0:00:02 > 0:00:04Every year across the length and breadth of Britain,
0:00:04 > 0:00:06more than 700,000 puppies are welcomed home
0:00:06 > 0:00:09by their excited new owners.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12With over 200 breeds to choose from,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16how do you know which one is the right one for you?
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Big, small, hairy, energetic,
0:00:19 > 0:00:21which breed would YOU choose?
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Every year, over 120,000 dogs need to be rehomed.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30So choosing the right one couldn't be more important for you
0:00:30 > 0:00:33or the dog.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35- No! - DOG YAPS
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Oh, no, no, no. I couldn't walk out with that one.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40So we're following five very different families
0:00:40 > 0:00:43as they set out on this extraordinary journey.
0:00:43 > 0:00:44Going to get stuck!
0:00:44 > 0:00:45Stinky breath!
0:00:45 > 0:00:47THEY LAUGH
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Dog behaviourist, Louise Glazebrook...
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Archie!
0:00:50 > 0:00:54..is on hand to guide our families through this difficult decision.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I probably wouldn't have suggested a Maltese for you as a family.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59- You don't want to be doing that work...- No.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..he's not necessarily equipped for it, where do we end up?
0:01:02 > 0:01:03In a unique trial,
0:01:03 > 0:01:06they'll experience different breeds before they commit.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09I think I've been poodle-ised!
0:01:09 > 0:01:12I would love something that's a bit more...manly?
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Drawing on the latest scientific research from around the world,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21and teaming up with the UK's leading dog experts,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25tonight, we'll find out which breeds are the nosiest...
0:01:27 > 0:01:28..which are the most destructive...
0:01:28 > 0:01:32So what causes a dog to create mass destruction?
0:01:32 > 0:01:35..and which are the most likely to do what you tell them.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37Sit! Sit.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Our families will face tough choices...
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I'm not just buying something just because it looks cute.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I just desperately want to get a puppy.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48..before they finally bring Puppy home.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50I feel like I'm in a dream.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52But will they get it right?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Have we bitten off more than we can chew?
0:01:54 > 0:01:58This is the ultimate guide to choosing the right puppy for you.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11Having a dog in the family has many benefits for children.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13The Child Heart and Health Study
0:02:13 > 0:02:16found it increased their activity levels,
0:02:16 > 0:02:20while other research has shown it teaches them responsibility.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24But how do you choose a puppy that's the perfect match for your kids?
0:02:26 > 0:02:3067-year-old single dad Frank Thornley lives in Cheltenham
0:02:30 > 0:02:34with his three daughters, Lulu, Frankie and Lucy.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36So who wants cheese and who wants ham?
0:02:36 > 0:02:38- I want cheese! - I've got the ham out.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41The thing with bringing up three daughters is,
0:02:41 > 0:02:43you don't get chance to get bored, you just get tired.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46And he's fighting something of a losing battle.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50We'll just keep on putting posters of dogs on the wall
0:02:50 > 0:02:54until he gets us one.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- Oh, I see one you might like. - That one.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Oh, no, no, no. I couldn't walk out with that one.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03- Let's see? - No, I'd have to wear a balaclava.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06The girls have their hearts set on a breed.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09I want a Maltese.
0:03:09 > 0:03:15Cos they're fluffy, cute, small and adorable.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17This is the Maltese!
0:03:17 > 0:03:20I think I'd rather have a nice 911 Porsche or something.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24But Frank just wants to make his girls happy.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27They're beautiful children.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30This is me trying to give them something they really want.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33I try to do what I can do for them.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34You can't do everything.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37But you know, if it's within my power, I'll try and do it.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Whoa! It's ate all its sausages.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43You can see now, can't you?
0:03:43 > 0:03:45I've got no chance with these three.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48They've won the war, I think. The battle's over.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Luckily, backup is on the way.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56- SHE WHISTLES - Come on.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Dog behaviourist Louise Glazebrook has worked with
0:03:59 > 0:04:01thousands of dogs and their owners.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Part of my job as a dog trainer and behaviourist
0:04:03 > 0:04:06is helping families find the right dog for them.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08Going into their homes and going into their environment
0:04:08 > 0:04:10enables me to find out quite a lot from them.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13And when it comes to puppies and children,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16Louise knows what works and what doesn't.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19So even three little girls won't get around her.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Door's already open!
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Good morning. Well, I didn't know that.
0:04:23 > 0:04:24- How are you?- Good.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27What's the reason that you think has prompted you to think
0:04:27 > 0:04:30that now might be a good time to get a dog?
0:04:30 > 0:04:35- Um, I just think they really, really want one...- OK.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37..and I had dogs when I was a kid.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41As they live in a flat, they've limited their search to small dogs.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Why don't you guys talk me through what you've found?
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- It came up with this one.- Mm-hm. - I want a dog just like it.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49So show me some of the other pictures then.
0:04:49 > 0:04:50This was the other one.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53OK. So basically Maltese, another Maltese puppy.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Can I just type in something here for you to look at?
0:04:56 > 0:04:58So when you look at a fully-grown one...
0:04:58 > 0:05:01- Cos a puppy's not going to be a puppy for very long.- Mmm.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04So this is what you're going to end up with for 15 years.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- Oh, my God!- Is this what you want? - Give it a haircut!
0:05:07 > 0:05:08It looks like a big duster.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10One of the things that we're seeing a bigger trend of
0:05:10 > 0:05:12is girls wanting little teacup dogs.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14So really tiny versions of dogs, like Chihuahuas
0:05:14 > 0:05:18and Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, those kind of breeds.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Girls are drawn to them especially, because, I think, there's that
0:05:21 > 0:05:23kind of baby element of them, in that they can pick them up,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26they can cuddle them, they can cradle them,
0:05:26 > 0:05:27they can put them in bags.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30But Louise knows that handling a dog too much can lead to big problems.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32One of my concerns is that if they don't leave it alone,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35that's potentially where you end up with aggression issues,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37because the dog needs to get rid of the children,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39because it doesn't want to be handled all the time.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41So for me, I really want to steer them clear
0:05:41 > 0:05:43of anything that is really too small.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44Lucy!
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Choosing the right dog for a home with young children
0:05:47 > 0:05:50couldn't be a more important decision.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54So before Frank goes any further, Louise wants him and the girls
0:05:54 > 0:05:57to experience some different dogs.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59Is he going to be a Chihuahua?
0:05:59 > 0:06:01I'm not telling you what it is.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Is it going to be at the bottom of the stairs, at the door...
0:06:04 > 0:06:05You're going to have to wait and see.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Will it come with a bed? - You'll have to wait and see.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- Can you just give us one clue?- No.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Yeah, OK.- Yeah? OK, what is it? - It's got four legs and a tail.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I know the girls are obsessed with Maltese,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18and I know that they want to have some time with one.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21They're going to get their opportunity to be with one, but I've
0:06:21 > 0:06:25also lined up another breed of dog that I really want them to consider.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27THE GIRLS SQUEAL
0:06:27 > 0:06:29ALL: It's a poodle!
0:06:29 > 0:06:32For me, a toy poodle is a perfect choice for these girls.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35They're a little bit bigger than a Maltese,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37which means that hopefully the girls
0:06:37 > 0:06:39won't be able to pick it up quite as much.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41There's also the element of barking -
0:06:41 > 0:06:44they're not generally quite as barky as some of the Maltese breed.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Also, they love doing tricks, they love to perform,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and I think the girls would really benefit from that.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55The toy poodle is a good size for small homes.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59They're intelligent dogs that love learning new things.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03But what will the girls and Frank make of Myrtle?
0:07:03 > 0:07:06She's got a posh little walk, ain't she?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09FRANK LAUGHS
0:07:09 > 0:07:13There are three sizes of poodle - standard, miniature and toy.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16The standard was bred to retrieve game from the water,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19while the miniature and toy varieties were bred as companions.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21And thanks to their love of tricks,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25they also proved popular as circus performers.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- Teach her how to sit, Lucy. - Myrtle! Sit.- You tell her.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- Now do down.- Sit!- Sit. Down!
