Who doesn’t love puppies? The internet was made for cute videos and pictures of dogs and cats, which I watch to brighten my day whenever I need a fluffy mood lift. But what about living with a real puppy? Is it all dressing them in Christmas jumpers and idyllic family dog walks on the beach? What are the five best things about puppies?

We’ve had Coco the Purple puppy for nearly eight weeks now. It hasn’t all been easy, but it’s definitely all been worth it. She’s enhanced my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. She makes me smile every single day. Today I’m bringing you my top five positives of having a puppy.

The five best things about puppies;

One. The snuggles. This is my absolute favourite thing about living with my dog. When she’s tuckered out and ready for a snuggle with me on the sofa. She lies next to me, on my lap or at my feet and it’s the best thing ever!

Coco is a Cavachon and so she has the fluffiest, silkiest, fur. Stroking her, and feeling the warmth of her little body warming mine is divine, and honestly a night snuggled on the sofa with her beats anything else I could be doing with my time.

Two. The walks. I’m going to admit I don’t love every single walk. Some days it’s raining and windy and she refuses to walk. That’s not fun at all. But on the sunny winter days walking her is absolutely perfect.

I either walk her alone, or with my family. It gets me outside, into nature, every single day which is potentially the best thing I could do for good mental health. She (mostly) loves it, especially if she meets a playmate to chase, roll around, and sniff bums with.

Three. Training. I hadn’t anticipated enjoying training her, I’d imagined it was a necessary means to an end. However training is incredibly satisfying (and deeply frustrating at times). There’s something really special in that moment when she obeys a command and I know she understands me.

At the moment I am training eye contact to aid our communication, so leave treat, then eye contact, then treat, and looking into those big puppy eyes is lush.

Four. The social side. I hadn’t realised how sociable having a dog would be. Since I work from home I often don’t have social contact with anyone over the age of 11 between 8-5 on weekdays. So having a little chat with a fellow dog walker really breaks up the day. Additionally we have found a fellow Cavachon owner who lives locally so there may be potential for making new friends.

It’s also fairly low pressure social contact, ideal for me as I’m autistic. We talk dogs, let our dogs meet, and move on.  Simple, structured and easy to handle.

Five. Company. As I mentioned I work from home, so prior to getting Coco I was finding myself feeling a little lonely during the working day. Now I’m never alone.

She’s either driving me mental tearing round the house looking for trouble. Or she’s curled up in her bed whilst I work at my laptop. If I’m home alone in the evening I feel safer and happier. She’s the perfect little companion and I feel really blessed to have her in my life.