Pupping the question: how a pup helped his dad propose

Five-month-old Cockerpoo pup Boris used the skills learned at the Dogs Trust Dog School virtual classes to help his owner deliver a romantic marriage ‘pawposal’. 

After mastering basic commands such as sitting and staying, Boris was ready for his special mission: help owner Matthew Higgins propose to his girlfriend Keeleigh Currell – and he did a great job!

Keeleigh said, “The day Matt proposed, we had both booked the afternoon off work to celebrate the anniversary of when we met. I thought we were going to go for a nice dog walk on the beach and had no idea what was coming”

She added, “Matt threw me off the scent by asking me to go to his parents to drop something off, but this was all part of the plan – his parents let him know when I was on my way home so he knew how long he had to get Boris prepped and ready.”

“When I walked through the front door, I couldn’t believe it! My favourite song was playing in the background, the house was full of candles, and Boris was sitting there with a sign that said ‘mummy, will you marry daddy?’. He didn’t move an inch and waited there perfectly! Then I looked up and Matt was stood there with the ring – it was amazing! I was so shocked; I think I forgot to say yes at first. But of course I did and couldn’t be happier.” 

Matt said that he had been planning to propose to Keeleigh for months, but that lockdown sort of threw spanner in the works – so he had to get creative.

“Lockdown scuppered my romantic idea of proposing at the top of the Empire State Building,” Matt said. “So I had to think of something else that would be equally as memorable. When we got Boris, he fitted into our lives straightaway and seeing how much he meant to Keeleigh, I knew I had to involve him in some way.  

“I had spent weeks getting him to sit, making him comfortable with me putting the sign over his head, and staying in position when the doorbell rang. I’m just so proud of him for not letting me down on the day – it all went without a hitch!” 

Boris did an excellent job, but that leaves us with the question – will he also be the ring bearer on the special day?