0:07:31 > 0:07:34Good girl! She's ready to play as well.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37I like the tricks, walking on the hind legs.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39You might even see me on X Factor one day.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41GIRLS: Stay!
0:07:41 > 0:07:43- OK!- Well done!
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Ah, it's lovely, I love it. I want it.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49- I want this dog! - I want a toy poodle now.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51Go on, then, you do it.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Good surprise. And if you'd said to me before,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I'd probably say, "I don't really want a poodle."
0:07:56 > 0:08:00But I think I've been poodle-ised!
0:08:00 > 0:08:03So it looks like Frank and the girls are keen.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07But how will the poodle stack up next to the girls' favourite,
0:08:07 > 0:08:08the Maltese?
0:08:09 > 0:08:11This breed is renowned for its friendly temperament,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13but can be quite vocal.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17It needs around 30 minutes of exercise a day and regular grooming.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Round here. Come on, poppets!
0:08:22 > 0:08:24The girls have fallen in love with puppy photos.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28So what will they think of Lancey, Evie and Merlin in the flesh?
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Oh!
0:08:30 > 0:08:33I know I really like her.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Not surprisingly, the Maltese is originally from Malta,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40and the breed is believed to be more than 1,500 years old.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41DOG YAPS
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Looks like Frank's not off to a good start.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46DOG BARKS
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I'd leave him for a minute, he's a bit not sure.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Time for a walk.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58But the dogs aren't getting much exercise.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01One of the reasons that I probably
0:09:01 > 0:09:04wouldn't have suggested a Maltese for you as a family
0:09:04 > 0:09:07- is that the girls can constantly pick and scoop it up.- Yeah.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09And that's really easy to do with a Maltese.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12The reason I wanted you to experience the poodle
0:09:12 > 0:09:14was because I think that, in my experience,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16- they're a really playful dog... - Yeah.
0:09:16 > 0:09:17..they're great family pets.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19A toy poodle is by no means large,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22but it's not quite as easy to keep scooping it up.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- Yeah. It's a bit more lively, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28So, poodle versus Maltese. Who's won?
0:09:28 > 0:09:30You know you told me that the toy poodle
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- was going to get a ten out of ten? - Yeah.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35What would you give these Maltese out of ten?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38I think I would give them a ten.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Although the poodle's been a surprise hit,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44it looks like the girls are still keen on the Maltese,
0:09:44 > 0:09:47which isn't making Frank's decision any easier.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49It's the girls who want the dog.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51They just need me to get it.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54So I want to get something what they want.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Not what I want.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58But I just want to use my parental help
0:09:58 > 0:10:00to make sure we make the right choice.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Many small and toy breeds of dog
0:10:02 > 0:10:05are seeing an extraordinary rise in numbers,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08according to Kennel Club registrations.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11In fact, the Maltese has almost doubled in popularity
0:10:11 > 0:10:13in the last five years.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17But although its size makes it ideal for homes where space is limited,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21as Frank found out, the Maltese can also be quite vocal.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Not ideal if you have neighbours.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25DOG BARKS
0:10:25 > 0:10:28So how much do different breeds of dog bark?
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Dogs will bark for all sorts of reason
0:10:32 > 0:10:34and some bark more than others.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38So to find out more about the barking habits of some of the dogs
0:10:38 > 0:10:43featured in our series, we asked their owners to keep a bark diary.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48How often did their dogs bark, when did they bark, and how loud was it?
0:10:50 > 0:10:56So, three popular but very different breeds - small, medium and large.
0:10:56 > 0:11:00We've armed their owners with a decibel app. What were the results?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04First, the Cocker Spaniel. Dylan is two and a half years old
0:11:04 > 0:11:07and lives in a detached house in Tewkesbury
0:11:07 > 0:11:11along with Wendy and Paul and another Cocker Spaniel called Bella.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Dylan barked when playing with other dogs,
0:11:13 > 0:11:15when waiting for his ball to be thrown,
0:11:15 > 0:11:19and once when he got stuck in a room by himself -
0:11:19 > 0:11:23around 14 times in total in one week.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26His owner recorded a peak decibel reading of 88.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29That's equivalent to a lawn mower.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Next, the Labrador.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Chester lives in a four-bedroom detached house
0:11:33 > 0:11:37in Worcestershire with Sophia, Alex and two cats.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Chester mostly barked for his breakfast or at the cats.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45In total, he barked around 50 times in one week.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49His owner recorded a decibel level of over 110.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52That's the same as a pneumatic drill.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55Finally, the Lhasa Apso.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Hugo is seven months old and lives in an end-of-terrace house
0:11:58 > 0:12:01with a family of four and a pet snake called Walter.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07Hugo barked when he wanted to go upstairs, go downstairs,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10to be let into a room, to be let out of a room
0:12:10 > 0:12:12and even at bird song in the garden.
0:12:12 > 0:12:17In fact, he barked 112 times in one week
0:12:17 > 0:12:21and the volume of his bark peaked at over 110 decibels -
0:12:21 > 0:12:23louder then a nightclub!
0:12:23 > 0:12:27That's one little dog with a big attitude.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30So do little dogs in general bark more?
0:12:30 > 0:12:35A study of 8,000 dogs looked at so-called small dog syndrome -
0:12:35 > 0:12:37a term that covers a number of nuisance behaviours
0:12:37 > 0:12:41like barking, humping and stranger-directed aggression.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43This study found that those behaviours
0:12:43 > 0:12:46WERE more common in small dogs.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49But the research also suggested that this could have less to do
0:12:49 > 0:12:51with any innate behavioural traits
0:12:51 > 0:12:54and more to do with how we treat our dogs.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57It's thought we're more indulgent of bad behaviour in small dogs,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00so they do it because they get away with it.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Almost one in ten people chose their breed on the spur of the moment,
0:13:05 > 0:13:10according to a Kennel Club survey of over 2,000 dog owners.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13But finding the right dog takes time and effort.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16In Lytham St Annes,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20Karen and Kim Caulfield have been researching breeds for a month.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22We're still wanting a puppy.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24More than ever, really.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Yeah. In fact, can't wait.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29After their beloved Cavachon, Eddie, died,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31they're looking for a dog to lavish with affection.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Because I have never had children,
0:13:33 > 0:13:38all the mothering instincts that I have go into my pets.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42And now they've made their choice.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44And what a choice it is, because they've decided
0:13:44 > 0:13:47to go for one of the biggest dogs on the planet -
0:13:47 > 0:13:49the Newfoundland.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Do you think we're mad?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53I don't think you're mad.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55I think you're obviously up for a challenge.
0:13:59 > 0:14:05These giants weigh around 60 kilos and stand about 70 centimetres tall.
0:14:05 > 0:14:10They love swimming and have a thick, waterproof coat that sheds a lot.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12And as everything they need is supersized,
0:14:12 > 0:14:13they're not cheap to keep.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16It's a lot of dog to take on.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20And Louise Glazebrook wants to see if Karen and Kim
0:14:20 > 0:14:24and their three-bedroom semi are really fully prepared.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26It's not that I think a Newfoundland is a bad idea.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I think it could potentially be a great dog for Kim and Karen.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33It's more about the things that go alongside that breed of dog.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36So they're big, they're drooly, they're slobbery.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38So I just want to make sure that they're really prepared
0:14:38 > 0:14:41and they totally understand what they're getting themselves in for.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44So she's arranged for them to have some visitors.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46OMG!
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Oh, what beautiful dogs!
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Arriving with not one,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55not two but three of her Newfoundlands in Helen Hudson.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59- Come on in.- Come on, Cherry.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- Oh, Cherry?- Yes.- Hello, Cherry!
0:15:02 > 0:15:05This might be a fun - getting round the door!
0:15:05 > 0:15:08This is to kind of see
0:15:08 > 0:15:11how we're going to be able to Newfie-proof our property.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12Absolutely.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- LAUGHING:- I don't know how this is going to work!
