0:00:02 > 0:00:05Pets, don't you just love them?
0:00:07 > 0:00:11In this series, we're going to meet plenty of people
0:00:11 > 0:00:12who really, really do.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14It's like having more children.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18It's as easy to have two or three as it is to have four or five.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22Our obsession with them has even turned some pets into celebrities.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25The internet loves her. She always gets loads of compliments.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27We would have a sort of core following.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29There's ones that read it every day.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32Our love for them appears to have no bounds.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Later, we're in Kildare
0:00:35 > 0:00:40with one of Ireland's most glamorous couples and their dogs.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Oh, they're absolutely beautiful. I was intrigued by them.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46In Belfast, we meet internet sensation Loca...
0:00:46 > 0:00:47Just topped last week.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49In fact, it just hit ten million, this particular video.
0:00:49 > 0:00:57..but first we're in Castlebar to find out
0:00:57 > 0:00:59It's the exciting, chin-up sound.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15a young couple in love, not just with each other,
0:01:15 > 0:01:35Today, they're taking them for a walk.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Ferrets love human contact and, if trained,
0:01:40 > 0:01:51can get on well with other pets.
0:01:51 > 0:02:05And Darragh's got Walter. He's four years old.
0:02:05 > 0:02:11Tom Jones bosses the dog around but Raffy bosses everyone around.
0:02:11 > 0:02:16Ferrets love the craic and their playful nature
0:02:19 > 0:02:22but it would have been conventional pets, like cats and dogs.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26So, when I met Jackie, it was my first contact with ferrets
0:02:26 > 0:02:31but they grew on me very quickly. They're very interesting animals.
0:02:31 > 0:02:36Took you a while to get used to the smell, though.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Something that's difficult to get used to.
0:02:38 > 0:02:45It smells like a mixture of onions and mustard.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46He did let one there.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50He heard you talking about it. Yeah.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54OK. But...
0:02:55 > 0:02:58Up until I met Darragh
0:02:58 > 0:03:05they always used to sleep in the bed with me.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Just there, like, you know. I'd always sleep in this position.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Then Walter would always have to be up near my chest
0:03:12 > 0:03:13and sometimes near my face.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17But then, when I met Darragh, obviously, things had to change.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19But not because Darragh was there
0:03:19 > 0:03:24and I don't want them in the bed with us.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27part of the body on Darragh, which would be, you know, south.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30Ferrets sleep for up to 20 hours a day
0:03:30 > 0:03:32and have lightning fast growing toenails,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35which need to be trimmed every ten days.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Ferrets are finicky about their nails,
0:03:37 > 0:03:38they don't like them being clipped.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40So a good thing to use is peanut butter.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44What you do is, basically, put the peanut butter there.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46They lick it off.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50So, you just take right in front of the quick and you just...
0:03:51 > 0:03:53..clip like that.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57So, see there, the wick is there, so just in front of the pink.
0:03:57 > 0:03:58And then the back ones.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00The back ones are really sensitive.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02So don't take too much off.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04When they get excited, they'll do a sound like,
0:04:04 > 0:04:05you know, it's like...
0:04:05 > 0:04:07SQUEAKY CHATTER
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Basically, it's the exciting, chin-up, sound.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13And they do, when they're angry, they'll let a hiss.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15You know, they'll just be like... SHE HISSES
0:04:15 > 0:04:18..you know, and that's, basically, saying, back off, you know.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20That's your warning before they bite.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23They do later bark, as well. It's known as a bark.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25It doesn't sound anything like a dog bark.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28The first time Raffy ever heard the guitar,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30he just let an almighty, like... SHE GRUNTS
0:04:30 > 0:04:33And it's really loud. We were, like, "Whoa! What the hell was that?"
0:04:33 > 0:04:37He's only done it about twice in his whole seven years.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40So, it's, if he does it, it means he's really, really scared.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Reactions from people when I'm out for a walk,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48I don't mind if someone says to me, "That's cruel,
0:04:48 > 0:04:50"you have that ferret on a harness.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52"That's really cruel. It's a wild animal."
