Originally from Sweden, Goran Beric and his fiancée Elin Forsgren spent seven years in Norway before moving to Fuengirola on Spain’s Costa del Sol. It was there that they finally decided the time was right for a dog. Three and a half years later, Pablo, their Staffy, is at the heart of family life and has since welcomed their daughter Cleo into his world. Goran Beric talks about finding Pablo, life with a Staffordshire Bullterrier and the relationship between a dog and a growing family.
How did Pablo come into your life, and what made you know he was the one?
Goran Beric: "We’re a Swedish family living in Fuengirola, Spain: myself, my fiancée Elin Forsgren, our daughter Cleo, the sweetest baby, and of course our beautiful Pablo. After seven years in Norway, we moved to Spain. We had always wanted a dog, and being able to bring one along to so many places here made it feel like the right time. I spent a long time thinking about which breed would suit us. In my mind, I pictured something with the energy and personality of a Jack Russell, but in a bigger package. Eventually, I settled on a Staffie. We found a breeder in Valencia who had one puppy left. After a few conversations and just one photograph, we said yes and arranged for him to travel to us. It was a real leap of faith. We joked that almost any dog could have arrived, even a completely different breed, and we would still have loved and cared for him. But we got Pablo, who is everything we hoped for and more. To me, he’s one of the most beautiful Staffies I’ve ever seen. There’s actually a video on Instagram of the moment I met him for the first time. That first meeting really says it all."
What do you love most about Staffies?
Goran Beric: "The energy. They have such a joyful way about them, and what I love most is their enthusiasm for people. I don’t think anyone says hello quite like a Staffie. Nothing makes Pablo happier than meeting someone new. Everyone is greeted like a best friend. He’s also incredibly intelligent and loyal. He follows me wherever I go and rarely leaves my side. He learns quickly, with or without treats. And when that enormous battery finally runs out, he becomes the biggest cuddle bug. All he wants is to lie close to us and sleep. His social nature has brought an unexpected bonus, too. I run a real estate agency here on the coast, and I meet so many people because of him. Some of those conversations become valuable professional connections. He’s a natural at breaking the ice. He also has an impressive number of people offering to look after him. He certainly isn’t short of friends."
Pablo was your first baby. How has life with him changed since having Cleo?
Goran Beric: "Pablo is three and a half now, and Cleo is one, so he really was our first baby. I’m a morning person, while Elin likes to sleep a little longer. Pablo and I have always had our morning routine, and now Cleo joins us. Elin gets a little peace and quiet before it’s Cleo time, and I get to start the day with both of them. Naturally, I tend to take the lead with Pablo, while Elin takes the lead with Cleo, but our lives are very much shared. We’re lucky to live by the beach, and they both love the sand. So, in a way, I get to take them both out to the same giant sandpit. When we got Pablo, we adapted our life around him. Now that Cleo is here, we try to balance the attention between them. That came pretty naturally because Pablo has always been more with me."
What is the relationship between Cleo and Pablo like?
Goran Beric: "Cleo absolutely loves him. Pablo, if we’re being honest, mostly tolerates her very well at this stage! But as she gets older, he seems to realise more and more that she’s a little person he can interact with. It certainly helps that she offers him food and brings him balls. He leaves her toys alone, and he’ll let her have his ball without any fuss. The rest of us don’t get it quite so easily! He’s also very alert to what’s happening around her. If someone tries to sneak up on Cleo, he’s immediately there to see what’s going on. Their relationship is still developing, and I’m excited to watch it grow. As she gets older, I think they’ll find more ways to play together and really enjoy each other’s company."
What has having a dog taught you about family life?
Goran Beric: "To live in the moment. Pablo is completely here, right now. He reminds us every day how much joy there is in ordinary things. There’s also something incredibly powerful about having someone at home who loves you and misses you regardless of anything else. He doesn’t care whether I’m rich or poor. We can be playing on our own or with other people, going for a walk or taking a drive. He’s happy to be with us. Since moving to Spain, we’ve found the pace of life slower than what we were used to in Scandinavia. We feel there’s more room here to stop and enjoy everyday life, and we love that. Combine that with a dog like Pablo, who keeps reminding us to be present, and it makes our family life feel incredibly rich. Simple, but so valuable."
What do you hope to create with your community, and what do you wish for other dog-and-family households?
Goran Beric: "I started Pablo’s Instagram because people were constantly stopping us on the Costa del Sol. They were curious about him and would tell us how handsome he was. We don’t come across that many Staffies here, and people often ask whether he’s a “mini pit bull”, which always makes me smile. Really, I just wanted to share the joy he brings me and everyone he meets. One of the nicest things has been hearing from people who used to have Staffies and recognise their own dogs’ little habits in Pablo. It’s lovely that watching him can bring back those memories. What I love about Pablo is how freely he gives affection. Whoever he meets, he treats them like a best friend. That’s the side of life with him I want people to see. For other families, I hope they get to experience that same companionship: the laughter, the affection and the happiness of sharing everyday life with a dog. That’s what Pablo gives us, every day. I also hope that sharing life with Pablo can challenge some of the assumptions people have about Staffies, particularly the idea that they are automatically aggressive or unable to get along with other dogs. What I want people to see is the everyday reality we know: a dog who greets people with his whole body, learns quickly, follows me from room to room and, when his energy runs out, just wants to curl up beside us. That doesn’t mean he gets along with every dog. Pablo generally gets on better with females than males, and part of my responsibility is understanding him and knowing which situations to avoid. I believe we need to train ourselves as owners, too: to read our dogs, manage introductions thoughtfully and recognise when to give them space. They don’t need to be friends with everyone. Through Pablo, I want to share the affection, intelligence, playfulness and companionship that made us fall in love with Staffies, while showing that loving your dog also means taking responsibility for them."