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Right. Perhaps we go in first.- Yes.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Right, Cherry, this is going to be fun.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22We can't do it, can we?
0:15:22 > 0:15:25- That's the first, um...- There we go. - What do you call it?
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Try it now. There we go. Come on, Cherry.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Oh, bless! What an intelligent girl.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Hello, beautiful. Thank you for coming to my house.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Can she get through?
0:15:40 > 0:15:41Cherry, come on, baby.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Here we go, darling. There you go.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46That will have gone in no time, I bet, won't it?
0:15:46 > 0:15:50I would never have thought, looking at the dogs out there
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and in here, that they would have taken up so much room.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Quite surprised, looking at the amount of space
0:15:58 > 0:16:01just one dog takes up with Kim.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03I would have thought, previously,
0:16:03 > 0:16:08"Oh, you know, no problem - two of us and a dog on the couch."
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Ooh, baby!
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Luckily, Kim is man with a plan.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Thinking about considerable downsizing of furniture
0:16:19 > 0:16:21and that sort of thing to make room for...
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- At the very least, move it about. - Make room for us!- Yeah.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26But it's not just their furniture
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Karen and Kim should be worrying about.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30There might be some slobber on the walls
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and your paintwork needs washing down.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37They do have a very dense undercoat, and a couple of times a year,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39they can what they call blow the coat.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42And big chunks come out and it's their undercoat.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Because of the size of them, the vet's bills can be higher
0:16:45 > 0:16:48because, you know, if they need an injection,
0:16:48 > 0:16:50they need to use more of the actual medication.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54But has any of that given Karen and Kim pause for thought?
0:16:54 > 0:16:56It's given me a thought that I'm going to have to shift
0:16:56 > 0:17:00a few of my ornaments that I'm particularly fond of!
0:17:00 > 0:17:01Mum's going to go first!
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Time for a walk.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Oh, it's a definite change of situation with the settee, isn't it?
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Betsy, come and size our car up. What do you think?
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Come on. Good girl. Come on.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18- Wow!- Good girl.- We're in.- We're in!
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Well, I think we might have to try
0:17:21 > 0:17:24and get something bigger or a van or something like that.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27To the beach! And don't spare the horses.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29- Or the Newfies.- Or the Newfies.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32SEAGULLS CRY
0:17:38 > 0:17:40She suits you, Kim.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42As well as being one of the biggest breeds,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45the Newfoundland is also one of the strongest.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48These dogs were originally used by fisherman
0:17:48 > 0:17:49to help haul in their nets,
0:17:49 > 0:17:53and on dry land, they were used as draft dogs,
0:17:53 > 0:17:54pulling goods carts.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Because of their size and strength, training is very important -
0:17:58 > 0:18:02you don't want one of these pulling on the lead or jumping up at you.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05But it's something that I'm sure,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07once we've got the training course in,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10I'm sure they would be no problem.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14So what's the verdict on a puppy that, by the time they pick it up,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17will already weight as much as a one-year-old child?
0:18:17 > 0:18:18It was lovely today
0:18:18 > 0:18:25cos it just reconfirmed that we're exactly Newfie people.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Not only is it, like, we're not off our rockers,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31I think we were off our rockers
0:18:31 > 0:18:33to consider any other kind of breed, really.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- As it turns out, yeah.- Yeah.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- DOG BARKS - Oh, bless!
0:18:42 > 0:18:46Whatever size dog you bring home, training is important.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Puppy classes are a great place to start.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52As well as teaching your dog how to behave around people,
0:18:52 > 0:18:56it's also an important part of their socialisation with other dogs.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59But are some breeds easier to train then others?
0:19:01 > 0:19:04A well-trained dog can go to more places,
0:19:04 > 0:19:07it will fit in better with friends and family
0:19:07 > 0:19:09and generally be a more sociable,
0:19:09 > 0:19:12happier and popular companion to have around.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17We've called in a crack team of canine competitors
0:19:17 > 0:19:20representing all the different breed groups.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22They're going to take part in a test
0:19:22 > 0:19:26devised by animal behaviourist Gwen Bailey to find out
0:19:26 > 0:19:29how much each dog naturally wants to please its owner -
0:19:29 > 0:19:32a quality that makes training far easier.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37How on earth do you test willingness to please?
0:19:37 > 0:19:39We're going to do a sit test.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43We're going to ask the owners to ask their dogs to sit on cue repeatedly
0:19:43 > 0:19:45and only reward them with praise.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49- Right.- No other rewards, not even touching.- OK.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50And what we'd expect to see
0:19:50 > 0:19:55is that those dogs that are willing to please will go on for longer.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58All our contestants are lined up, ready for the off.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00OK, go!
0:20:02 > 0:20:04- Sit.- Sit.- But after just one sit,
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Oscar the Great Dane is calling it a day already.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11Great Danes are bred to work independently of people,
0:20:11 > 0:20:15so don't have as much natural drive to please as some other breeds.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18Pug Floyd makes an early exit, too.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Pugs are companion dogs and if they don't have to work hard
0:20:21 > 0:20:25to get their owner's affection - and most don't - they won't bother.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Sit.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Meanwhile, Chester the Labrador is sitting for Britain.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35He's now on his fifth sit and showing no sign of tiring.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40As gun dogs, Labradors excel at working closely with their owners.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Good boy!
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Sour, sit. Clever girl!
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Chester, sit. Good boy!
0:20:48 > 0:20:50The others are dropping like flies.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Boxer Neeve is out...
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Sit. Sit.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58..followed by Terrier Fern...
0:20:59 > 0:21:02..and Bavarian Mountain Hound Sour.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08- And the last dog standing, or rather sitting...- Chester, sit.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09..is Chester the Labrador.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11He's currently on sit number ten,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14and doesn't look like giving up any time soon.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Well done!
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Desperately willing to please.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Gun dogs have been bred for generations
0:21:23 > 0:21:26to please their owners and he is a classic example.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29So if you want a dog that's easier to train,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32go for one that's been bred to work with people,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36like the Labrador, the Poodle and the German Shepherd.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38And if you like a challenge,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42go for a more independently-minded dog and stock up on sausages!
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Deciding between over 200 different breeds,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50not to mention even more crossbreeds, is far from easy,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53but there are plenty of ways to find out more about them,
0:21:53 > 0:21:57from a walk in your local park to a visit to a dog show,
0:21:57 > 0:21:59because if there's one thing about dog owners,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02they're always more than happy to talk to you about their dogs.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08In Cheltenham, Frank Thornley is trying to find a breed of dog
0:22:08 > 0:22:12that's suitable for his three young daughters and their apartment.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15The girls are obsessed with toy breeds, like the Maltese,
0:22:15 > 0:22:19but Louise Glazebrook wants Frank to consider alternatives.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22So he's travelled to the Kennel Club in London
0:22:22 > 0:22:24for a unique speed-dating event.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Here, potential dog owners and different breeds of dog
0:22:27 > 0:22:29can get to know one another better.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32- Nice to meet you.- I'm Frank.- I'm Jane.- Mind if I give her a stroke?
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- Got a nice soft coat, hasn't she? - Yeah.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- Hiya.- I'm Frank. What's your name?
0:22:36 > 0:22:38- I'm Roma.- Can I stroke your dog?
0:22:38 > 0:22:41The Standard Poodle is about ten centimetres taller
0:22:41 > 0:22:44than the Toy Poodle that Frank and the girls tried.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47This is a little cutie. We've gone from one extreme to another.
0:22:47 > 0:22:52Cute little thing, isn't it? I'm trying to see your face!
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Dachshunds come in two sizes - miniature and standard -
0:22:55 > 0:22:58and can be smooth-haired, long-haired or wire-haired.
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- Cos they like families, they're good for retired people.- Yeah.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05I'm not really a pensioner but it's good to know that.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- This is a Portuguese... - Pointer.- ..Pointer.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12So is Frank any closer to finding the right breed?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14You know, you go one dog to another one
0:23:14 > 0:23:18and then you think, "Oh, that's a lovely dog. THAT'S a nice dog!"
