BORROW MY DOGGY
Meet Jambi the Cockapoo and Dexter the Labradoodle – two amazing chaps I met through www.borrowmydoggy.com.
Borrow My Doggy is an online service which connects dog owners with trusted local people who would love to look after their dog. It’s like a ‘dating app’ but better – to meet dogs!
Whether you are looking for a companion to join you on your walks, or are just in need of some paw-fect cuddles on a lazy Sunday afternoon, this system allows you to do just that. No need for expert dog care knowledge, just an open mind and a BIG heart!
For those of us who are not in a position to have our own dog(s), borrowmydoggy is a win-win situation for all involved. While dog owners can get extra support (especially for those who might need help because of life changes), dog borrowers can get to spend some quality time with a fur-friend. Some borrowers join to familiarize themselves with dog ownership, while others might be thinking of getting a different breed and want to test the water before buying or adopting. Whatever the reason, this system allows owners and borrowers to network and make new friends in their area. Whatever the reason, I highly recommend it and this is my reason why...
I wasn’t joking when I said it resembles a dating app – after all, it has a similar concept as you go through the different profiles looking at:
- your favourite breeds
- each dog’s little story
- the radius they live in (for travel convenience, of course)
- their age
Sound familiar? and whilst you are searching for your 4 legged soul mate(s), owners are also looking at your profile and deciding if you would be a good match for them. After initial messaging (to figure out if you’re compatible for each other), you finally organise a meet up…
This is where the “better than a dating app” comes in – upon meeting your furry-companion-to-be, the connection is instant- it’s the love-at-first-sight feeling you dream about, the true love story you only ever see in romantic movies, the ‘happily ever after’ you read about in fairy-tales. At that precise moment in time, you have been adopted for life; tail wagging uncontrollably, body bouncing off the walls, over-excited yelps and that inability to stand still - hopping instead from one paw to the other, like an Irish jig dancer on a sugar rush. From now on, this is it - you will be loved unconditionally, forever.
Borrow My Doggy allowed me to meet two incredibly loving fur friends – Dexter and Jambi! A love I thought improbable considering I have never been a big fan of poodles. Whilst I love all dogs (like most dog lovers), I do have my preferences and having mainly grown up with terriers and border collies, I have always had a soft spot for those breeds (playful, smart, energetic; the list goes on…) Although I love a good breed mix, I never thought of myself as a poodle person, thinking instead that they were more ‘show divas’ than actual ‘dogs’. However, this opinion changed instantly the minute I met Dexter (Labradoodle) and later, Jambi (Cockapoo).
You see, although today’s Poodles seem to epitomize a life of leisure and luxury, these dogs are real dogs that were once bred to do real jobs. Originally, poodles were water retrievers, a job which required jumping in the water to fetch waterfowl for hunters. Even their coat has a practical purpose: long hair around the joints and vital organs for protection, and trimmed hair to lighten the coat and prevent catching on underwater debris. So, not only was I very wrong about the breed, I also found out that Poodles are renowned for having a playful but distinguished personality and keen intelligence. They excel at performance sports and are people-friendly dogs always up for a good game. The result you get from crossing this breed with any other breed means you guarantee getting the best of both worlds: an intelligent and charismatic dog who wants nothing but to play and to love their humans – and all of that wrapped up in a neat teddy-bear lookalike. Not to mention the hypoallergenic quality they also have.
Nowadays, Poodles have been mixed with every possible dog breed out that – I was gobsmacked at the array of cross-breeds: labradoodles, cockapoos, cavadoodles, boxerpoodles, chipoodles, poogles, schnoodles… I won’t list them all (just the funny-sounding ones). Anyway! Enough of me getting side-tracked. I started this post to talk to you about my love story with Dexter and Jambi and I still haven’t gotten to it. So without further a due, here goes…
When I first met Dexter (aka the BFG, Gentle Giant, Monkey…), my heart melted. The minute Pippa opened the front door, Dexter and I’s love affair had begun; that teddy bear face was simply irresistible! With nothing but love and admiration in his big brown eyes, Dexter had conquered my heart. With a gentle nature and a playful personality, Dexter is an incredibly handsome and athletic labradoodle. His ultra soft and frizzy coat will always keep you warm and, he never (or almost never) sheds – pure bliss.
Whilst Dexter’s obsession with tennis balls is relentless, his undying energy and determination to ‘fetch’ are admirable. I do get the feeling that his hair overcrowds his sight and as a result, I often find him running in the complete opposite direction to where I have thrown the ball… I shouldn’t laugh, but that’s just what makes his charm. If Dexter could say anything, I believe his words would be: “ball, ball! Ball? Ball…. TREAT! Treat? Baaaaall….? CUDDLES!!! Ball!”
Though he is not an aggressive dog, his lack of confrontation guarantees you will lose his tennis ball 9 times out of 10 to a more possessive and dominant dog - usually smaller than him and very often female. But that’s what makes Dexter so special – his kind, sweet and loving soul.
Although Dexter loves to be outdoors and could stay out forever more, he does love his cuddles, which, come to mention them, will be offered regardless of where you are - I actually think he is completely unware of his size as he often tries to sit on your lap… In any case, I consider his clumsiness a quality. As a matter of fact, I could write a book about the character that is Dexter but for now I’ll keep it short and sweet.
Now I met Jambi by pure coincidence; Kym and Tristan were looking for someone to look after Jambi and came across my brother-in-law’s borrowmydoggy profile. After telling them he was unfortunately unavailable to look after the Jambster, he put me in contact with Kym knowing that I would most likely be able to pup-sit as I work from home (and I looooove dogs). I accepted immediately! Looking after a 3-month old puppy? YES, PLEASE! (little did I know what I was getting myself into…)
Jambi is not your average puppy, and he knows it. You should not be fooled by Jambi’s overwhelming cuteness, not to mention those puppy-dog eyes… Behind that adorable, fluffy little face lies a mischievous miniature lion, ready to pounce at any moment!
Leaf chaser, lawn mower, JCB digger – you name it, Jambi is on it. He takes care of the pigeon population, he clears up the path from any dangerous objects (aka sticks) and will, very kindly, ensure every item and bit of furniture in the house is chew-proof.
Jambi also likes to challenge you, but doesn’t necessarily realize he might be compromising himself in doing so… For example: he absolutely loves going for a walk – but you try and put that harness and lead on him and you will have reached your weekly workout target just from chasing that monkey around! In fact, if you looked up the word ‘cheeky’ in the dictionary, Jambi would be the first name to appear next to it.
Vocalist and drama student by day - ultimate cuddling champion by night, this little guy might keep you on your toes but he is one hell of a companion.
He is also the best at giving a bath to - I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a laidback dog in a bathtub. Of course the drying side of things doesn’t go quite as smoothly. When handed a towel to dry the monster, Jambi’s favourite game (like any little boy) is to grab the towel and proceed to run around the house wearing it as a cape; tripping up and walking into things on his way… but all joking aside, Jambi won my heart the minute he ran through the door, went straight to my flatmates’ bedroom and fetched me her slippers as some sort of “nice to meet you” gift.
Right, if you have read this (and enjoyed it, I hope) and are a big dog lover yourself who does not currently own one, I highly recommend you try out Borrowmydoggy (if possible for you) as it will change your life!