Alex Cole-Hamilton: Politicians & Their Pets

Alex Cole-Hamilton introduces us to his dog, Bramble

Breed? Brick-red teddy bear cockapoo

Age? Seven months

How long have you had her? Since the beginning of November

Where did you get her? From a breeder in Bathgate who had retired from the game, but her female dog had an accidental assignation with her son’s dog.

What can she do? We’re not trusting her with the operation of heavy machinery, but she’s very clever. She ostensibly sleeps in a crate, but she’s worked out how to undo the zip. She’ll go to her crate to her bed quite happily, but come 3am I feel this warm, furry lump beside me in bed. We’re tolerating that now.

She’s very good with other dogs, very social, and she’s definitely got delusions of grandeur – perhaps like her dad – so she’ll pick play fights with dogs ten times her size.

What do you love about her? I didn’t think she’d become quite such a family member, but she has. She’s been great for all of us, we’d all struggled with the long shadow of lockdown and she’s added such joy to our lives.

It’s forced me to recalibrate my day. Before we got her, I’d start my work day – emails or calls – from as soon as we got the kids off to school, and work on into the evenings and all the weekend shifts as well. Now I have to have a slightly softer start in the morning, she needs exercise, and I can then make calls for work. She’s been really good for my wellbeing.

What’s her best trick? She’s a bit of a Houdini. She can open doors, she can open latches, she can open zips.

What is her most annoying habit? She’ll get into the wash basket sometimes and she’s got a penchant for underpants… That’s her favourite prize.

What’s the worst thing she’s done? See above!

Do you think of yourself as a pet parent or pet owner? Definitely a pet parent. I tell her: “Come to daddy for a cuddle.” It’s terrible, I promised I never would.

What’s the most ridiculous thing you have done for her? I listened to Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation live while watching a dog groomer’s elderly dog pee in the street while Bramble was getting groomed. I was looking after him while she was inside. I was half keeping an eye on a peeing dog, half watching Sturgeon resign.

What’s your first pet or animal-related memory? We grew up with a family of cats. My dad is a chemist and we used to name all our cats after chemistry apparatus – we had Bunsen, Primus… Only when I went to university, and discovered a sense of smell, did I realise I have a massive cat allergy!

What was the first pet you ever had? Primus.

What would be your dream pet? Bramble is my dream pet.

If you could be any animal, what would you be? I love the sea and diving, so I’d be a dolphin. They look like they have a fun life. Or a shark, actually, cutting about, nobody giving you any bother.