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Deep down, it's a good reaction and they mean well.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57They don't want to see a wild animal on a harness
0:04:57 > 0:05:00but you've to educate them and say, "It's actually technically
0:05:00 > 0:05:02"domesticated for the last 2,000 years.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04"It's on a harness for its own protection.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06"It's quite comfortable. They like it
0:05:06 > 0:05:07"and they're out on a happy walk."
0:05:07 > 0:05:09But also people would, like, shout, like, "Freak".
0:05:09 > 0:05:12But I've had people, like the keeper in the park
0:05:12 > 0:05:15thought it was a small dog and asked me what kind of dog was it?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Was it related to the Chihuahua?
0:05:18 > 0:05:21So I was like, "It's a ferret" and he asked me what a ferret was
0:05:21 > 0:05:23and I said it was related to the badger.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25He was, like, "Get away from me!"
0:05:25 > 0:05:26He thought it was going to crawl up his leg.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Which is another myth. They don't crawl up your leg.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37In Kildare live some of Ireland's most fashionable pooches.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Oh, they're absolutely beautiful.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I was intrigued by them and intrigued by their walkers.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54Martin Bailey and his fiancee Jennifer Duggan
0:05:54 > 0:05:58have five Maltese and an Old English Sheepdog called Guapo.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01We get a lot of reaction, especially with Guapo,
0:06:01 > 0:06:06people don't get to see that much. So, they're like, "Oh, my God!"
0:06:06 > 0:06:09You don't see them in full coat either. The breed too well. Yeah.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16When we go out together, Guapo's a fairly strong dog,
0:06:16 > 0:06:17so Jennifer wouldn't be able to handle him.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20He's very powerful to move. I'll usually handle Guapo.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Jennifer mostly takes the girls.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Jennifer likes to do a bit of power walking,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27so she tends to move quickly. They love the attention.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31Definitely, they do. Mimi is so good with children, isn't she?
0:06:31 > 0:06:34She always wants to climb up on the children. She's so good.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37The children are on their level. They're not towering above them.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39So, I think, they're better with children
0:06:39 > 0:06:41because they are such a small dog.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Kids love Guapo because he looks like a big bear.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45They just want to hug him.
0:06:49 > 0:06:51With so many dogs living in the house,
0:06:51 > 0:06:54there is a complicated pecking order.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00The way it stands now, Mimi's in charge of the house. She's ten.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04She's the first dog we've ever had. She rules the roost for everybody.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09And this little one, Millie, tries to be the boss. She is the boss.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13The boys are not the boss at all. Guapo is not the boss of anybody.
0:07:13 > 0:07:14He's terrorised by Mimi.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15None of them are neutered.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18I don't necessarily agree with it, unless there's reason to do it.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21When the two girls are in season, basically,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24what happens in the house is, I go upstairs for two weeks
0:07:24 > 0:07:28with the two girls, so the boys are not near them, whatsoever.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32And then, because I hold Millie in my arms all day,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Guapo would get the scent of her off me,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38so he tries to get on top of me.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43So it's great fun when they're in season. Great fun.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Here, girls!
0:07:45 > 0:07:48For anybody that shows dogs, it's quite normal to have
0:07:48 > 0:07:50six or seven dogs around the house, running around.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51Ours are all around the house.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53They all sleep in the bedroom. I think it's great.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58It's like having more children. You know, it's as easy to have...
0:07:58 > 0:08:00two or three, as it is to have four or five.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04They all, kind of, bring each other together. And...
0:08:04 > 0:08:08It's so hard because we haven't been away together in years.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11So it's either, like, I go away by myself,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13or Martin goes away by himself.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Or we all go away in the camper, which Jennifer hates. I hate that.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21In you go. Up, up, up.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Today, Martin is preparing Guapo for a forthcoming show.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26Good boy.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Getting them ready for a show on Saturday.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31He always does well in the ring, just hoping the judge likes him.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32Hoping he'll get green star
0:08:32 > 0:08:34to tip him over the post for the annual champion,
0:08:34 > 0:08:38which is the most amount of green stars in the year for this breed.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Guapo is, I've dreamed of him as a child.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41I had his name picked.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45It used to be my name, my nickname, it's Spanish for "beautiful boy".
