Episode 4 Pet School

Welcome to day four at Pet School.

I'm Luke Franks and for our nine Pet Heads,

it's almost the end of the first week of term.

But they are not off the leash yet.

They're going to have to work like dogs - no offence, Clark -

if they're going to get a good school report at the end of it.

They've got it all to work for.

Me and Clark, though, we're tight, we got it sorted.

CAT MEOWS

Whoa, whoa!

'Nine pet crazy kids.'

I'd like to have a dog.

I'd really like a rabbit.

I really want a pet rat.

'101 animals needing care and attention.'

SCREAMING

'Two incredible weeks.'

SHE SCREAMS

'But have our pet-lovers got the animal know-how...'

SHE SCREAMS

'..to persuade their parents they've got what it takes

'to look after a pet of their very own?'

Has she proved to you she can be a responsible pet owner?

Is she getting a pet?

'Previously on Pet School...

'the Pet Heads kicked up a stink over a skink.'

I don't care actually.

-We do.

-But we do.

It's not just you, Tommy.

'And Lauren felt a little henpecked.'

SHE SCREAMS

'Coming up today,

'football star Casey Stoney drops by with her pug Ralphy.

'A high-speed cat chase causes problems for our Pet Heads.'

That's why I hate cats.

'Assembly time, get a move on, Pet Heads.'

-Hello.

-Hi.

-Good morning, Pet Heads.

-ALL:

-Good morning.

We're almost halfway through now.

And so, very quickly, what are we going to do today,

what are we going to do to make sure we pass our pet practices?

Courtney, one thing, go!

Read the guide manual.

-We've heard it before. Sam!

-Listen to each other.

Yup, big. OK, you know what to do, that's it.

It's still time to prove yourself, still time to step up.

-Prove you can be a responsible pet owner. We up for it?

-Yeah!

Yes, let's put you into your groups. Group 1.

-Oooh...

-ALL:

-Oooh...

Thomas, Chloe and Ananya...

-you are with the budgies.

-Yes!

-Yes, we like budgies do we?

-I used to have two.

-Oh, cool, OK.

You have to get inside the aviary with them. Is that all right?

-Yeah, I think.

-Flying around, landing on your head.

They're little. Yeah, I'm fine.

If they poo on you, remember it's lucky, it's fine.

Group 2, Faramaz - yes!

Courtney and William.

And you are with the cats.

Nice! Happy with that, Faramaz?

I like cats.

Cool! Good answer.

Group 3, Lauren, Tommy and Sam.

You are with the rabbits. Ah, Ananya's Pet Buddy.

Give them some advice on that.

Um, fast movements really scare them.

So if you jump, they'll get really scared.

-So, we've got to be quite patient with them.

-Yeah, patient.

Patience is crucial.

Cool, OK. Marie, of course, will be watching over you as usual.

She's given you lots of advice now.

Make sure you take it on board. Today is going to happen, right?

No failures. I can feel it, it's going to be good.

-I feel it.

-You feel it, you're getting that vibe as well?

Yeah. I'm getting that energy.

Good, OK, well, complete it, do it properly.

Off you go. See you later. Bye-bye.

Excuse me, ladies. Now, with every pet practice,

our Pet Heads are one crucial step closer to persuading

their parents to maybe buy them a pet of their very own.

So, will they flock together as a team,

or are they just going to ruffle each other's feathers?

Chicken joke there. Chicken yoke there, if you think about it.

But I did poach it off a friend, so...

'On the subject of yokes, over at the aviary,

'Chloe, Ananya and Thomas are ready to fly in on their tasks.'

"Hi, bird brains. Meet our resident budgies.

"Don't they look pretty?

"You need to change the budgies' environment.

"Clean down the perches, wooden bowls and change the food and water.

"You have 45 minutes to complete these tasks.

"Thomas, you're the team leader. Good luck."

-Right, come on.

-Right, close the door first.

-Remember, the budgies will fly out.

-OK, we're going to have to...

OK, right. OK.

While Chloe and Thomas are keen to jump straight into the aviary,

one team member is happy to stay outside.

Ananya is doing the food and the watering.

So, she's doing most of the outside work.

Well, I haven't actually been around budgies before,

so I'm not too sure how they're going to react.

