‘We helped save Floyd's life and he's since enriched ours’

17.11.2022 - 16:59 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Animal lovers Matt, 34, and his girlfriend Melanie Chandler, 32, had been thinking about getting a dog for a while, but wanted to be sure they could commit to the responsibilities involved. Then one day that decision was all but taken out of their hands… “While deliberating, we heard of someone locally who’d had a litter of cocker spaniel puppies,” says Matt. They popped over “for a quick look”. That’s when they first met Floyd – who was the runt of the litter: the puppy's father picked him up and placed him in Matt’s lap.

The couple went away to think about it. Then a week later, the owners called to say Floyd wasn’t very well and was struggling. "They explained that he needed hand rearing,” Matt recalls, "so we offered to help."

After a few weeks of being cared for in this way, Floyd not only survived, but began to flourish: “He’s now bigger than any of his siblings – and both of his parents!” Matt says.

It has taken a while to learn how to manage the cocker spaniel – named after Matt’s favourite chef, the late Keith Floyd. “He’s lovely, but requires a lot of attention,” Matt explains. “Constantly stealing the TV remote was always a big thing; he still associates the buttons with my not focusing on him.”

He learned to be patient with his excitable pup and, little by little, a bond of trust was built between them. Matt admits that this hasn’t just improved his relationship with Floyd, but with other people too.

“I think the fact that I get a hug every morning – he literally puts both his front legs over my shoulders! – sets me up for a positive day. I used to have quite a short fuse, but that genuinely seems to have changed with Floyd around.”

But where Floyd has helped the most – and where dog and owner have really bonded