Bella Roberts, 45, is the director of a steel business, who splits her time between Belgravia and the Cotswolds. She is the owner of Coco & Lily, who have their own Instagram page, Coco & Lily of Belgravia
As told to Sophia Charalambous
“We used to have two dogs and when they passed away, as a family we decided we could not be complete without a dog. Lily, 3, is a Springer Spaniel and we knew her mother
Ruby through family friends and having met her at two days old we could not resist her cute face and beautiful markings. We wanted a companion for Lily and decided on a German Shorthaired Pointer who we named Coco, 3. These breeds have a wonderful temperament, and both came from Kennel Club registered breeders.
Lily is bonkers and full of energy – loves nothing more than being outdoors in the wet and mud and she enjoys being carried around like a baby. Coco is calmer and can run 15 miles with me and still be up for more. Loves classical music – see their Instagram page – she is hilarious and thinks she’s a human as she sits upright. They simply love their food and are both obsessed with me – they won’t leave my side. Lily barks and wakes us up at 6.30am – she is very demanding and wants her breakfast. Both dogs insist on an early-morning walk.
Belgravia is great for dogs as it is close to Hyde Park and Battersea Park where Coco and Lily enjoy long walks. As Belgravia residents, we get to enjoy Belgrave Square where the woofs get to meet their doggy friends and chase squirrels – however, they never catch them. After their walk, we go to our favourite breakfast place – Baker & Spice – on Elizabeth Street where the woofs love to enjoy sitting outside with us and watching the world go by. If they are good they get a sausage from the lovely waiter. They meet so many friends in Belgrave Square – Finnigan the Cockapoo, Monty the Labrador, Margarita the Chihuahua and Albert the Dachshund. I always find it funny that so many people call their dogs Bella and I often hear owners shouting, ‘Bella stop!’ only to realise they are not talking to me!
Raising children is clearly more challenging as they are often fussy eaters – unlike dogs. Children talk back – unlike dogs – but at least you don’t have to pick up your children’s poos in a plastic bag!”
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