0:23:18 > 0:23:22So, given me too much choice!
0:23:22 > 0:23:23I don't know about helping me decide.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25This is getting more difficult!
0:23:31 > 0:23:33But luckily, Frank has a breakthrough,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37and today, he's driving 150 miles north to Preston
0:23:37 > 0:23:39to see a litter of puppies.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42So which breed has he gone for?
0:23:42 > 0:23:43I was coming back for a car auction
0:23:43 > 0:23:46and popped into this little country pub.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50There was this guy, an old boy, and he had this little dog with him,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54lovely-looking dog and friendly as well, you know.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56He said it's a Cavapoo.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00The Cavapoo is a cross between a Poodle and a King Charles Spaniel.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Size and colour can vary depending on the parents,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07but they're small enough for a flat and have a friendly temperament.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11I think I like the idea of the Cavapoo is, you know, with the mix,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14with the Poodle side of it, and the King Charles is a companion dog,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19something which, you know, blends in with the family.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21To avoid any impulse buying,
0:24:21 > 0:24:24he hasn't brought the girls with him to see the puppies.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27I'm not just buying something just because it looks cute.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30And I think I'll make a better decision if I'm on my own.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Before he arrives, he puts in a call to update Louise.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36We've decided on the type of dog we want.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- 'OK. So what have you gone for?' - We're going for the Cavapoo.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42'Yeah, that's great. They're a really lovely combination
0:24:42 > 0:24:44'of a companion dog and a clever, bright dog
0:24:44 > 0:24:47- 'which loves being part of a family.'- Yeah.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49But she also has some words of warning.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51'It doesn't really matter whether it's a pedigree
0:24:51 > 0:24:53'or whether it's a crossbreed.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56'Fundamental health, from the starting point, is really key.'
0:24:56 > 0:24:58'Those two dogs that they're breeding from
0:24:58 > 0:25:00- 'have to be really good.'- Yeah.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06The Kennel Club and British Veterinary Association
0:25:06 > 0:25:09provide health screening programmes which enable breeders to check
0:25:09 > 0:25:14for a range of inherited diseases before breeding from a dog or bitch.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The tests are specific to each breed.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19A King Charles Cavalier should have
0:25:19 > 0:25:22eye tests, heart tests and an MRI scan.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28I think this is the hardest part now, what I'm about to do -
0:25:28 > 0:25:30looking at the dog, asking the questions
0:25:30 > 0:25:35and hoping that it's a genuine person and it's a genuine set-up.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38As I say, I'm going to have to watch my heart
0:25:38 > 0:25:41doesn't ruin my head as well, put my proper...
0:25:43 > 0:25:45..you know, decision hat on,
0:25:45 > 0:25:47make sure I'm making the right decision.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50HE LAUGHS
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Lovely, aren't they? Gorgeous little things.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56- So the mummy is... The King Charles is the mummy?- She is.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58You've got a nice little face!
0:25:58 > 0:26:02- If you want to hold that one and I'll bring the other one out.- Yeah.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04OK.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Cuties, aren't they?
0:26:06 > 0:26:10So cute that Frank can't resist showing the puppies to his girls.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Can she see them? It's Lulu on the phone.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15Daddy, they're so cute.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16They are, aren't they?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19But what about the recommended health checks?
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Dad's KC reg and he's eye-tested as well,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26and you get a copy of the KC reg and his eye certificate as well.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28The mother lives here cos the mother...
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Yes, the mother lives here and she has one litter a year.
0:26:31 > 0:26:32The Kennel Club recommends
0:26:32 > 0:26:35that bitches do not have more than one litter a year
0:26:35 > 0:26:38and more than four litters in their lifetime.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41They're renowned for having a few little sort of health problems.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46- About SMC, MRI scan, have they have any of this?- No.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49The tests aren't mandatory, so it's up to Frank
0:26:49 > 0:26:52to decide if he wants to buy one of these puppies without them.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54Let me see your eyes.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59Ah! I don't know.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01And it's thrown me into a little bit of a spin now,
0:27:01 > 0:27:03to be honest with you.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06And to make Frank's decision even harder, the girls call,
0:27:06 > 0:27:08desperate to find out if they have a puppy.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11- Daddy!- I need to come back and talk to you about it.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Are we getting a new dog today?
0:27:14 > 0:27:17I feel as though I've promised them they're getting them something,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20they've got the date fixed in their head, 12th of December,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22"Oh, we're getting our puppy then,"
0:27:22 > 0:27:25and, um, I'm thinking, well...
0:27:26 > 0:27:28..maybe we won't, but I don't know.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Louise's advice was clear
0:27:30 > 0:27:34but can Frank bear to disappoint his daughters?
0:27:34 > 0:27:38You know, they say a puppy is for life and, you know,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41I think I need to sort of make the right decision,
0:27:41 > 0:27:43so I'm going to sleep on it.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Choosing a healthy puppy is obviously important
0:27:50 > 0:27:52but what should you be looking for?
0:27:54 > 0:27:57First, find out if there are any health issues
0:27:57 > 0:27:59specific to your chosen breed
0:27:59 > 0:28:03and check that the breeder has health-screened the parents.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06Second, make sure the puppy has a moist but not runny nose,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09bright eyes and a glossy coat.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12It should be alert and interested in you.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15And all puppies should have a check-up at the vet's
0:28:15 > 0:28:18as soon as you bring them home.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19Shouldn't you?
0:28:19 > 0:28:24For most families, a dog's role is companionship
0:28:24 > 0:28:27but, for some, the dog will have an even more important job.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Meet the Hodgkins family from Essex -
0:28:32 > 0:28:36Mum Mary, Dad Michael and their two sons, John and Ethan.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39I kicked it right.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44Two years ago, seven-year-old John was given a life-changing diagnosis.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49John has got speech and language and communication problems.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52He's autistic with learning difficulties,
0:28:52 > 0:28:54which is his official diagnosis.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57At home, it can challenging.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59John can have meltdowns over the silliest little things.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02He'll get frustrated and storm off
0:29:02 > 0:29:05and go and hide under a chair somewhere for a few hours.
0:29:05 > 0:29:06Ow!
0:29:06 > 0:29:09For him, it's like the end of the world's just happened.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13He likes spending a lot of time on his own,
0:29:13 > 0:29:15which isn't necessarily a good thing.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18So now they're looking for a very special puppy to help him.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21John's been going on about having a dog for, what,
0:29:21 > 0:29:22two years or more now?
0:29:22 > 0:29:25- Right, what we're going to build, John?- A robot.- A robot?
0:29:25 > 0:29:28I think the dog would be... It's a great attribute,
0:29:28 > 0:29:32to be a friend to him, someone that will understand him
0:29:32 > 0:29:34in a way that we can't.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39I want to throw a stick and play fetch.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41But it's not the first time
0:29:41 > 0:29:44the Hodgkins family have brought a puppy home.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46And, last time, it didn't end well.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49We got a puppy, he was eight weeks old.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51He was a Cockapoo.
0:29:51 > 0:29:52And we brought him home
0:29:52 > 0:29:56and we had two nights of him crying all night, constantly,
0:29:56 > 0:29:58the neighbours screaming at us.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01It was tough and it wasn't an easy decision.
0:30:01 > 0:30:06And goodness knows how many tears later. It didn't really work.
0:30:06 > 0:30:07The puppy was rehomed.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10John, he missed it straight away.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13So this time, they know they have to get it right.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Ow! Ethan!
0:30:18 > 0:30:19I don't want to make a wrong decision.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22It's too big a decision and we've done it wrong once.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- We don't want him getting upset. - And I don't want to do that again.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28Luckily, Louise Glazebrook is on hand
0:30:28 > 0:30:31to help them avoid making the same mistake again.
0:30:33 > 0:30:38What do you feel like the benefit of you now having a dog would be?