At the moment, we're kind of moving things around.

So, after we've done that, we're just going to wash them.

And then I think we're going to feed them.

'Wash them? Really?'

Do we need to move some logs around maybe?

It gives it kind of a new look.

We're like the interior designers for budgies.

'Meanwhile, over at the cat room,

'there's a mixed reaction to the feline friends.'

I feel quite happy because I think they're really, really cute.

Yeah, yeah. But William, his mum, has an allergy.

'Right, an allergy in the family - that's a good start(!)

'Let's hope William doesn't have a similar problem.

'The group's tasks are to complete pet care checks,

'feed the cats, and clean out their litter trays.'

You have 45 minutes to complete these tasks.

William, you're the team leader.

'Best get delegating.'

Can you do the litter tray?

-Yeah, I'll do it.

-Can you do care checks?

-OK.

Good morning, Pet Heads.

-ALL:

-Morning.

-How we doing?

-Good, thanks.

-So, you're giving a little bit of a team leader,

chilled cat approach from this chair, then.

-Cats, they just make you quite chilled, I think.

-Yeah, I think.

'Cats make you quite chilled. I like the sound of that.

'When they're not at Pet School,

'Effy and Roman live at this rescue centre.

Cats end up here for all sorts of reasons.

And with Effy and Roman, it was a particularly sad story.

Their owner was going to be evicted from their home

with nowhere for her or the cats to go.

And as much as she didn't want to part with them,

she had to bring them in to us.

If the owners hadn't brought them in to us, the owner

may have had to leave them in the property

and they would have become strays.

Which would have been awful.

Effy is a really confident cat.

She's very cheeky, she's really nosey, she's always on the go.

Roman, he's a bit of a lazy character.

He likes to be chilling in his bed,

relaxing, and generally just watching Effy.

The cats are really going to bring a bit of mischief to Pet School.

And the children are really going to have to

keep their eye out for these two.

Right, crack on, do your health check nice and calm.

Make sure the cats are sitting on the floor.

One of you stroking and rewarding each time. OK?

I'll see you later on.

'Faramaz is on poop scoop duty.'

-Put the litter in the bin bag.

-Yeah.

'William's sorting breakfast.'

Need a health check still.

'And Courtney has a brilliant plan for giving

'the cats their health checks.'

I'm going to try and get the cats to come over using treats.

'Uh-huh.'

Hm.

Yes.

Courtney, where do you think we should put...?

'How's that plan working out for you, Courtney?'

I guess I could do it if she stays still in one place.

'While Courtney thinks up plan B,

'over at the rabbit enclosure

'it's straight down to bunny business.'

The task that we did yesterday was with the skink.

And we failed because we didn't scrub the water bowl or anything.

And today, hopefully, we'll be able to get

the task done in the allotted time.

'Today's tasks are to clean out the rabbit enclosure,

'top up the sandpits, and make hay kebabs.

'Lauren is the team leader.

'And, as usual, they've got 45 minutes to complete their tasks.'

There we go. Cool, I've got it.

Well done.

-This is new hay in there?

-Yup.

-That's cool, we're happy with that.

'But it seems rabbits may not be the only things

'that live in a rabbit house.'

Oh, I see it, it's a massive spider.

-Where?

-See it?

-Oh, yeah.

-Can you get it?

SHE SQUEALS

Chuck it outside, chuck it outside!

Yeah, he's well and truly gone.

'While Sam battles to keep the massive spider outside,

'back at the aviary, Ananya has finally decided to venture inside.'

Lock the door.

'False alarm, she's back outside.

'To be fair, the others aren't exactly encouraging her.'

Drop it down and then lock that door.

No, don't open two at once!

We definitely need to keep, like, one door closed

when we want to open another.

Cos once they come out, you can't get them back in.

'Right, OK, I think I've got this.

'Close one before you open the next.'

You'll be locked in the middle and then we'll let you in.

Right, OK. Yay, hi.

So they're all fed and ready?

Well, she's just going to put some fresh food in now

and then we're pretty done.

Yeah? Are you staying outside for the whole task, Ananya?

Or are you gonna...

Probably not cos I'm almost finished.

-Right, you're going to come in and hang out with the birds?

