Simran
As lockdown restrictions start to ease, Nico and I have been reflecting on our different quarantine experiences. It seems we share one very special thing in common – we have both been lucky enough to be spending a lot of extra time with our respective furry friends. Zeus, my three-year-old standard dachshund has been spoilt with lots of attention and new adventures – and he’s also proven to be quite the shoulder to cry on when the quarantine blues hit.
Let’s be honest – you’re only here for the cute pictures.
Walks
Nico
I’ve been hanging out with my four-year-old pug Ozzy – the Prince of Barkness! Walks have been a great way of making sure I take regular breaks. I expected Ozzy to feel the same way, since in London he loves going out. Here in Northampton where I’ve been staying during lockdown he seems much less enthusiastic. This can only be explained by the lack of half-eaten boxes of Dixy Chicken, Chicken Cottage and KFC he’s used to finding when walking through Millwall Park. I’m not so sure Ozzy’s onboard with #staywell. He is a pug after all.
Come on Ozzy – my pomodoro timer’s about to go off! (Great tip Rob!)
Simran
I’ve enjoyed trying (and not always succeeding) some common lockdown activities like baking banana bread, home workouts and zoom quizzes. However, there has been one thing that has stayed consistent throughout this time. When I log off at the end of the day, there will always be an eager Mr Zeus standing by my trainers, wagging his tail frantically, waiting for his evening walk.
For a boy with such little legs, Zeus tries his best to keep up with some of the bigger dogs at the forest. As he’s grown up, he’s flourished into a social butterfly, greeting some of the regular pooches with a not so socially distant lick on the face. In fact, Zeus’s (over)friendliness was not welcomed by a mother swan who was protecting her baby swans a few weeks ago, as she angrily hissed at him when he tried to engage them in play.
How have they been helpful for overall wellbeing?
Simran
As much as I have moaned about the central line in the past, I can see how I made an effective use of the journey – from listening to daily podcasts, nodding along to newly discovered Spotify playlists and reflecting on the day’s events. When we first entered lockdown I had to rediscover an alternative time for some valuable reflection and all important me-time! I have found walking Zeus at a fixed time in the evenings helps me unwind and clear my head.
On the weekend, walking Zeus is a family affair and it regularly features as part of our Sunday routine. My brother has been suggesting new routes that he discovers on his bike rides and we take the opportunity at the weekends to explore these. Zeus often dashes through the forest excitably whilst my family debate what will be on the menu for the coming week.
Nico
As Simran says, routine is something that has been lacking for lots of us during lockdown. While Ozzy might have missed the odd meal in the beginning (sorry Oz!) he’s learnt to remind me when it’s mealtime, making sure I break for lunch and dinner on time. He also helps make sure I get up nice and early to let him out and avoid any unpleasant surprises on the floor in the morning! On the downside, his passion for food isn’t limited to fried chicken and he really struggles to respect the two-metre rule when we’re eating.
Anything you’ve learnt about your dogs since being around more
Nico
I’ve learnt that Ozzy could sleep on a washing line! Even my terrible guitar playing can’t stop him from nodding off.
Morning nap; lunch break on the sofa; electric guitar practice in the evening – strictly Black Sabbath only.
Simran
Dachshunds can be yappy and Zeus is no exception. I assumed that Zeus was being noisy because that is his nature, but we have recently discovered that he is also missing his friends. Instead of a catch up over facetime, Zeus goes into the garden and converses with the neighbours’ dog Ziggy. Apparently these bark offs are far more important than our want to be liked by our neighbours!
Aside from learning about Zeus’s interesting communication skills, I have also seen a more intuitive side to him. He’s able to pick up on everyone’s mood in the house and distribute his cuddles to the family members who need them the most, at any given time. One thing is for sure, Saturday night movie marathons have been so much cosier with Zeus by my side.