0:30:38 > 0:30:41We're hoping, from the information that we've read,
0:30:41 > 0:30:43that it will start to bring him out of his shell a bit more
0:30:43 > 0:30:46and give him more confidence.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Another little friend, if you like,
0:30:48 > 0:30:50but obviously to bring him out of himself a bit more.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52So hopefully, he won't want to go off so much.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56He'll be more part of... Sort of downstairs with the family.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Do you have any breed preferences?
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Retrievers cos I've been brought up round Retrievers all my life.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03But Labradors, my cousin's got.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05So it seems like Labradors and Golden Retrievers are something
0:31:05 > 0:31:08which are ticking your boxes and appeal to you.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11- For us, as a family, yeah. - Yeah, OK.- 100%.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13After their past experience with a puppy,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Mary is questioning whether an adult dog
0:31:16 > 0:31:18might be an easier option for them.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20If you bring a puppy into the family,
0:31:20 > 0:31:22you're bringing, basically, a baby into the family
0:31:22 > 0:31:25that needs training, potty training, everything,
0:31:25 > 0:31:29whereas when you bring an older dog, they're normally house-trained.
0:31:29 > 0:31:30We need to set you up for success
0:31:30 > 0:31:32so that this is something that can work.
0:31:32 > 0:31:33We can go either way.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36It really is just finding the right dog that's going to suit you.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38So for this family, we need a really special dog,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40and they're talking about Labradors or Retrievers
0:31:40 > 0:31:42and I'm happy with either of those breeds.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44There is obviously the decision about
0:31:44 > 0:31:46whether it's a puppy or an adult dog, and again,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48I think either could work.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52The key is finding a dog that has been bred for this situation.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55To help them with their decision on puppy or adult,
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Louise is taking the Hodgkins to a Labrador breeder.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02Here, the boys will be able to interact with a puppy,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04an adolescent and an older dog.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07First up is eight-week old Anna.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- Ahh!- Can I touch him?
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Of course you can. Nice stroking, though.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16At this age, a puppy needs all its basic training
0:32:16 > 0:32:17and a lot of supervision.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22What do you feel, though, with her the challenges might be?
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- Chewing's the obvious one.- Yep.
0:32:24 > 0:32:25He likes me!
0:32:25 > 0:32:27A bit like babies, they explore the world with their mouths.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30So what she's doing is putting everything in her mouth
0:32:30 > 0:32:33- to try and understand...- No, not your fingers John.- Not fingers.
0:32:33 > 0:32:34No, not fingers.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38But an eight-week-old puppy is also at its most adaptable.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41She's in a secondary socialisation period,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43which is sort of roughly 8 to 12 weeks.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46And what you're trying to do in that phase
0:32:46 > 0:32:50is you're trying to teach them all about your life.
0:32:50 > 0:32:51During this period,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54a puppy accepts new experiences without fear,
0:32:54 > 0:32:58so it's the ideal time to get them used to life with a family.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01This age is an amazing age in terms of bringing them home
0:33:01 > 0:33:05- and experiencing a puppy but it's also incredibly hard work.- Yeah.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08Next is eight-month-old Pickles.
0:33:08 > 0:33:10At this age, a dog should be house-trained
0:33:10 > 0:33:13and have had some basic obedience training.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16But this is the adolescent stage
0:33:16 > 0:33:20and, as with humans, it brings its own challenges.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21I'll go.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24- Yeah, he likes your face. - Do you like be licked?
0:33:24 > 0:33:26Wait for it. Here he is. Ooh!
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Well, that's you had a wash, isn't it?
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Oh, no! Stinky breath!
0:33:31 > 0:33:33LAUGHTER
0:33:33 > 0:33:36And they're now at a point where, a little bit like a teenager,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38they're testing boundaries, they're becoming more independent.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42There's a lot more energy, hormones are surging.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45An adolescent dog will be more excitable
0:33:45 > 0:33:47and often more prone to jumping up.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52Calm down, Johnny, a little bit, please.
0:33:53 > 0:33:54- Oh!- Oh-oh-oh!
0:33:55 > 0:33:57- OK, OK.- Are you OK?
0:33:57 > 0:33:59- He's still only a puppy.- Are you OK?
0:33:59 > 0:34:03Big puppy but he's only little. OK, show me. It's OK.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05They're going to bring a dog in now, boys.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09Finally, it's Bill - a seven-year-old adult.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11Hello, Bill! Hello!
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Having been through puppyhood and adolescence,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Bill is a much easier dog to manage.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20- He's calmed down quite a bit.- He's calmed down quite quickly as well.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24But Labradors have a life expectancy of around 12 years.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32What do you feel like we've achieved in terms of...
0:34:32 > 0:34:35seeing the different sizes and ages?
0:34:35 > 0:34:37There's lot of issues to consider and I think
0:34:37 > 0:34:39that's something we're going to have to talk about over
0:34:39 > 0:34:41- the coming months, what way we go. - Yeah.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43I hope today has been really useful for them.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46We've seen a number of different dogs at different life stages
0:34:46 > 0:34:49so they can see what the pros and cons of that is.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51What I hope that they take away is that any dog
0:34:51 > 0:34:54that they bring into their household needs to be calm.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57If you think an adult dog is a better option then a puppy,
0:34:57 > 0:35:00where do you find the right one for you?
0:35:00 > 0:35:03The best place to start is a reputable rescue centre
0:35:03 > 0:35:07that will work with you to find your perfect match.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09Founded in 1891,
0:35:09 > 0:35:13the Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14Here at their Manchester site,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18they've rehomed over 1,000 dogs in the last year alone.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22So I met manager Dawn Bishop to find out more.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25So what sort of breeds do you see coming through the doors
0:35:25 > 0:35:26here at the Dogs Trust?
0:35:26 > 0:35:29The main breeds - we get Staffordshire Bull Terriers,
0:35:29 > 0:35:34around 14% here, Jack Russell Terriers, get a lot of them,
0:35:34 > 0:35:37- and then around 8% are what we would call a Terrier cross.- Yeah.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Lab and Collie cross - both are fairly common.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Do you ever have dogs coming in where owners
0:35:43 > 0:35:47have simply not really realised the ramifications of taking on a dog
0:35:47 > 0:35:51- and just simply can't cope?- Yes, and not able to cope with the traits.
0:35:51 > 0:35:53We get a lot of dogs that have just become too boisterous.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56It's fairly common to get people in their 70s handing over
0:35:56 > 0:35:59- quite large...your Lab crosses, particularly.- Right.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01They're just too strong for them to handle.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04But how does the centre match dogs to new owners?
0:36:04 > 0:36:09Lynne Barber is their head of canine training and behaviour.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Every dog that comes in is thoroughly
0:36:12 > 0:36:15- and completely observed in the first week that they're there.- Right.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18So do you have a sort of grading system, if you like?
0:36:18 > 0:36:19Yes, absolutely.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23The vast majority of dogs that we have in, we call them white dogs.
0:36:23 > 0:36:24- Right.- No problems,
0:36:24 > 0:36:29maybe need a bit of training, bit of looking after, bit of habituation,
0:36:29 > 0:36:30- that sort of thing.- Yeah.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33And then we have amber dogs, which are dogs that have got
0:36:33 > 0:36:37an identified issue that needs to be worked on.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39And what type of thing might that be?
0:36:39 > 0:36:40That might be somebody like her,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43who's just getting a little too carried away, jumping up and down.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46Usually, that's caused by some type of frustration, so we need to
0:36:46 > 0:36:49figure out what the frustration is and help the dog to deal with that.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54- Yeah.- And then very few of our dogs we have classed as red dogs.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57And they're dogs that have got either a severe behaviour issue
0:36:57 > 0:37:02- or dogs that have got a complex set of behaviour issues.- Right, right.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05So very much, we have to work on those before we find them a home.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08Not everyone's going to be a little live wire like Izzy is,
0:37:08 > 0:37:12and she's not the type of dog that I would say for a first-time owner.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14- Right.- She's going to need a lot of training, a lot of input.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18But we have other dogs here who are just angels, nice as pie,
0:37:18 > 0:37:21who are just looking for a sofa to lie on, somebody to feed them,
0:37:21 > 0:37:24somebody to tell them how lovely they are.