-Yeah, hopefully.

Oh, hello. Hi.

Yeah, they love to fly everywhere.

Yeah. Have any landed on you yet?

-Every time I go close, watch.

-Every time I go closer.

Watch this.

THEY WHISTLE

What are we saying in budgie? Nobody knows.

-They just run away.

-Right, OK.

'I'm not scared. I just know budgies poop roughly every 15 minutes.

'More importantly, will Ananya ever make it inside?

'Over at the rabbit enclosure, the team are bouncing through

'their bunny tasks.

'With the sandpit already cleaned...'

Sandpit's in.

'..Tommy's making the world's healthiest kebabs.'

Are we told how many kebabs we've got to make?

'They taste pretty good, to rabbits.

'And foraging helps bunnies behave like they would in the wild.'

Guys, I've got one part of the kebab done.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

We're just putting the hay in now.

'Lauren and Sam are making the house squeaky clean,

'ready for the rabbits' return.'

I think this is a bit too much.

-Just spread it round a bit.

-'Nice digs, really nice.

'So nice, it looks like Tommy's going to stay.

-Lock me in the room.

-Lock you?

-Yeah.

-Well, shut the door.

This hay needs to be moved anyway.

Ouch.

'Sweeping off the front step.'

Move it out the way. Bunnies are coming out the cage.

'Moving around the furniture.'

You pass me that one.

'Yeah, he's not going anywhere.

'Back at the aviary, things are also looking as clean as a whistle.

'A bird's whistle, obviously.

'And Ananya seems like she's ready to come into the enclosure.

'If Thomas will let her.'

We have got a bit of time left so maybe Ananya should come in?

Yeah, if you... Yeah, yeah, cos it gives her a chance to bond

with the creatures.

Oh, guys, you've forgotten some things.

I'm not actually scared of the budgies

cos they don't want to really do anything.

They're just flying.

I think Ananya did very well going inside cos she,

kind of, she was very scared at the beginning,

but once she got inside, she just conquered her fears.

And she went for it.

You're working very well for a person that hasn't been in for so long.

Thank you.

Chloe, make sure everything's tidied up.

I have, I've checked everything.

Extra food, like, the nibble that they needed.

Great, you're all doing a great job, guys, well done.

'Nice pep talk, Thomas.

'Back in the cat room,

'flattery isn't getting Courtney very far with the felines.'

I think they're just getting used to us, so eventually we'll get there.

'Right, eventually.'

Discharge.

Just getting my hands round...

That's why I hate cats.

'He hates cats!

'So, what animal does he like?

'William is 11 years old, and lives with his mum,

'his dad and his sister, Lucy.

'William enjoys cricket...

'..playing computer games

'and taking part in triathlons.

'So, got any pets in mind, William?'

-I'd like to have a bearded dragon.

-'So what's the problem?'

My dad doesn't think me and my sister are responsible enough

to look after it.

'Is that the only reason, Dad?'

It might get out of its cage.

Might get behind the wardrobe.

Next thing you know, it's in the bathroom.

And that's not what I need in my life.

He probably would absolutely hate it.

'OK, so how is William ever going to get a pet?'

For them to change their mind, I think I'd have to show

that I'm responsible enough to look after a pet.

What will show up really well is how he looks after

a whole range of different animals.

So, not just the ones that he wants to look after.

But the ones that perhaps he isn't so keen to look after.

I think William's chances of getting a pet will rest with his father.

-Oh, Dad!

-'Sorry!'

Right, OK, William, team leader,

is picking up your bits, Faramaz, there.

'William's definitely pulling his weight.

'But it looks like Faramaz might have been cat napping

'through this pet practice.'

Faramaz, just have a scout around.

There's one litter tray there, how many cats are there?

Two.

Right, any thoughts?

Two litter trays.

Boom, mate, you nailed it, smashed it.

My goodness, there's a pong from in here.

Faramaz!

'So that's the second litter tray identified.

'With a bit of help. But with just under two minutes to go,

'it's all on Faramaz to get this finished.'

Could you get the newspaper for me?

That's it, time is up on pet practice

and the real question is,

will any of our Pet Heads have to stay behind

to complete their unfinished tasks?

