Why dogs are now woman's best friend

Recent research shows twice as many dogs are owned by women than men as more people put off having children.

Women even feel their dogs are more affectionate than their partners, echoing Cheryl Cole's view that she can only trust her mum and her dogs.

Lydia Rossi, who lives in Bradley, near Stafford, has three dogs and says she loves spending time with them.

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"I grew up with dogs and because I can't have children I felt I needed to channel my affections somewhere," says Lydia, who works as a chiropractic assistant and lives with her husband Martin.

"We tried not to replace a child with a dog, but there was a big hole in our lives which needed to be filled."

Lydia's dogs are Jack, aged 7, who is a west highland white terrier, she also has a miniature schnauzer called Alice, 6, and a miniature wire haired Dachshund called Raymond, 1.

"Dogs give you unconditional love – whatever you do they think you are the bee's knees, and they are always there for you," says Lydia, 61.

"When I walk my dogs I would say around 70 per cent of the people doing the same thing are women. Dogs are great for women because they are affectionate, they don't come in drunk from the pub and mine are small enough to sit on my lap."

In addition, women are conquering the wonderful world of dogs in other areas, including the popular Kennel Club Dog Photographer of the Year competition, which has been won by women for four out of the past five years.

Furthermore around 74 per cent of tickets for Cruft's 2012's event were purchased by women, suggesting that the UK's female population are more willing to spend their leisure time in the company of man's alleged best friend.

Figures released by the Kennel Club reveal that over 40 per cent of all the club's registered dogs are owned solely to women.

Only around 20 per cent of dogs registered with the Kennel Club are owned solely by men and around 38 per cent are registered in joint ownership.

It is no surprise that dogs have won such a strong place in women's hearts, when they often prove to be more affectionate companions than men.

Recent research conducted by the Kennel Club found that only around half of women said that their partner will lavish them with love and attention when out and about, while eight in ten said that their dogs do.

The research also reveals that the female love affair with our four-legged friends is leading to some women favouring dogs over children, as they fit more easily with their lifestyles.

Two in five say that owning a dog is a happy alternative to having children, and a quarter say that while their children would always come first, they would prefer to do things with their dog.

Traci Gaunt from Bentley, Walsall, has four dogs and regularly takes them out running with her.

Infact, in the last few years the 46-year-old has managed to lose more than five stone thanks to the CaniX training she does with her pets, and has gone from a size 22 to a size 10.

"Dogs never question your judgement or doubt you – they are always there for you," says Traci, who is a higher teaching assistant at Jane Lane School. "I live alone and don't have children, and the dogs give me a sense of purpose – Christmas would be a very hard time without them.

"My dogs even come into work with me as they are registered to work with children and are great with pupils who have ADHD as the dogs help to calm them down."

Traci has three border collies called David, 12, Sharon, 13, and Gavin, 4. She also has a German pointer called Kevin, aged 24 weeks.

"I go running with them around four times a week and we do between four and 12 miles along the canals or over Cannock Chase," says Traci.

CaniX is cross-country running for dogs and has been described as like sledging with huskies – but without the sledge.

Both the dog and owner are fitted with a harness, and between them is a bungee rope which takes the pressure off the dog's shoulders and the runner's back.

"I think there are a lot of women who haven't got children and so have dogs as it is nice to have the company," she says.

"I have been in relationships but have always had dogs – the relationships haven't lasted whereas the dogs have always been there."