0:37:24 > 0:37:25We've got all sorts of dogs here
0:37:25 > 0:37:28and other rescues are exactly the same.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31Live wire Izzy found her perfect match
0:37:31 > 0:37:34just a few days after we filmed with her
0:37:34 > 0:37:36and she's now living with a family in Cheshire.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42In Lytham St Annes, it's been two months since Karen and Kim Caulfield
0:37:42 > 0:37:46decided that they were definitely Newfie people.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48We've totally fallen in love. It's a love story.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Nobody could look into the face of a Newfoundland
0:37:51 > 0:37:53and not be totally in love.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58But as with all love stories, there are obstacles to overcome.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00With less than 1,000 Newfoundland puppies
0:38:00 > 0:38:05registered every year in the UK, will they get their hands on one?
0:38:06 > 0:38:09We know that there was a waiting list so we were on tenterhooks.
0:38:09 > 0:38:14It was almost like grandparents or parents waiting for the scan,
0:38:14 > 0:38:16- weren't it?- Yeah.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19But eventually, good news for Karen and Kim
0:38:19 > 0:38:22because today, four months after they started their search,
0:38:22 > 0:38:25they're picking up their new family member.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27I'm really aware that people will probably think we're crackers
0:38:27 > 0:38:30behaving like this but Kim and I met late in life,
0:38:30 > 0:38:33we haven't had children. So, yeah, it's kind of like...
0:38:34 > 0:38:37..having another new baby.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39It's completion of a family unit.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Yeah, definitely. That's well put, that. Well put.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47- Here we are.- The magic moment.- Yeah!
0:38:48 > 0:38:51- Hello!- Are you ready?- I think so.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Karen and Kim are about to find out
0:38:53 > 0:38:56what one of the world's largest dogs looks like
0:38:56 > 0:38:57at just eight weeks old.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Hello, little Elsie baby!
0:39:00 > 0:39:01Oh, there she is.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04Mummy's here. You don't know it yet but Mummy's here.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06- Come on.- Hello!
0:39:06 > 0:39:08- "Oh, I'm waking up!" - Oh, hello, sleepyhead.
0:39:09 > 0:39:11- Oh!- Look at the size of her!
0:39:11 > 0:39:13Hey, I'll tell you something - she's heavy.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Elsie, as they've named her, currently weighs ten kilos
0:39:17 > 0:39:20and she'll put on around one and a half kilos every week
0:39:20 > 0:39:22until she's fully grown.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28- You've made up our little family again, yeah?- Aww!
0:39:28 > 0:39:30Yeah.
0:39:32 > 0:39:33I'm in love with you.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35Who'd have thought, a few months ago,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- that we would have ended up with her?- No.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40With a two 260-mile journey ahead of them,
0:39:40 > 0:39:44it's time for Karen, Kim and Elsie to hit the road.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48- Are you ready?- Yeah.- Come on then. - Come on, Elsie baby.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Oh. All right, darling. All right, darling.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53For most puppies, the journey home
0:39:53 > 0:39:56will be their first experience in a car.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Make sure they have fresh air and water,
0:39:58 > 0:40:01as they may feel anxious and sick.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06Eight hours later, an exhausted but happy Karen and Kim
0:40:06 > 0:40:08are finally back in Lytham St Annes.
0:40:08 > 0:40:10Oh, it's amazing.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Yeah, it feels absolutely brilliant.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15I'll just be happy when she feels completely at home.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17And it doesn't take Elsie long.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Trying to pull... She's pulling books out!
0:40:20 > 0:40:22- LAUGHING:- Cos she's not been taught.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26Excuse me! Excuse me!
0:40:26 > 0:40:28SHE LAUGHS
0:40:29 > 0:40:32- I think we've got...- She's taking it into the kitchen to read!
0:40:32 > 0:40:34She wants a bedtime story.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Really, we should stop her doing that
0:40:36 > 0:40:37because otherwise she'll eat all my books.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39Try it.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Elsie, no!
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- SHE LAUGHS - She stopped!
0:40:45 > 0:40:46Aw, bless!
0:40:48 > 0:40:49I think we've got our hands full.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51- I think we definitely have.- Yeah.
0:40:51 > 0:40:56Looks like Karen and Kim's Newfie adventures are only just beginning.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58- SHE BARKS - Oh!
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Did we bring the right one home?
0:41:06 > 0:41:09With all puppies, you can expect a bit of collateral damage
0:41:09 > 0:41:10to your home.
0:41:10 > 0:41:14But, when fully grown, are some breeds more destructive than others?
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Chewing is natural behaviour for dogs,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20but if they chew the wrong things,
0:41:20 > 0:41:23it can have serious financial repercussions.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28A detailed survey of 2,000 dog owners
0:41:28 > 0:41:30asked what their dogs damaged,
0:41:30 > 0:41:32when they did it and how much it cost.
0:41:34 > 0:41:3930% of owners had their carpets and rugs chewed, scratched or stained...
0:41:43 > 0:41:45..19% had seen damage to sofas...
0:41:47 > 0:41:52..while 14% had lost clothes and shoes to their canine housemates.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Owners also reported chewed children's toys,
0:41:57 > 0:42:01mauled remote controls and the loss of a whole frozen turkey.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Nearly half of owners said their dog
0:42:06 > 0:42:09caused up to £100 worth of damage a year...
0:42:13 > 0:42:18..and almost 2% spent over £1,000 a year repairing or replacing
0:42:18 > 0:42:20items damaged by their dog.
0:42:21 > 0:42:24In fact, 12% of owners surveyed said they'd considered
0:42:24 > 0:42:28giving up their dog because of the damage it caused.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33So did some breeds stand out as more destructive than others?
0:42:34 > 0:42:35According to this survey,
0:42:35 > 0:42:37the dogs that caused the highest average
0:42:37 > 0:42:40annual amount of damage were...
0:42:40 > 0:42:42the Husky,
0:42:42 > 0:42:43the Boxer...
0:42:45 > 0:42:48..and the worst offender, the Rottweiler.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55So what causes a dog to create mass destruction like this?
0:42:55 > 0:42:59Well, 43% of cases that led to insurance claims
0:42:59 > 0:43:02were caused by dogs that were left alone.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09So not leaving your dog home alone for too long
0:43:09 > 0:43:12will prevent most destructive behaviour.
0:43:12 > 0:43:13But, for persistent offenders,
0:43:13 > 0:43:16make sure they have plenty of safe dog toys
0:43:16 > 0:43:20that they are allowed to chew and reward them for doing so.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26In Cheltenham, Frank Thornley has been trying to make the right
0:43:26 > 0:43:31decision on a puppy for his three very determined little girls.
0:43:31 > 0:43:35Having decided on a Cavapoo, Frank found a litter of puppies,
0:43:35 > 0:43:38but the mother hadn't had the recommended health checks.
0:43:38 > 0:43:42I wanted to make the right decision, pick the right one, a healthy dog.
0:43:42 > 0:43:43But I did like the dog
0:43:43 > 0:43:46and I thought, "Hang on, I'm letting my heart rule my head here."
0:43:46 > 0:43:48So Frank has spent the last two days
0:43:48 > 0:43:50wrestling with this difficult decision.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53It's probably like buying a car, you know.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57"Show us the service history," and there isn't any!
0:43:57 > 0:44:01"Hang on, I like that car," a nice red convertible, you know,
0:44:01 > 0:44:05with nice wheels on it and sounds great and all the rest of it.
0:44:05 > 0:44:09But you think, "It should really have the service history, you know."
0:44:09 > 0:44:12Um, you might regret it one day.
0:44:12 > 0:44:17And I was thinking about that with the dog. I thought, "Oh, God!
0:44:17 > 0:44:18"What do I do?"
0:44:18 > 0:44:22The girls was another big part of making it difficult for me
0:44:22 > 0:44:25because they've been over the moon
0:44:25 > 0:44:29about this idea of getting the puppy,
0:44:29 > 0:44:31and they were so disappointed when I said,
0:44:31 > 0:44:35"look, you know, I don't know what to do, girls."
