'My dog Freddie helps me handle my ADHD - his cuddles ease my anxiety'

07.11.2022 - 03:25 / dailyrecord.co.uk

When artist and chef Annie Nichols was diagnosed earlier this year with ADHD at the age of 57, it was her 10-year-old English springer spaniel who helped her deal with it. But in fact he’d been helping her for a lot longer.

“It took a while, but once I got my assessment it was such a revelation, like a huge weight had been lifted,” says Annie, who lives in Margate. “I’d spent a lot of my life not being able to grasp certain things or mimicking others in social situations, and often getting it wrong.”

As well as being Annie’s four-legged best friend all these years, waggy-tailed Freddie had, almost unbeknownst to her, been acting as her emotional support dog.

Emotional support dogs are distinct from service or therapy dogs, and help their owners cope with the challenges associated with emotional and mental health conditions by providing comfort through their presence.

“Freddie is really affectionate,” says Annie. “If I’ve been upset, he will come over and give me a cuddle or nudge my hand for a stroke, which can release serotonin and ease anxiety. He’s also a good distraction. I can become hyper-focused, but Freddie likes to suddenly bring me silly things, like a pair of socks. He gets excited and does this proud little dance to get me to look up from what I’m doing. He always looks so pleased with himself – it never fails to make me laugh.

“The best thing about dogs is that there’s no judgement. As long as you feed them, walk them and play with them, they accept you exactly as you are.”

When it comes to knowing what dogs need and love, Wainwright’s has that animal instinct. It understands that owners want to provide only the highest-quality natural ingredients for their beloved pet at mealtimes. It knows where and how to