0:08:45 > 0:08:46He fits the bill totally.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49I started showing him, didn't know anything about showing.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I brought him in the ring and I didn't know how to handle a dog.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53He got placed and I couldn't believe it.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55He's done brilliantly.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57He was junior champion and he's Irish champion,
0:08:57 > 0:08:59international champion.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Well, this is how I groom an Old English for the whole coat.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04So, usually, I lie him flat.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Start, say, halfway down and I'll part the coat.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10All the way down, down as far as the head.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12I'm looking for any mats that I'll find along the way.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15If I find any, I'll have to work them out with my fingers.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17You can see a mat there.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20He loves the show, yeah. He's excited.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Grooming for the show, he knows where he's going.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25They know, when the grooming starts, and the washing,
0:09:25 > 0:09:26he knows it's show time.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29I wouldn't change him for the world. He adores Daddy.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30He loves Daddy, yeah.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34He's very attached to Mammy, too, but he loves his daddy also.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Hidden away in Belfast lives one of the world's most famous pugs.
0:09:42 > 0:09:43One, two, three, four.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45At the minute, there's six of them altogether.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Two boxers, Lucy and Layla. Two pugs, little Alfie and Loca.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52And, at the moment, two cocker spaniels,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55who've joined us from Australia.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59I wanted a small dog for me because the boxer is definitely his.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02And we went to get our pug and came back with these two.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Alfie was actually the runt of the litter and there was just two left.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08And we picked Loca and we couldn't leave him behind.
0:10:13 > 0:10:14There was something about Loca
0:10:14 > 0:10:17that made her stand out right from the beginning.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20She just walked a little bit differently. She had a goosestep.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24When we took her to the vet, he said it could be cerebellar ataxia.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26As far as she's concerned, she is completely normal.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29She enjoys everything that the other dogs enjoy.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31She needs a wee bit more help to do it.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34She used to run along with the rest of the dogs.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37She used to try and join in and it was quite funny watching her
0:10:37 > 0:10:39but, at the same time, it was quite inspiring to see,
0:10:39 > 0:10:41despite her difficulties, she still stuck with it
0:10:41 > 0:10:43and tried and took part in everything
0:10:43 > 0:10:44everybody else did.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Mal fell in love with Loca,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54so much that he wrote a song about her
0:10:54 > 0:10:55and put it on the internet.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09This was Loca's first video, The Pug That Couldn't Run.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Really, it was designed for family and friends.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14We discovered by this time that she had a little problem.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17It has to be admitted, it was quite funny, her attempts.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20So we put this video together, just for a bit of fun.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32We went away that weekend and I expected to get, maybe,
0:11:32 > 0:11:3520 or 30 views because we told our family that we put it up.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37The first night it was up to a couple of hundred.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41The second night it was up to over 1,000, which absolutely amazed me.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43And just topped last week, in fact, it just hit ten million,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45this particular video.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54This very unique dog has won the hearts of millions
0:11:54 > 0:11:55all across the globe.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Some people have actually come back and said they were suicidal
0:11:59 > 0:12:00and it stopped them.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Now, you may wonder why that would be but, for whatever reason,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06that, actually, yes, makes you stop and think.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24Following the success of the video,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Mal and Alena are shooting a calendar with Loca
0:12:27 > 0:12:28and the other dogs.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32This is a group photograph we're going for here now.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Getting them all to stay as a group is the hard part.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39You come up beside me, Alena, and tell them all to sit. Sit!
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Most of the photographs of them together, in the end,
0:12:41 > 0:12:43are just pure luck.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47You take hundreds and hundreds and you think I haven't got one.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49THEY GROWL AND BARK
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Hey! Hey! That's next door's cat. It's called Taz. Taz is a huge cat.
0:12:53 > 0:12:54He's more like a tiger.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58And he's scared of nobody, including all the dogs.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00And he teases them endlessly.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Loca is last in the chase, as usual.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09It is time for Loca's personal portrait.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11This is her most favourite thing in the world.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Her very favourite thing. Cream with cake.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Cream with cake, as she calls it. What's that?
0:13:16 > 0:13:18And she won't be fed the whole cake!