0:44:35 > 0:44:37And their faces...
0:44:38 > 0:44:42Well, you know, they just dropped with disappointment.
0:44:42 > 0:44:47So they thought their little dream would come to an end.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50And then we begged Daddy because once we'd seen that puppy,
0:44:50 > 0:44:52we fell in love with it.
0:44:52 > 0:44:55You've got three daughters, like I've got.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59They just don't let you off the hook.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01Looks like there was no way out for Frank.
0:45:01 > 0:45:08We all agreed, a unanimous decision, um, to get the little boy.
0:45:08 > 0:45:12They've named the puppy Ray and will be picking him up at the weekend.
0:45:12 > 0:45:14I'm overexcited.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18I've been talking about this for at least three weeks in a row,
0:45:18 > 0:45:21each day, and my teachers have told me to be quiet.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23And it looks like there might be an upside
0:45:23 > 0:45:26to puppy ownership for Frank, too.
0:45:26 > 0:45:30Somebody said to me, "You know what, Frank? You get a puppy,
0:45:30 > 0:45:34"you're going to start attracting the opposite sex."
0:45:34 > 0:45:37So watch this space. We shall see, eh?
0:45:37 > 0:45:39HE LAUGHS
0:45:40 > 0:45:41A few days later...
0:45:41 > 0:45:44Daddy, are we nearly there yet?
0:45:44 > 0:45:48..and Frank and the girls are driving over 150 miles north
0:45:48 > 0:45:50to Preston to pick up Ray.
0:45:50 > 0:45:53I feel excited.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55Really excited!
0:45:55 > 0:45:58They've been pestering their dad for a puppy for over a year.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01Right, girls. We're here.
0:46:01 > 0:46:03- Yeah!- Yes!
0:46:03 > 0:46:04We're here.
0:46:06 > 0:46:08- Hello, girls.- Hello.
0:46:08 > 0:46:11Let's have a little peek in. Don't shout too loud.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13And now, finally,
0:46:13 > 0:46:16the girls are about to see him for the very first time.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18- Hello! Aw!- I like him.
0:46:20 > 0:46:23- They're so cute.- And tiny. - Which one's Ray?
0:46:23 > 0:46:25Aren't they gorgeous?
0:46:25 > 0:46:27Hey, they've grown a bit since I was last here.
0:46:29 > 0:46:30He's really cute.
0:46:30 > 0:46:32You can stroke Ray.
0:46:32 > 0:46:36- Oh, hello!- He feels so soft. - He does, doesn't he?
0:46:36 > 0:46:38Looks like it's love at first sight.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43Aw, his little face! He's tiny.
0:46:45 > 0:46:50Ray is costing Frank £900, and before they can take their pup home,
0:46:50 > 0:46:51there's some paperwork.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55- Here are our terms and conditions. - Right.
0:46:55 > 0:46:57These puppy contacts are highly recommended.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00They're a record of how the puppy has been cared for
0:47:00 > 0:47:03up until now and what the breeder expects the new owner to do
0:47:03 > 0:47:05to ensure the puppy's welfare.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07Be in the Foreign Legion tomorrow!
0:47:07 > 0:47:09HE LAUGHS
0:47:09 > 0:47:13Finally, it's time for Frank, three very smitten little girls
0:47:13 > 0:47:16and one puppy to start the journey home.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19It's not going to be boring, I know that, on the way back.
0:47:19 > 0:47:20Should be fun.
0:47:23 > 0:47:24Cheers. Look at this!
0:47:26 > 0:47:28I might need this.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31If things get really bad, I'll just bite on this!
0:47:31 > 0:47:32Puppy, home!
0:47:43 > 0:47:48Four hours later, three tired little girls, one tired little puppy
0:47:48 > 0:47:50and Frank arrive back in Cheltenham.
0:47:52 > 0:47:58Tonight, I think we're all going to sit here and look at Ray all night.
0:47:59 > 0:48:00And it looks like Frank, at least,
0:48:00 > 0:48:03has taken on board Louise's words of advice.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Try and not be too affectionate.
0:48:05 > 0:48:07Try and give him a bit of space.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09Leave him for a minute, darling.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11Don't keep stroking him all the time.
0:48:11 > 0:48:12You've got to leave him.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15Leave him. Just leave him for a bit now.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17Remember what you were told?
0:48:33 > 0:48:36Leave him alone. He's sleeping.
0:48:36 > 0:48:40- "Leave him alone! Leave him!" - He's fully asleep now.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43- Well, don't wake him, then, if he's asleep.- Are you sure?
0:48:44 > 0:48:47- I feel like I'm in a dream.- Same.
0:48:47 > 0:48:51I just feel like this isn't happening, it's not real.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54- What if this is a dream? - But it is real. Pinch me.
0:48:54 > 0:48:58I know we got the right dog in the end
0:48:58 > 0:48:59and they're happy with it.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02It's nice to give them what really wanted.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05- Who do you think Ray will like most? - Me.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09- No, but who do you think he would actually come to?- Probably me.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11I think it would either be you or me.
0:49:11 > 0:49:13Yeah, it's probably me.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17The dog will have three nice people sort of in its life
0:49:17 > 0:49:20and, of course, there's me as well.
0:49:20 > 0:49:25But it'll have three young girls who will be there for it all the time.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33A puppy should be brought home at around eight weeks old.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35At this stage, you'll need to housetrain it
0:49:35 > 0:49:39and teach it what it's allowed to chew and what it isn't.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41It can be a challenging first few weeks.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46In Essex, Mary and Michael Hodgkins have been trying to agree on
0:49:46 > 0:49:49whether a puppy or adult dog would be best for their family.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51And they've made a decision.
0:49:51 > 0:49:55At one point we were going to go for an older dog, but then as we
0:49:55 > 0:49:58went further down the line, Michael wasn't really happy with that.
0:49:58 > 0:50:01He wanted to go with the puppy.
0:50:03 > 0:50:06If a child grows with a puppy, and obviously the dog is older,
0:50:06 > 0:50:07they'll get more attached
0:50:07 > 0:50:11because they go from stage to the next, all through its life.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13So it's a puppy.
0:50:13 > 0:50:17But out of their original choice of Labrador or Golden Retriever,
0:50:17 > 0:50:19which breed have they decided on?
0:50:19 > 0:50:22Talking to my cousin, who owns Labs and things,
0:50:22 > 0:50:25and other breeders and things, it was decided that
0:50:25 > 0:50:29out of the two breeds, the calmer one would be the Retrievers.
0:50:29 > 0:50:30And there's another reason.
0:50:30 > 0:50:34Many autistic children are more sensitive to sensory stimulation,
0:50:34 > 0:50:36including touch.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38John loves the soft feel and the comfort.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42So a puppy... A Lab puppy, don't get me wrong, they do have
0:50:42 > 0:50:45that soft feel, but as a lab puppy gets older, their coats change.
0:50:45 > 0:50:49Whereas a Goldie puppy stays fluffy and soft all the way though.
0:50:49 > 0:50:53And even in adulthood, they've got these fluffy coats.
0:50:53 > 0:50:56Louise advised Mary and Michael to look for a puppy being bred
0:50:56 > 0:50:59in as similar a situation to their own as possible.
0:51:01 > 0:51:02It was a long process.
0:51:02 > 0:51:07The breeder we've gone to is a father of two autistic children,
0:51:07 > 0:51:09so he knows where we're coming from
0:51:09 > 0:51:11and what we're looking for in our puppy,
0:51:11 > 0:51:13because he's done it himself.
0:51:13 > 0:51:14So today they're off to choose
0:51:14 > 0:51:16which puppy from the litter will be theirs.
0:51:16 > 0:51:18John, come and look at the puppies.
0:51:18 > 0:51:22- Are you going to go and show them the puppies?- Nice and gentle.
0:51:22 > 0:51:24- Do you like that one?- Yeah.
0:51:24 > 0:51:27Do you want to hold him? Give him a stroke.
