more than 500 dogs because he was a victim of bullying, never got enough to eat. We were introduced to each other by the end of June 2020, and he moved in with us a couple of days later.

What’s so amazing about your dog?
Leo is a late riser. And he loves to cuddle! The best for him is his paw in the hand of one of us humans, being scratched on the stomach and falling asleep – again. Wonderful. Eating is his second favourite. He’s a vegetarian, like all of us. That often causes astonishment, but dogs are omnivores by nature, cats aren’t as flexible. Leo is healthy and happy and, according to the vet, in top shape. When I’m writing, he loves to be as close as possible, napping on his yellow dog sofa in one moment, the next sitting up and looking at me, and when I smile at him he will lie down again. He is very grateful and seems to understand how lucky he has been! And, frankly, if I had the space and the time I would adopt a couple of dogs more.
Then Leo loves our rabbits, who roam freely in our garden. He used to be particularly fond of one of them, Branko. While he was eating his greens, Leo sat next to him and watch. When Branko was done, Leo went out checking if there were any leftovers. He would never have eaten first, never chased away the rabbit.

How would you describe your relationship? 
Leo is a family member and looks after his pack without ever questioning the hierarchy. He looks out for us (sometimes more than necessary) and would defend us at any time.

If your dog was a person – who would he be? 
I think Leo would be a dreamy artist. There’s something quiet, withdrawn and somewhat romantic about him. A hedonist, sitting with a nice glass of wine watching the sunset.

Why do you love him?
I love how close we have become in no time! I never worried that he might run away. And apart from many sweet and funny things he does I love him because he would stand up for “his” family, there’s no doubt about that.

Where do you leave him when you have to go away for a couple of days?
Actually we never leave him, we always take Leo with us. We don’t fly, not only because of Leo, but also for ecological reasons. We usually rent an apartment where Leo feels comfortable, too, often in the Unterallgäu where I grew up, but also elsewhere. Since Leo is very attached to us, I wouldn’t want to risk giving him away for a holiday and traumatize him, so that he might never want to be alone any more. I’m terrified of the idea that his old wounds could open up. That would certainly not be worth the holiday! Last but not least we’re all convinced that a holiday with a dog is much nicer than one without.

What are your favourite things to do with him?
It’s because of him that I’ve become a passionate walker. We walk in the woods for hours! In the evenings we öfter cuddle with Leo on a giant beanbag in front of our fireplace. When I go to do a reading, I usually take him with me. Not only because he makes me feel safe but also because he attracts attention. I’m always happy to tell his – our – story!

Is your dog part of the family?
Definitely. Just like our two rabbits and guinea pigs, all of them taken from shelters. The rabbits live in our garden and move freely. They prefer to be on the terrace with us though, because that’s where they usually find food and cuddles. Leo loves them all. My partner and I work from home so Leo can be with us all the time. Since I write books, I can choose where I work and I often end up in the garden with Leo, who climbs onto the me bench with me to just be close. I can hear his breath and the birds chirping as I write, that’s amazing.

Any advice you would like to give?
I do suggest to get in touch with the local animal shelters. I often wonder why people want a puppy so badly, even though it doesn’t suit their lifestyle. Think carefully about how much time you have for a dog, what you expect from the animal and what kind of dog it is that you want. You can’t choose an animal based on looks! I truly believe that everyone can find “his” dog in a kennel. One to fall in love with.

PS: “Dogs appear in all my books, of course. It would be weird if not, my characters need them as much as we do, says Tina Schlegel, 49. She has been writing for various newspapers, currently for the Augsburger Allgemeine, and since 2015 also novels. Seven of her crime novels have been published by Emons Verlag and this year her first romance will come out Tina Schlegel lives in Kempen on the Lower Rhine.

Where did you meet?
Our story began on a walking trail in Alpe Devero. It had only been a couple of days that my husband Chicco and I had lost Kiwi, our 15 year old miniature schnauzer. You can imagine how we felt and how sad the day was. At some point a little puppy approaches us: He had major wounds on the head and under the neck. And he was smelly, hungry and full of maggots! The puppy must have figured that we had stuff to eat on us and was hoping to share our picnic lunch. Asking the people around us we couldn’t find out to whom he belonged. Someone mentioned a litter of shepherd puppies closeby and that’s where we went: to ask the shepherd if we could take Bobo home. Imagine, the little puppy was already wearing one of those high stiff collars that they use for cows! The guy gave us a long rope and the rest is history: We walked back not only the two of us but three. Again, luckily. I couldn’t have been happier.

What’s so amazing about Bobo?
Like every dog Bobo is extraordinary. So smart and sooooo good! He has an adorable perennial puppy face. One thing, however, is rather unique I’d say: Every time we meet “new” dogs he approaches the master first as if to ask his permission. Only then he’d move closer to his fellow dog. I’ve always had dogs but Bobo is the friendliest, with both humans and other animals.

How would you describe your relationship? 
We try to be together as much as possible. We even plan our holidays with him!

Do you have a secret code? 
Well, we’re using all our senses to understand each other: Sounds, looks, gestures… Can you imagine that Bobo loves hugging people that he likes?

Do you have a “key” that makes him listen no matter what? 
Bobo needs to rally people, a bit like herd dogs. If Chicco and I drift apart, all he wants to do is bring us back together and he’s a real sweetheart when he does. Sometimes, to make him move, we place ourselves at a long distance from each other and just by clapping our hands we call him first to one side and then to the other. He can’t get enough of that!

Why do you love him?
Because he belongs to the family. Because he chose us. Because we are good together. And because we are similar to each other.

What are your favourite things to do with him?
Being together and pampering each other.

Any advice you would like to share?
Getting a dog for someone who has never had one is an important decision. Consider that a dog will change your life. But change for the better! Believe me.

PS: Florence born Silvia Messeri, 55, is team leader and Real Estate Agent for Engel & Voelkers in Lecce. She arrived in Salento following her heart, attracted by the cobalt blue of the Puglian sky and the clear splendor of the stone.