Interview: Luna
Pets, they’re your best friend and confidant. Big or small, fluffy or a bit scruffy, it doesn’t matter, we love them all. They’re there for you unconditionally and the feeling is mutual. Our interview series celebrates this special bond between animals and hoomans. Let the awws begin.
Hooman: My name’s Martina and I work in marketing. I grew up in lots of different countries and love travelling, especially in South East Asia. I love Starbucks Chai Lattes, going on big walks with my little dog, and spending my time either attached to a spin bike or face down in a pizza, which almost never equals itself out weirdly.
Doggo: Luna (almost 2)! Also known as Lulu, Lu, Boon, Boona, Boonzi, Boon Doggle, Monster Dog, Monkey and on occasion, Angel.
Home: London, United Kingdom
I always wanted a dog of my own. My parents have seven, and I grew up around them so when I left home I missed their company. I kept telling myself “one day” or “when the time is right.” Finally I realised if a dog is going to live 10+ years and I don’t hurry up, I’ll be dead before the dog is. Call it my maternal alarm clock. I had seen a Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund at my parents’ place in Cornwall called Colonel Jackson who I loved. Within a week I’d found my Luna. She was the last pup of a really small litter up near Blackpool. Initially I wanted a dark boy but she looked so naughty and full of character I fell in love.
My Dad and I drove ten hours up and back to pick her up one weekend. She ran straight into my lap, bum wiggling and carrying her little white stuffed bunny that she still sleeps with. She was so small and so beautiful, I couldn’t believe I was taking her home with me. She was clearly in shock too as she did a massive poop within ten minutes of the journey home. I remember her sitting in my lap and locking eyes with me and I just thought, “Well, that’s it, you’re her Mama now.”
I used to think Luma was quite cool, but whenever I said it everyone was like, “Oh right yeah, Luna,” so to save time I just went with it. Also it makes me think of the Belinda Carlisle song “La Luna”, which quite frankly is a win win.
Luna is furiously smart and knows her own mind for sure. She’s totally obstinate and wants to do things in her own sweet time and on her terms. I’ll often find her looking at me like she definitely wants to jump up for a cuddle, but when I invite her to come over she just stares at me. As soon as I pick up my phone or stop paying her attention she’ll land in my face.
She’s super affectionate and loves a head bump and a cuddle. It’s cliche, but what I love most about Luna is her unconditional love. When she shoves her little head under my chin and curls herself up Into this warm little trusting bundle my heart just melts.
She can be a bit nervy around strangers and isn’t keen on kids, which makes socialising a little hard, but she loves playing with other little dogs and can be quite a madam about enforcing the fun when she wants to be!
She actually went through a phase of being really, really afraid of everything. I still don’t know exactly what happened but she refused to walk, was terrified of everything and had to stop and stare at anything that crossed our path. She was so anxious and it was so upsetting to see her like that. We worked really hard with a behaviourist to help understand her triggers and create better associations and safer experiences for her. She’s so much better now but it was a worrying time.
She’s constantly cracking me up. She’s obsessed with her toy box and when I put it down she dives head first into it so her legs sort of dangle off the side whilst she tries to get the right thing out. She has the world’s best head tilt, and if you ask her to move off your side of the sofa she immediately turns onto her back.
She gets really annoyed if I’m presenting at work (sometimes she comes into the office with me) and will sit at my feet whinging literally in front of a room full of board members with zero fucks. I had to pick her up like a clutch bag and just hold her under my arm whilst I went through my slides once. She’s super professional.
Since bringing Luna home, my life has changed a lot actually! I think I underestimated what a big change it would be to my life. Suddenly you can’t just up and go wherever you want whenever you want. You have to think about who’s looking after her, and become really conscious of her wellbeing - both physical and mental. It’s a real responsibility and that was a bit of a wake up call to begin with! Especially when she wouldn’t sleep as a puppy and screamed the house down - I thought I was going to lose my mind. Huge respect for new parents. Huge.
Follow Luna as she grows up in London on Instagram here.