0:51:27 > 0:51:29Stroke him nicely. Yeah?
0:51:30 > 0:51:33The puppies' mum has a proven gentle temperament.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37You can see she's not fazed by what's going on today.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40The breeder has selected two puppies out of the litter of ten
0:51:40 > 0:51:42that he thinks are best suited to the Hodgkins.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46Because we went through this process three years ago,
0:51:46 > 0:51:48we knew roughly what we were looking for.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Not choosing the smallest one, because if you've got children
0:51:51 > 0:51:55who might not respond absolutely immediately to your instruction,
0:51:55 > 0:51:59you don't want the smallest, most timid one to be around them.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02But again you don't want the biggest one, and the most boisterous one
0:52:02 > 0:52:05because you want the dog to be able to be easily controlled as well.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11PUPPIES WHIMPER
0:52:11 > 0:52:13- I'm favouring...- So am I.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16That's the one John actually picked.
0:52:16 > 0:52:20From start to finish, it's been a painstaking selection process.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22- She's gone to John again.- Yeah.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27Now John and the puppy have clearly made their choice.
0:52:29 > 0:52:31Three weeks later, they pick her up.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36And the boys can't wait to get home from school to see her.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39John! John!
0:52:39 > 0:52:41- John! - SHE LAUGHS
0:52:41 > 0:52:42LAUGHTER
0:52:42 > 0:52:45Good girl. Good girl!
0:52:46 > 0:52:49- She's come out to see you, has she? - She's so cute!
0:52:49 > 0:52:53John has named her Star, and so far she's living up to her name.
0:52:53 > 0:52:56She's very, very laid-back and placid.
0:52:58 > 0:53:00He's licked my face!
0:53:00 > 0:53:02- SHE licked your face? - Yeah, and my bum.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05- Well, it ain't a he, is it? It's a she.- She.
0:53:05 > 0:53:07She likes me.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10You keep forgetting, don't you?
0:53:10 > 0:53:11Hey?
0:53:11 > 0:53:15LAUGHTER
0:53:17 > 0:53:19Careful, you nearly sat on her!
0:53:21 > 0:53:26HE LAUGHS GLEEFULLY
0:53:28 > 0:53:30That's all right.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34The family's previous puppy cried so much at night
0:53:34 > 0:53:37they had complaints from their neighbours.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39So how will their first night go with Star?
0:53:40 > 0:53:43- Night-night, Star.- Good boy.
0:53:53 > 0:53:56She was so much better then any of us expected.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00The only time I heard her whimper was
0:54:00 > 0:54:03when Michael turned the light off, and that was it. Never heard a peep
0:54:03 > 0:54:05out of her. He came down to her at quarter to six.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09It took months of research and they contacted countless breeders
0:54:09 > 0:54:11before making their decision.
0:54:11 > 0:54:12Has it been worth it?
0:54:14 > 0:54:17She's living up to her name, what more can I say, really?
0:54:17 > 0:54:20You can't always pick a perfect dog, but for the majority of people,
0:54:20 > 0:54:23if they spent a bit more time on picking their dog,
0:54:23 > 0:54:26you'd have a lot less dogs being put out on the street.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31It's been long time ago.
0:54:31 > 0:54:33- A long time waiting?- Yeah.
0:54:33 > 0:54:35Hasn't it? Are you really happy?
0:54:35 > 0:54:36Yes!
0:54:38 > 0:54:42Choosing the right puppy is a lot of hard work.
0:54:42 > 0:54:46It takes plenty of patience and even more careful thought.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49It's a long process full of challenges and pitfalls
0:54:49 > 0:54:52and that's even before you've got your puppy home.
0:54:52 > 0:54:54But if you make the right choice,
0:54:54 > 0:54:58then all that effort is more than worth it.
0:54:58 > 0:54:59Isn't it, Yoda? Yeah.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05Our families have all had their puppies home for over a month.
0:55:05 > 0:55:11How are first-time dog owners the Hopes getting on with Labrador Red?
0:55:11 > 0:55:14We're a hectic, chaos kind of family,
0:55:14 > 0:55:16and he's just fitted in quite well.
0:55:16 > 0:55:21Red's chewed table legs, chair legs,
0:55:21 > 0:55:24he's taken up a little bit of carpet in the kitchen,
0:55:24 > 0:55:26he's chewed the footstool.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28He's just part of the family now.
0:55:29 > 0:55:34Is Cavapoo Ray living up to the Thornleys' expectations?
0:55:34 > 0:55:37When Ray came, everything, like, changed,
0:55:37 > 0:55:39but it was like a really good change.
0:55:39 > 0:55:45Well, Ray has brought a lot of fun and joy to the family.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49Go get them, Ray. Go get them.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53We've realised that he isn't a toy.
0:55:53 > 0:55:56He needs to have his own space.
0:55:56 > 0:56:01We try not to let Ray into our room as much and sleep now because...
0:56:01 > 0:56:03- He's pooed in Daddy's.- Yeah.
0:56:03 > 0:56:08I just think Ray's a really good dog. Aren't you, boy?
0:56:08 > 0:56:10What's he eating?
0:56:10 > 0:56:13Is Golden Retriever Star still living up to her name?
0:56:13 > 0:56:17We've not had any whimpering or whining at night, not ever.
0:56:17 > 0:56:20She's had a little gnaw of one of the walls.
0:56:20 > 0:56:21She thought she'd give it a try,
0:56:21 > 0:56:24but I don't think it's worked out as tasty as she thought.
0:56:24 > 0:56:26Being more of the assistance dog that we hoped for John
0:56:26 > 0:56:28is going to take time to develop.
0:56:28 > 0:56:30Do lots of things.
0:56:32 > 0:56:33Chase cats.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37Overall she's been... Well, I'd have said perfect.
0:56:41 > 0:56:43Come on then, kid.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46And what is the reality of life with a Newfoundland like
0:56:46 > 0:56:48for Karen and Kim?
0:56:48 > 0:56:53'Well, since we've brought Elsie home, life has been changeable.'
0:56:53 > 0:56:55You could go out to work
0:56:55 > 0:56:56and you'd come back and think,
0:56:56 > 0:56:58"I'm sure you weren't that big when I left."
0:56:58 > 0:57:04You try to pet Elsie and all you would get from her is biting,
0:57:04 > 0:57:06biting, biting.
0:57:06 > 0:57:09'She'll start growling, proper growling,'
0:57:09 > 0:57:12and she'll literally lunge at you, won't she?
0:57:12 > 0:57:13And I haven't liked that.
0:57:13 > 0:57:18When we first moved here, we enjoyed the way the garden looked.
0:57:18 > 0:57:20It was one of the selling points for the place.
0:57:20 > 0:57:24- But that was pre-Elsie.- Yeah.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27I would say, there's quite a lot we're going to have to put right,
0:57:27 > 0:57:30the day we leave this place.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33We thought, is it going to have to come to the fact we're going
0:57:33 > 0:57:36to have to send her back? Because we wouldn't be the first.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39But now it's turning a corner gradually, after even a few weeks.
0:57:39 > 0:57:40Yeah.
0:57:41 > 0:57:45So did our families choose the right puppy for them?
0:57:45 > 0:57:49I wouldn't swap Ray for the world now. He's right for us.
0:57:51 > 0:57:54You're always worried if you've made the right decision,
0:57:54 > 0:57:57have you got the right breed and temperament and everything else.
0:57:57 > 0:57:59But I think because we've got that right,
0:57:59 > 0:58:03and I know we have, then we've done the right thing.
0:58:03 > 0:58:05I think if we hadn't gone through this process,
0:58:05 > 0:58:07I probably would have been like,
0:58:07 > 0:58:09"Oh, my goodness, what on earth have we done?"
0:58:09 > 0:58:11So long as you know what you're getting into,
0:58:11 > 0:58:14so long as you research the breed, go down the right channels,
0:58:14 > 0:58:17I would say a Newfoundland puppy is...
0:58:17 > 0:58:20I can't understand why half of England haven't got them.