Lulu, a clever little miniature toy poodle, has brought endless joy to Paul and Val since they moved into their Ryman Healthcare Village. She’s settled beautifully into apartment living and spends her days happily watching the world go by from the window.
“She’s a very clever girl,” says Val, smiling. “She just sat on our knee, proving she was a well-behaved dog,” she recalls of the day they brought Lulu to meet the village’s sales advisor, David. “She gave him the nod,” Val laughs.
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That was five years ago, and since then, Lulu has become a much-loved part of the couple’s life in their first-floor apartment. She’s developed a lovely routine and enjoys mingling with the other dogs in the village. From her perch at the window, she keeps a watchful eye on the comings and goings below.
“The other little dogs round here greet each other with great joy,” says Val. “She’ll scratch the pad on the back of the door when she wants to go out and she’ll rattle her bowl if her water bowl’s empty.”
Lulu was just eight weeks old when Paul and Val welcomed her into their lives. By the time they were ready to move into the Ryman village, she was four—and the idea of leaving her behind was simply not an option.
“That was what attracted us more to Ryman, the fact we were allowed to bring her in,” says Val.
These days, Lulu enjoys regular playdates with fellow residents Auntie Di and Uncle Bill, who adore her as much as Paul and Val do. “We enjoy hearing her knock on the door to come in, after sprinting up the corridor,” says Di. “She has her own toybox at our place that she heads straight for.”
Di even hides bickies around the apartment for Lulu to sniff out. “Lulu is cheeky! She listens to what you say, and we believe she understands what we say. She’s also loving – we think that she is adorable!”
Val fondly remembers the moment she decided to get a dog. “I was sitting in the conservatory in our old house and I said to myself, ‘I think I will get myself a dog!’ I told the children and they said, ‘go for it mum!’”
Before Lulu, Paul and Val had only ever had working dogs, including a Doberman-Rottweiler cross who served as a guard dog when they managed drug and alcohol centres. “I don’t know what made me go for a poodle,” Val says. “But it took 18 months before we actually found one we liked.”
It was worth the wait. “She’s been so good, she’s just a little treasure,” says Val.
Paul agrees, adding that good training and a solid routine have made all the difference. “She’s absolutely all about routine. She gets up at 6am when we get up. If we’re lying in she will wake us up with a gentle tap, tap, tap!”
After a quick toilet trip, it’s breakfast and then off for a walk. “On goes the collar and off we go,” says Paul.
Lulu is very much part of the family. “Everywhere we go we take her with us. To the caravan, to Bunnings—she’ll sit in the trolley when we go there. She loves the jetski, she has her own life jacket!”
When Ryman launched its Walking for Wellness challenge, Lulu joined Paul and Val on every walk—and did each one twice! Their village went on to win Ryman’s Fittest Village award in 2023, with certificates and medals handed out for outstanding efforts.
“Lulu did all the walks with us so we were thrilled when she was awarded her very own certificate!” says Paul.
Now nine years old, Lulu’s walks are a little shorter, but she still brings just as much joy to Paul and Val as ever. Val says the responsibility of caring for Lulu adds wonderful variety to their days, but it’s the emotional richness she brings that truly matters.
“She’s a real little joy. I just loved her as soon as I saw her. I didn’t think I could love a dog like I do her.”