Or have they done them properly

and earned themselves the maximum time with their pet buddies?

And at this stage at Pet School, everyone knows just what's at stake.

'Coming up,

'football star Casey Stoney

'and her pug Ralphy are put through their paces.'

I train in the mornings. I get the whole day

to spend with him and look after him.

Crack it.

Faramaz whips up a tasty ferret treat

and Lauren gets in a flap.

-Think about that.

-I'm scared she's going to peck me.

Pet Heads! So, this morning, at morning assembly,

-we had a good feeling, right?

-ALL: Yes.

You got the vibe, it's going to be a big day, isn't it?

'So, here is how you did...'

Chloe, Ananya and Thomas managed to change the budgie's environment,

clean the perches and give the birds fresh food and water.

Lauren, Tommy and Sam cleaned out the bunny enclosure,

topped up the sandpit and made hay kebabs.

And Courtney, Faramaz and William

completed their cats' pet care checks, fed them

and cleaned out the litter trays.

Just.

All three groups completed their pet practices!

-Yeah!

-Yes!

So, you all know, at Pet School, that we get special visitors here.

Today is no exception.

We've got an amazing guest who has come to say hi.

Two amazing guests, in fact.

The first is football crazy. She is captain of the England team,

with over 100 caps.

She's also captain of the women's GB team, at the Olympics, as well.

The second is her dog.

Please say hello to Casey Stoney and Ralphy.

-Give her a wave, yeah!

-Yeah!

So, tell us a little bit about Ralphy. When did you get him?

Ralphy, I got him when he was eight weeks old,

and now he is 16 months old,

-so he's sort of turned into a little bit of a adult dog now.

-Awesome.

And, like myself, he needs a lot of exercise, too.

So, you're doing a lot of training.

Does he come along? Does he get involved in the training?

I go over the park and I do my own sessions.

He makes my life pretty difficult,

cos I put the cones down and he normally picks them up

-and runs off with them, doesn't he?

-Yeah!

Pet Heads, got any questions for Casey about having a dog full-time?

Is it difficult to have to balance your training

with caring for him?

Yeah, it is. It was something I had to think about

before I decided to get a dog, because I don't work nine-to-five.

I train in the mornings,

I get pretty much the whole day to spend with him and look after him.

So, behind us we have a little dog agility course.

So, Casey, you're going to show us how it's done with Ralphy.

So tell us what you're going to do.

We're going to try and get Ralphy to follow this

through the course and score a goal at the end.

Sounds good. No pressure.

Captain of the England team setting the Pet School standards.

-Guys, give her a little cheer.

-ALL: Yay!

Yes, Ralphy. Looking good, looking strong.

Going to score?

-Goal side, yeah!

-Good boy. Good boy!

Well done, Ralphy.

Meadow, up for the challenge?

-SHE WHISTLES

-Meadow!

Meadow!

'Guess not. With Meadow off, it's a chance for Clark to shine.'

Courtney, he's your Pet Buddy,

he's a big dog, you've got yourself a challenge,

but representing Pet School, OK?

'Clark's psyching himself up.

'He looks a little bit uncertain at the beginning, there.

'Not as accomplished as Ralphy, but he seems to be following the treat.

'Time for a sit down, and it's up to Courtney to finish the job!

'Wallop!'

ALL CHANT: Go Clark, go Clark!

'Clark's heading for a time out.

'Meanwhile, it's speed and grace on the wing from Ralphy,

'dodging in and out of the cones.'

Nice work!

'Takes a seat while Sam steps up.

'Smash! Back of the net.'

Yeah!

'And he's off again.

'Surely there's no way he can repeat this feat.

'A textbook sit down.

'Blam! 3-0.'

Nice work.

'I think Ralphy is man of the match.'

Casey, thanks so much for coming in, having a chat with us.

Showing us Ralphy as well, so well-behaved.

Good luck with the football season. Cheers, Casey!

-Thank you.

-Woo!

-Come on, then.

It's our Pet Heads' fourth day with their Buddies,

and it looks like some of them have learned a really important lesson.

Sit...

The way to their Buddy's heart is through their stomach.

First to try out this theory is Faramaz,

who's recently learned that ferrets like the occasional egg as a treat.

