0:00:34 > 0:00:38DOGS BARK
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Welcome to Meet the Pups, a show where we get up close
0:00:40 > 0:00:42and personal with the pooch.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45We're going to dish the dirt on dogs
0:00:45 > 0:00:47and tell you what's down with the hound.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Dogs, as we know, come in all shapes and sizes.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53There are big dogs, small dogs, yappy dogs, slobbery dogs.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55In fact, it's hard to believe that they're all
0:00:55 > 0:00:57descended from the wolf.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Well, apart from that one, perhaps.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Oh, that one looks like it is.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08Oh, look. It's the stars of our show, Lola and Morgan.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09They're springer spaniels.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Springers are bred for their keen sense of sight and smell,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14which makes them ideal for hunting.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17They're often used to find and scare out birds during shoots.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19That's why they're called gun dogs.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22This is Lola.
0:01:22 > 0:01:23"Good morning, Hugh.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26"Oh, can I just say, I don't like the term gun dog.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29"It's a bit gangster, isn't it? I prefer game dog.
0:01:29 > 0:01:30"Much more professional."
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Right, fair enough.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35This is Morgan, Lola's partner in crime.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38He's relentless, loud and lively.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41- MORGAN:- "And handsome. Oh, you forgot handsome!"
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Yes. Well, when he's not admiring his rugged good looks in a puddle,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48his favourite things in the world are his tennis ball...
0:01:49 > 0:01:51..and digging.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54And digging and digging.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56If making holes was an Olympic sport,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Morgan would be a gold medallist.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Lola, meanwhile, she likes running.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Mind you, I don't think she should be running in her condition. Lola!
0:02:07 > 0:02:10You shouldn't be running in your condition!
0:02:10 > 0:02:11"Oh, don't be so soppy."
0:02:11 > 0:02:14But you're about to give birth to a litter of pups!
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Remind us again, how many puppies did the vet say you're expecting?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19You know, at any minute?
0:02:19 > 0:02:21"Well, we carry our pups high in our tummies
0:02:21 > 0:02:24"and they couldn't tell exactly from the scan.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26"They think there are three or four."
0:02:26 > 0:02:28- MORGAN:- "Oh, I bet you there's four!
0:02:28 > 0:02:30"I bet you it's four! All the best things come in fours.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33"Four legs, four square meals a day.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34"Formula One. Brrrm!
0:02:34 > 0:02:36"I'm so excited!"
0:02:36 > 0:02:38DOGS BARK
0:02:38 > 0:02:41This is Lola and Morgan's home, where we're going to be
0:02:41 > 0:02:43for the next eight weeks,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46watching the puppies born and raised.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48It's going to be cute, it's going to be fun,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51it's going to be emotional.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54I hope Lola doesn't mind being a celebrity in her own home,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57because, tonight, in this very whelping box -
0:02:57 > 0:02:59yes, that's what it's called - she's going to give birth
0:02:59 > 0:03:02and it's going to be televised. How are you feeling, Lola?
0:03:02 > 0:03:08"Oh, not nervous at all. I've always wanted to give birth on television."
0:03:08 > 0:03:11So, this is it, then. The moment has arrived.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Lola's first litter.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16I don't mean the newspaper. Her first litter of pups.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20She's getting the whelping box ready for their arrival.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23All that scratching and scraping is called nesting.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26By panting harder and starting to push,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30Lola enters the most difficult and dangerous part of giving birth.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33It's a very anxious time for Lola's owners
0:03:33 > 0:03:36and the puppy could arrive at any time of the day or night.
0:03:36 > 0:03:41After a total labour of six hours, the magic moment arrives.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44The first pup pops out.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- MORGAN:- "It's a girl! Oh, it's a beautiful girl!"
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Hmm, actually, Morgan, it's a boy.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Congratulations, Lola.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Now for the fun part. What are you going to call him?
0:03:59 > 0:04:03"Well, he looks like a Bonzo to me."
0:04:03 > 0:04:05It's another two and a half hours
0:04:05 > 0:04:09and more worry-filled waiting before the second pup follows.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11This time, it is a girl.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14"Oh, it's a Betsy. It's definitely a Betsy!"
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Both pups are totally dependent on Lola at this stage.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20They can't see, hear or walk.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22They're also toothless.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Although this is Lola's first litter of puppies,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29she instinctively knows how to look after them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Wherever Lola goes,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33she carries the puppies with her.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37It looks painful, but Lola's mouth applies just the right
0:04:37 > 0:04:39amount of pressure to hold them firmly.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Without this love and attention,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44the puppies would soon die from getting too cold.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49Finally, an hour after Betsy and over 3 1/2 hours since Bonzo,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52the third pup comes into the world. It's another girl.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55And this one is Biscuit.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57"Biscuit! Did she say biscuit?"
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Er, no, she didn't, Morgan.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Actually, this is about to get a bit... Eurgh.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07So look away, if you're feeling squeamish or having a bit of tea.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The puppies are born covered in a protective membrane.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12If it isn't removed, the puppy can suffocate.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14So, by licking the nose and mouth,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Lola's making sure the puppy can breathe.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Lola will also bite through the umbilical cord that connects
0:05:21 > 0:05:23the puppy to the placenta.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27It's an amazing organ which helps the puppy to grow inside Mum.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30After the birth, the placenta is no longer needed,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33but like in all things in nature, it...
0:05:33 > 0:05:35gets recycled.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37"There's no need to be shy about it.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39"Just tell them that I eat it."
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Yes. Yes, well, that's quite natural for dogs, Lola,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44but to us, it seems... Yeah.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Anyway, aren't there supposed to be four pups born today?
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- LOLA:- "Number four, yes.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54"I can still feel something inside.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56"This doesn't feel right at all."
0:06:00 > 0:06:01Lola's owners are so worried,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04they decide to take Lola straight off to the vet.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11"What's happening? Where's Lola?
0:06:11 > 0:06:14"Where's she going? Where are they taking her?"
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Don't worry, Morgan. I'm sure everything will be all right.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22This is a desperate time for everyone.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24If Lola has a pup still inside,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27it could make her very sick.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29One or both of them could even die.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Lola's in safe hands, though, and the vet sets to work,
0:06:36 > 0:06:40finding the cause of Lola's discomfort. Fingers crossed.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42I just hope it's nothing serious.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Luckily, it wasn't.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49In fact, the following day, there was
0:06:49 > 0:06:52some rather surprising news about pup number four.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Lola, do you want to tell Morgan, or shall I?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57"Oh, yes, of course.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59"He's probably still worried."
0:06:59 > 0:07:02- MORGAN:- "Oh, bouncy balls, just think bouncy balls, bouncy balls!
0:07:02 > 0:07:05"Oh! That'll take my mind off it."
0:07:05 > 0:07:09- LOLA:- "Ah. Morgan, there you are. Glad you're sitting down.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13- MORGAN:- "It's bad news, isn't it?" - LOLA:- "Well, not exactly.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16"It's a bit embarrassing to say this with the cameras, you know?
0:07:16 > 0:07:18"But, on the X-ray,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21"pup number four turned out to be a number two."
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- MORGAN:- "Oh, what, it wasn't a pup, then?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26"You just needed a big poo?"
0:07:26 > 0:07:28HE LAUGHS
0:07:28 > 0:07:33Hang on. I thought this was meant to be a serious dog-umentary.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39After all that excitement, Lola and Morgan looked pooped.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41I'm pooped too, frankly.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45And the pups, well, they just look seriously cute.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Having a puppy is a huge, time-consuming responsibility.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56If you want some idea of exactly what's involved,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59check out the Meet the Pups page on the CBBC website.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00Bye!