Episode 1 Meet the Pups

DOGS BARK

Welcome to Meet the Pups, a show where we get up close

and personal with the pooch.

We're going to dish the dirt on dogs

and tell you what's down with the hound.

Dogs, as we know, come in all shapes and sizes.

There are big dogs, small dogs, yappy dogs, slobbery dogs.

In fact, it's hard to believe that they're all

descended from the wolf.

Well, apart from that one, perhaps.

Oh, that one looks like it is.

Oh, look. It's the stars of our show, Lola and Morgan.

They're springer spaniels.

Springers are bred for their keen sense of sight and smell,

which makes them ideal for hunting.

They're often used to find and scare out birds during shoots.

That's why they're called gun dogs.

This is Lola.

"Good morning, Hugh.

"Oh, can I just say, I don't like the term gun dog.

"It's a bit gangster, isn't it? I prefer game dog.

"Much more professional."

Right, fair enough.

This is Morgan, Lola's partner in crime.

He's relentless, loud and lively.

-MORGAN:

-"And handsome. Oh, you forgot handsome!"

Yes. Well, when he's not admiring his rugged good looks in a puddle,

his favourite things in the world are his tennis ball...

..and digging.

And digging and digging.

If making holes was an Olympic sport,

Morgan would be a gold medallist.

Lola, meanwhile, she likes running.

Mind you, I don't think she should be running in her condition. Lola!

You shouldn't be running in your condition!

"Oh, don't be so soppy."

But you're about to give birth to a litter of pups!

Remind us again, how many puppies did the vet say you're expecting?

You know, at any minute?

"Well, we carry our pups high in our tummies

"and they couldn't tell exactly from the scan.

"They think there are three or four."

-MORGAN:

-"Oh, I bet you there's four!

"I bet you it's four! All the best things come in fours.

"Four legs, four square meals a day.

"Formula One. Brrrm!

"I'm so excited!"

DOGS BARK

This is Lola and Morgan's home, where we're going to be

for the next eight weeks,

watching the puppies born and raised.

It's going to be cute, it's going to be fun,

it's going to be emotional.

I hope Lola doesn't mind being a celebrity in her own home,

because, tonight, in this very whelping box -

yes, that's what it's called - she's going to give birth

and it's going to be televised. How are you feeling, Lola?

"Oh, not nervous at all. I've always wanted to give birth on television."

So, this is it, then. The moment has arrived.

Lola's first litter.

I don't mean the newspaper. Her first litter of pups.

She's getting the whelping box ready for their arrival.

All that scratching and scraping is called nesting.

By panting harder and starting to push,

Lola enters the most difficult and dangerous part of giving birth.

It's a very anxious time for Lola's owners

and the puppy could arrive at any time of the day or night.

After a total labour of six hours, the magic moment arrives.

The first pup pops out.

-MORGAN:

-"It's a girl! Oh, it's a beautiful girl!"

Hmm, actually, Morgan, it's a boy.

Congratulations, Lola.

Now for the fun part. What are you going to call him?

"Well, he looks like a Bonzo to me."

It's another two and a half hours

and more worry-filled waiting before the second pup follows.

This time, it is a girl.

"Oh, it's a Betsy. It's definitely a Betsy!"

Both pups are totally dependent on Lola at this stage.

They can't see, hear or walk.

They're also toothless.

Although this is Lola's first litter of puppies,

she instinctively knows how to look after them.

Wherever Lola goes,

she carries the puppies with her.

It looks painful, but Lola's mouth applies just the right

amount of pressure to hold them firmly.

Without this love and attention,

the puppies would soon die from getting too cold.

Finally, an hour after Betsy and over 3 1/2 hours since Bonzo,

the third pup comes into the world. It's another girl.

And this one is Biscuit.

"Biscuit! Did she say biscuit?"

Er, no, she didn't, Morgan.

Actually, this is about to get a bit... Eurgh.

So look away, if you're feeling squeamish or having a bit of tea.

The puppies are born covered in a protective membrane.

If it isn't removed, the puppy can suffocate.

So, by licking the nose and mouth,

Lola's making sure the puppy can breathe.

Lola will also bite through the umbilical cord that connects

the puppy to the placenta.

It's an amazing organ which helps the puppy to grow inside Mum.

After the birth, the placenta is no longer needed,

but like in all things in nature, it...

gets recycled.

"There's no need to be shy about it.

"Just tell them that I eat it."

Yes. Yes, well, that's quite natural for dogs, Lola,

but to us, it seems... Yeah.

Anyway, aren't there supposed to be four pups born today?

-LOLA:

-"Number four, yes.

"I can still feel something inside.

"This doesn't feel right at all."

Lola's owners are so worried,

they decide to take Lola straight off to the vet.

"What's happening? Where's Lola?

"Where's she going? Where are they taking her?"

Don't worry, Morgan. I'm sure everything will be all right.

This is a desperate time for everyone.

If Lola has a pup still inside,

it could make her very sick.

One or both of them could even die.

Lola's in safe hands, though, and the vet sets to work,

finding the cause of Lola's discomfort. Fingers crossed.

I just hope it's nothing serious.

Luckily, it wasn't.

In fact, the following day, there was

some rather surprising news about pup number four.

Lola, do you want to tell Morgan, or shall I?

"Oh, yes, of course.

"He's probably still worried."

-MORGAN:

-"Oh, bouncy balls, just think bouncy balls, bouncy balls!

"Oh! That'll take my mind off it."

-LOLA:

-"Ah. Morgan, there you are. Glad you're sitting down.

-MORGAN:

-"It's bad news, isn't it?"

-LOLA:

-"Well, not exactly.

"It's a bit embarrassing to say this with the cameras, you know?

"But, on the X-ray,

"pup number four turned out to be a number two."

-MORGAN:

-"Oh, what, it wasn't a pup, then?

"You just needed a big poo?"

HE LAUGHS

Hang on. I thought this was meant to be a serious dog-umentary.

After all that excitement, Lola and Morgan looked pooped.

I'm pooped too, frankly.

And the pups, well, they just look seriously cute.

Having a puppy is a huge, time-consuming responsibility.

If you want some idea of exactly what's involved,

check out the Meet the Pups page on the CBBC website.

Bye!