What made you get Hugo in the first place?
We lost our dog a year before and the house was not the same without the craziness a dog brings. We fell in love with Hugo and his sister Rosie, so we ended up getting 2 dogs! Double the craziness!
How did you choose Hugo?
We researched different breeds and felt this was just the type of dog we were looking for.
What is the most rewarding thing you have found about owning a pet?
The endless fun, laughter and love they show you.
Have you encountered any problems (illnesses, behavioural, social) with your pet?
Hugo had to have a total hip replacement at 10 months old which was very young to go through such a procedure. The recovery period was 12 weeks, and it was a real problem trying to keep a big bouncy puppy calm and still, especially with his sister still wanting to play with him every day. We have not encountered any social or behavioural problems, apart from the fact he likes to meet everyone and anything and doesn’t understand why someone would not want to stroke him, or why a dog would not want to play with him.
What is your top tip for people thinking about adding a pet to their family?
Be prepared for your house to be destroyed if you get a puppy! You also need to be prepaid to make sacrifices to ensure they are not left alone too long and receive the attention and exercise they need. It’s hard work at times, however the fun and love they fill your life with is so worth it.
Do you have any funny stories to share with us about Hugo?
Hugo is quite a character, he has no concept of his size and even at around 65kg, he thinks he is a lap dog and can sit on your lap! He loves flowers, often when walking past gardens if we don’t distract him quick enough he will grab the flowers as we are walking past, he stores them in his month and spits them out at our front door – for all our neighbours to see so no getting away form who the flower pincher in the street is! He plays football by actually using his paws to move the ball, the boy has some serious skills!