My dog angus is such a comfort

If we had to nominate someone to represent Great Britain for general joie de vivre, Lorraine Kelly would surely top the list.

She’s such a cheery presence on our TVs of a weekday morning. And away from work, at the home in Buckinghamshire which she shares with her husband Steve Smith, she’s just as happy. It’s clear this has much to do with her “wee dog”, Angus.

“He’s always so happy to see me when I arrive home. I get such a welcome,” she says. “I can’t tell you how lovely it is to be greeted like this every morning. Angus is the son I never had. He brings me such joy.”

Lorraine has always been a doggie person.

“I really wanted a dog when I was a child but my brother had very bad asthma so it wasn’t possible,” she explains. “When my daughter Rosie was little – she’s now 29 – we got our first Border Terrier, Rocky. He sadly died in 2014. It took a while to get over that but I knew we’d get another Border Terrier.

“When we downsized and moved from Scotland back to England in 2017, we decided the time was right and so we got Angus.

“He’s very cheeky, on the go all the time, and full of beans. I could not love him more. He’s just brilliant and is such a comfort. The dog food company Tails, where we buy Angus’s food each month, released a report called “The Dog Difference” which includes the views of over 5,000 customers who reveal how their dogs benefited their mental wellbeing, as well as that of people around them.

“As well as making and delivering bespoke meals, they have a mantra that I very much believe in – that dogs are like four-legged therapists and real stress-busters. They really do help with your mental health, and others.

“My gran was in a care home before she passed away a few years ago. We’d take Angus when we visited her and the residents would light up when they saw him.”

Lorraine says Angus is also like her confidante.

“I talk to him all the time. I tell him things and he never interrupts! He’s the best listener.

“Angus will tilt his head to the side as if he is listening intently and he’ll nod as if he is agreeing with me – it’s very sweet. His main bed is in the kitchen, but he likes patrolling the house at night. He goes wherever he fancies.”

Does that include her bed?

“If he li