I'm going to use one, because it's big.

It's raw.

All right, so the first step

in Chef Faramaz's special eggs-for-ferrets recipe...

Give whole egg to ferret.

I thought you liked eggs? Yes, yes, you do.

I don't know, how do you eat them?

Step two, try to crack whole egg for ferret.

Crack it?

Step three...drop egg on floor.

Ah...

I was cracking it, and then it fell.

Dinner is served.

It likes it! It does.

Ferrets eat anything, even if they're on the floor.

I just got Smokey out so he can have food with his brother.

That's not Smokey. It's Flint.

I've definitely bonded with them now.

I'm feeling confident in picking them up,

because now he's just looking at my finger, and it's not nipping.

It's great to see Faramaz more comfortable with the ferrets

then he was on day one.

You don't want to be friends?

But what about the muckier side of pet care?

First I wanted to clean them out, and then I wanted to do the poo.

Then I decided not to...

cos the ferrets were just too cute, like I said,

and I just couldn't stand it, so...

I thought I was going to do it tomorrow.

Didn't you say that yesterday, Faramaz?

So I just thought, "No, maybe I'll do it tomorrow."

Yeah, thought you did.

Well, one person who's definitely not afraid

to make a meal of the poo-clearing is Chloe.

It is very much like spaghetti.

You have to twist it around, that's how I do it,

and I tend to get most of it up that way.

It's like a giant fork... So, yeah.

Well, of course, on the first day I wasn't too happy

with the decision of me having a goat as a Pet Buddy,

but as time has gone on, I've really got used to them.

And I've figured there is more to it than just watching them eat.

Spaghetti...and goat balls.

Spaghetti and goat balls. Delicious!

I think it's time to find out a bit more about Chloe.

Chloe is 11 years old and lives with her mum,

her stepdad, her two brothers and her sister.

Chloe enjoys writing stories...

cooking...

Yum!

..and dancing.

# Oh, oh, oh

# Gangnam style... #

So, Chloe, what's the score with the pets?

Well, I used to live in a place with lots and lots of pets,

but when we had to move we couldn't take them with us.

Instead, I got a baby brother.

Couldn't you just pretend?

Guess not.

OK, Chloe, tell us why you deserve a pet.

When we had my little sister Phoebe come,

I had to look after her quite a lot,

and I feel if I can look after a toddler,

then why can't I look after a pet?

Actually, a few years ago, we had a rabbit.

She took no responsibility for it. Too interested in her friends.

No!

None of us have any time to look after the pets that our kids abandon,

especially Chloe.

All right, so what's the plan for Pet School?

I'm willing to do anything at Pet School to prove I'm ready for a pet,

and I'll even look after a snake,

even though I'm really scared of them.

Sound good, Mum?

Chloe will not get a pet unless she proves to me at Pet School

that she can look after pets every single day, get messy,

and put her responsibilities before her own interests.

OK, Mum, well, Chloe is definitely getting messy.

It doesn't always go as you plan, and there's always more revealed,

where you've got to get a bit down and dirty

if you want to have a go, all I can say.

So... Agh...

While Chloe seems as happy as a pig in muck - or a goat in hay -

over at the chickens, Lauren isn't feeling quite so content.

So we know, yesterday, what happened.

Aah!

SHE SOBS

I know that was pretty scary, really, wasn't it?

-Yeah, it was.

-OK.

I came to Pet School so I could overcome my fear of chickens.

I did do that... And then, um, the cockerel put me off,

but then I'm going to try to do it again.

-How are you feeling right now?

-All right. Cos she's with you.

Do you want to have a little go at touching her?

-See what you think about that?

-I'm scared she's going to peck me.

How about... CHICKEN CLUCKS

Oops! I've got her. How about if I come around like this?

Will she, like, jump, or anything?

No, I've got hold of her. I've got her wings now.

-Will I be all right?

-You're going to be fine.

I wouldn't tell you that if I didn't think you were.

-Really soft.

-Yeah.

It's quite cool, isn't it?

You've got a little bit of a smile coming out of this face,

I'm feeling it, yeah?!

The chickens have just about made Lauren crack a smile.

And over with the bunnies, Ananya's come on in leaps and bounds

since her first Buddy session,

where she couldn't even make it inside the enclosure.

