Louise Lavandier & Ludwig
ph. Amedeo Abello
Ludwig and Louise form a real duo: they do not leave each other's side. Louise is able to perceive the slightest variations in her canine double's moods; Ludwig, on the other hand, shows as much affection as possible and obeys when he wants to.
The obvious
"My best friend's mother has a little naked dog from Mexico, Gina, a Xolo that I love very much. One day I heard that Gina's brother had mated with a friend's dog and that half the litter would be naked. I jumped at the chance and it was love at first sight when I went to choose Ludwig: he was tiny, so cute and already very affectionate. I waited more than two months from the moment I decided to adopt him to the day I got him home, I couldn't wait because I already loved him too much, this little thing."
In fusion
"There have always been animals in my house - my mother is a cat fanatic, my father preferred dogs, we also had a rat and even a toad called Batman who was living at the back of the garden pond! - But Ludwig is my first dog. Since we met, we spend 99% of the time together and we have a lot of fun. He's really clingy (most Xolos can't stand to be alone): if Ludwig is alone for more than an hour it's the end of the world! If I sit somewhere, he usually comes and snuggles up to me, but he is as much a sleeper as a player, so we play a lot at home, we go to the dog park, we laugh, and sometimes we fight too because we are both equally stubborn! In fact, I consider Ludwig as my child.”
Mommy-and-dog-child
"Although Ludwig is trained, I find the term 'dog owner' a bit aggressive: I think it's more appropriate to call myself a 'dog mum'. But he is not the king, some things are forbidden to him - even if I have to admit that he has quite a few privileges... I protect him, I educate him, I feed him, I wake up at night and cover him up when I know he is cold (Xolos don't have hair), I can see in his eyes what he wants or needs and I am anxious at the idea that something might happen to him: It is for him that I feel the maternal instinct that I could develop with a human baby (which is not at all the case). And besides: I connect with him much more than with most humans!"
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