The Dog Mum Rollercoaster: The lessons I’ve learnt from being a dog mum

Being a dog mum is such a rewarding role, but let’s face the reality – it definitely has its challenges. Not dissimilar to being on a rollercoaster ride – with the obvious highs and lows, the unexpected twists and turns, and putting the occasional dog vomiting episode to one side – it’s a ride that we are so pleased we took.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching – I wanted to share the lesson’s I learnt on my journey as a dog mum.

Love! goodness me – who knew there was so much of it to give!  The love we have for our dogs knows no bounds and it can take many people by surprise. This beautiful little soul now relies on you for everything and whilst this can be a little over whelming – the good news is that love is a two way street.  What you give is always outshone by what you receive.

Only the best will do! From the grooming to the dreaded vet bills – it seems the dog market is a lucrative one to work in.  But with all the expenses and services available to dog parents to choose from - there are some that are better than others, so seek out the services that suit you and your dog the best.  If you are not happy with the service you are getting from vet – find another one,  I moved vets and the impact was literally life saving! Likewise if you go to the groomers for a breed specific cut and come out with a short back and sides – it’s definitely time to move on!

Patience, Patience, Patience –Dogs, like kids (and partners!) need time, time to learn new things, time to adjust to changes and time to become a member of your family.  We live such fast paced, results-orientated lives, that it’s easy to want everything sorted here and now.  Unfortunately that’s just not how animals, kids and partners work.  Being a dog mum taught me the importance of being patient – I have had to dig deep over the years but its been 100% worth it.

Embrace dirty floors – but have a mop near-by! The very first time I saw four little wet paws walk across my clean kitchen floor – I was a bit shocked to be honest! It’s true - 

having an animal in your house certainly changes what you might have previously considered ‘clean’. That’s not to say I like the mud and dust, but please don’t sweat the small stuff – floors can be cleaned, carpets can be shampooed and invest in a descent home scent – the wet dog smell never grew on me – so a great excuse to buy a gorgeous scented candle.

Treasure it all.  Easy to say and difficult to do.  The great travesty is that out beloved dogs are not with us for as long as they should be, and as heart breaking as this is, it’s a great life lesson to live in the moment and treasure what we have in front of us.  So this year – go to town on Mother’s Day – love your dog and your journey as their mum.  With a list as longs as their tails, you can celebrate in a million different ways, from taking their favourite walk, which is now obviously your favourite walk, to having a delicious dog friendly pub lunch – you know it’s a day worth celebrating. 

Wishing you all a lovely Mother’s day – and for any of you looking for a last minute gift for your dog or a great dog mum that you know, check out the dog photoshoot gift vouchers available to download here!

Much love,

Suzi

A few kind words from some of my lovely clients!

“My pup Miso and I spent a morning with Suzi on Hampstead Heath. Miso is a bit nervous around new people but Suzi put her at ease instantly. She has a brilliant eye for the composition of the photos, even when I can't immediately see how it would work. All of the photos turned out wonderfully and I felt they really captured Miso's cheeky mischievous and happy personality and our bond. I couldn't choose between the photos so pretty much bought most of the ones that she took. I would highly recommend Suzi to anyone who wants to capture memories of their pups.” Shu Shin, Miso’s human

“Suzi was so lovely with our dog and a pleasure to work with. The photos were better than I’d hoped for - we have a very active boy and she captured not only some fantastic action shots but also really his character and personality. I’d highly recommend!” Anne, Harry’s human

“Everything about our photoshoot with Suzi was fantastic. She has a natural way with dogs and people, making the session relaxed and fun. Her wonderful photos perfectly capture our family and will be treasured. The quality of the prints is outstanding too - we couldn't be more pleased.” Holly, Frida’s human