-Afternoon, Ananya.

-Good afternoon.

How are you feeling today, about this?

-Um, I'm feeling better.

-Yeah.

-Um, I think I'm just going to start off by feeding.

-OK.

Maybe just bring the feed near your feet a little bit,

so you can just see how he reacts around you.

Look, you're standing there, yeah? You're good, you're good.

This is awesome.

-Yeah? Are you proud of yourself?

-Yeah.

You're doing really well, Ananya.

How about hopping up to the next level?

Once you're feeling happy... That's it, crouch down.

If it comes up to you, bring the food into you a bit,

let him come up to you and have a little stroke.

That's it, stay still.

Oh, Ananya this is amazing. Well done.

Yes!

Right, Ananya I'm going to leave you to it,

cos I think you have really cracked this fear really well.

Keep it up. You should be so proud, I'm super proud of you. Well done.

I actually want rabbits as pets now,

because they're actually really cute once you get to know them.

What an amazing achievement, Ananya.

Well done on really learning to Buddy with your bunnies.

Back at the chickens,

another unexpected friendship is also being hatched.

What are you doing here?

Um, I'm here to help Lauren out with the chickens.

Yep? Brilliant.

It's just like watching fish, it's kind of calming, watching them move.

Oh, thought about it that way at all, before?

Not in a fish way, no.

THEY LAUGH

I think Lauren's starting to look a bit more relaxed.

Now, how about we let a chicken out, Marie?

Have you got her? Right.

You tell when you're ready for Tommy to let it down.

-You ready?

-Yep.

-I'm scared now.

-You're fine. You're fine, you stay with me.

-Are you sure?

-Yep.

Cos she's coming towards me, and I'm really scared.

-Right, let's walk over here.

-Don't worry.

Tommy, are you able to maybe call the chicken over to you?

-Let's see what she does. Say, "Chook-chook!"

-Chick-chick-chick.

Keeping brave, Lauren.

-For me tomorrow...

-Yeah?

I was wondering...can I bring some chicken feed with me?

And just focus on one chicken?

Yeah. Can I?

Can you come in and come and meet and feed one chicken?

Of course you can!

No, I couldn't have done it without Tommy,

because he really helped me today, a lot.

So, I really thank him for that.

-Thank you, Tommy!

-That's all right.

You should be proud.

Yeah...

It's the end of another Pet Buddy session,

and one Pet Head who has made amazing progress is Ananya.

So I think it's time to let her mum know how well she's doing.

-Hi, Ananya!

-Hey!

-Come and have a seat. How are you doing?

-Good.

-Good.

Almost at the end of week one. How do you think it's gone?

Um, I have failed three tasks, um, but did pass one today.

Cool. Big day today - and it was a pretty special day today,

-because you touched the...

-Rabbit.

-Yes, for the first time. Awesome, that's cool.

-Super.

-Yeah.

Mum, what do you think, and what do you want to see from Ananya?

Her, um, even more comfortable around a pet.

I mean, further than just stroking.

But I'm really proud of her.

An amazing achievement. So, with day one you were really nervy and shaky,

and today you've been able to go in there, feed and stroke them.

You should be so proud of yourself.

For the last week, what kind of things do you want to work on?

If other people think that I get the easier tasks,

um, also try the harder tasks.

And we know you can do it.

-That's the thing. So, up for the challenge?

-Yeah.

Good stuff! All right, cool. Well done, Ananya.

Yes!

And that is Pet School closed for day four.

And I think our Pet Heads have turned a corner today.

Tomorrow is the last day of the first week

and our Pet Heads are starting to realise

that being responsible is key

if they are going to persuade their parents to get them their dream pet.

But still a lot to do. Don't miss registration tomorrow,

and we'll have much more of this.

Next time on Pet School...

..Pet Heads turn Wet Heads in a fishy task...

Thomas makes a new friend...

Oh!

I'm really happy right now.

..and the Pet Heads dive into pet life.

Oh, yeah. Right, goodbye.

-Bye!

-Bye!

Yeah? What are we up to?

Oh, yep, sure. Sure.

See you later. Yeah.

It's almost the end of the first week of term,

but they're not off the... Agh!