0:13:18 > 0:13:23She likes these photoshoots because she gets all the special treats.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26We've made some fantastic friends all around the world
0:13:26 > 0:13:28and we just want to keep that, sort of, tootling along.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31We were told that there may be some form of operation
0:13:31 > 0:13:33that might assist her.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35But it's very high risk and there's no need for it.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38She doesn't know there's anything wrong with her.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40As long as she's happy, we're happy.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42There's no point risking something
0:13:42 > 0:13:44to make her do something she doesn't need to do.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46That was the point of the video.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Whether she could run, or not, she still has a good life.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Jackie Hopkins has kept ferrets for years.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Her oldest two, Raphael and Walter are getting on a bit though,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Raphael in particular.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10There was a time when he got really sick.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13He got gastroenteritis.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16A-ha! Starting to cry now. But, um...
0:14:16 > 0:14:18SHE SOBS
0:14:18 > 0:14:19It was...
0:14:21 > 0:14:25I get emotional when I think of it because Raffy won't be here...
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Maybe for our wedding he won't be here and...
0:14:31 > 0:14:34That's the part that people don't see about ferrets.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37What you have to deal with, health-wise, you know.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Jackie has decided to have a photoshoot done with Raphael,
0:14:42 > 0:14:44so as to remember him in years to come.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49When you have any animal, you like to look back and see pictures
0:14:49 > 0:14:52and, you know, remember them when they were healthy
0:14:52 > 0:14:55and I can look back and say, you know, that was a good day,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58when he wasn't so sick.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59He could go outside and enjoy it.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03Cos there will be days when he can't move, you know.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06So that's why I'm going to get the photos taken, so...
0:15:12 > 0:15:15She has hired pet photographer Agne Puskoriene.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Agne loves working with ferrets,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22despite the obvious challenges.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27So... Happy and relaxed. Just take him out of your cardigan a bit.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Good girl. That's good.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32One of my friends took pictures of them
0:15:32 > 0:15:37but Agnes takes gorgeous pictures of all pets, so that's why it's
0:15:37 > 0:15:40great to get her because she tends to get them at their best.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42TOY SQUEAKS
0:15:42 > 0:15:44All ferrets are horrible to photograph, actually.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47They are one of the worst pets you can photograph
0:15:47 > 0:15:49but that's why I love photographing them
0:15:49 > 0:15:52because you just have to work really, really fast with them.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Ferrets have a sweet tooth,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59though some common foods can make them sick.
0:15:59 > 0:16:00It's malt paste.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05You can use peanut butter but malt paste is a healthy treat, as well.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Sometimes I use sliced bananas, as well. They'll eat that.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12They're crazy for sweet food but you should never feed them it.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Just as a treat. To make them pose.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Do that again. Just kiss on the forehead.
0:16:19 > 0:16:20Kisses!
0:16:23 > 0:16:26You can make a makeshift harness.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Kind of baby hammock for your ferrets by using your scarf.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Just swing it around your neck.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Yes, yes, you like my scarf.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37They love soft fabrics.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40I think they like the attention they get.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44You know, it's all the attention that other people give them.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45"Wow! Look!" Then, they feel that
0:16:45 > 0:16:47and they just like the attention you're giving them.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49You know, as long as they're comfortable.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Never force them into something they're not comfortable with.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56You can always get a nice, comfy harness to fit them.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59They'll let you know if they don't like it.
0:16:59 > 0:17:00Oh! That's perfect.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03You can snuggle with them, if you want.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06If I had Jackie on her own, I'd be posing her,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09I'd be telling her what to do but because she has the ferrets,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13she's just very calm and I can just pick my camera and shoot
0:17:13 > 0:17:16and I get these lovely moments and she's kissing them
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and cuddling them and if she was just here standing,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22she would not look like she is.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24She'd probably be quite nervous and quite tense.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27With the ferrets, she's just flowing through it.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33This is how pet ferrets play. It's called a dook. They dook.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35This is them dooking.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49They're just misunderstood, like so many animals.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Even their wild counterparts, badgers, minks, stoats,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53they're misunderstood.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56People, if they just take time to understand them,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58and research them, get to know them,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01they'll realise that, you know, they're the most lovable,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04affectionate little animals you could ever know.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Yes!
