When Kat Downs moved from Canada to the UK, she could never have predicted the country would be plunged into lockdown in a matter of weeks.
She quickly found herself isolated without a job in a foreign country, with no friends and nothing to do.
The 33-year-old had moved from Vancouver in January last year, and enjoyed a trip to Paris where she got engaged to partner Joe Smithies, before moving to Derbyshire.
But weeks after they moved into their rented home, coronavirus hit the UK, plunging the country into a national lockdown, with Kat stuck in her new home ‘staring at the white walls’ for hours on end.
But months later, she welcomed 15-week old Hovawart puppy Oberon into her life, who she said gave her purpose to get out and explore, meeting new people when safe to do so, and exploring the country she’d impulsively moved to.
Kat said: “I was taking compassionate leave from work after my grandma passed away, and Joe had a really bad day at work and joked that we should move to England, where he was born.
“I’d never been to the UK but was able to get an ancestry visa because my nan was born in Scotland. Six months later, we landed in the UK - then covid hit.”
Whilst Kat was unable to work until her national insurance number came through, Joe - a dog trainer - would bring dogs home, and Kat found solace in their company.
She said: “I was so envious of Joe heading out to work whilst I sat at home staring at white walls.
"But one day he brought home a German shepherd called Pablo, which gave me a reason to get out and it also gave me some company. So, I told Joe we needed to get a dog.”
The couple, who live in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, discovered the Hovawart breed through one of Joe’s clients, and completely fell in love with the rare canine.
Kat added: “I’d never heard of the breed before, and there are only four UK breeders, who breed show lines. A breeder in Surrey invited us to meet her dogs, and I completely fell in love.”
Kat and Joe discovered a Swedish breeder, who was expecting a litter of the German working dogs, who were used as protection and search dogs during the World War.
Oberon - Obi for short - arrived in the UK at 15 weeks old, completing Kat and Joe’s lockdown family, giving Kat the opportunity to explore her new county, and make new friends.
She said: “Obi has helped me adjust to living here and being in a foreign country I’d never been in before and dealing with lockdown. It sucked when lockdown first happened - for months I only knew where Tesco, Lidl and Aldi were.
“Getting a dog gave me the purpose to get up and go adventure around where I live and discover trails and reservoirs. Training him even gave me a hobby, because I couldn’t take anything up when I got here because everything was closed.
“I was so bored that all I wanted to do was paint a wall in my rental but I wasn't allowed to paint it anything other than white. I was going crazy.
“My adjustment of living here wouldn't have been as easy if I didn't have Obi. We get to go on hikes and walks and people are always asking questions about him, it’s such a social thing and we’ve been able to chat to people about him and educate others on his breed.
“If we didn’t have a dog, I think I’d still be sitting at home not exploring the places that I am. He’s helped me get out there and meet others with dogs and like everyone who was affected by the restrictions, and it sure is nice to say hello to people out and about with their dogs.
“He makes me feel safe and confident and not alone when I’m home alone while my fiancé works.”