0:18:06 > 0:18:08And any of my friends who have ever thought, like,
0:18:08 > 0:18:09you know, they're vicious,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12have just fallen in love with them and see that side of them.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15You really have to spend time with them and see that they're
0:18:15 > 0:18:18so affectionate and they crave our attention.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26In Kildare live Martin and Jennifer with their six dogs.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31Today, Martin is bringing Guapo and New York to a show in Dublin.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33All right, babes. See you later! See you, Millie!
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Say, "Bye, Daddy!" Bye, Daddy!
0:18:36 > 0:18:38Bye!
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Today is an important event
0:18:40 > 0:18:42and Martin hopes his dogs will be placed.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45I don't particularly like the shows.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47I don't like going.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52I prepare them all for shows but I wouldn't go to the shows.
0:18:52 > 0:18:57I'm the behind stage mummy, rather than front stage.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03I love spending the day with him and New York.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04It's like lads' day out.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06We spend the day there, we have lunch together,
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I don't go into the canteen.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Jennifer cooks liver for them for show, I'll have sandwiches.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13I never leave them unless I go to the bathroom or go in the ring
0:19:13 > 0:19:16with the different one, otherwise I never leave them at show.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Martin would ring me from the show and I'll say,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21"Give them a big case from Mammy." And he'll give them a big kiss.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26Finally, it is showtime.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30I haven't been to bed yet. I've been up through the night grooming.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31To get them all ready is very hard,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33so I haven't gone to bed yet.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35I had a shower at 20 past five and straight out the door.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38He's still actually wet from washing him last night.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40He was only washed about four, half four.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43That's kind of late, so I'm trying to stick some powder in
0:19:43 > 0:19:45to dry him up before he goes in the ring.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46He's not looking right yet.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48I'm just going to run through his top coat.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50I'm just going to backcomb his head coat.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53I'd be happy to get the grade, the excellent grade,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and anything after that is a bonus.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00Across the hall is Martin's biggest rival, Colm Hastings from Cork.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Colm has recently brought in a new puppy from America,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06who he hopes will defeat Guapo in the ring.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08I'm here with my young girl, young baby.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10She's young and she's a work-in-progress.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Anything can happen, that's the beauty of this, you know?
0:20:13 > 0:20:14The reality is you can only win so much
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and when you've won as much as you have with one dog,
0:20:17 > 0:20:19then start on something new - a fresh challenge.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22I'm like Manchester United, in transition.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24That's basically it, like. So you can't be at the top all the time.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Like I say, I won't hand it back if I get it.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30The time has come for Martin and Guapo to strut their stuff.
0:20:30 > 0:20:31Here we go!
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Ah, so, Martin's a nice guy.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40He is what he is. He's a flamboyant character.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43I'm quite sure Martin has an outfit
0:20:43 > 0:20:45for every hour of the day, day of the week. You know, good for him.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51Stop.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58Unfortunately, Guapo is defeated by a bigger male.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Thank you very much.
0:21:00 > 0:21:01Well done.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Not good because his movement was very good.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06So can't knock him on his movement and she said the coat texture
0:21:06 > 0:21:08was very good and I was saying he's improved,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10and she said, "Yes, definitely."
0:21:10 > 0:21:13So I'm surprised there, but he's went well, so I'm happy.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Got the grade. Got a good reserve green star.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19So another day, looking for another one.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Finally, it is time for the bitches.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31She won her class for starters then she got the green star
0:21:31 > 0:21:33which is best bitch.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Then she beat the best dog for best of breed. I'm well pleased.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38For a young baby, that's nice. You know, brilliant.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Win, lose or draw, I'm happy.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43That's a lie!
0:21:43 > 0:21:45That's a lie. No, I want to win.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47It's a competitive game, it's a competition.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51But you have to have a reasonable level of expectation.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Martin has a second chance with Maltese New York
0:21:57 > 0:22:01and hopes that a visiting judge from the UK will give him gold.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03Thank you very much. Thank you.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Cheers. Thanks, Jason. Yes, thank you very much. Jason.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12He got his class, which is champion class, which is lovely to win.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15So I'm chuffed with the win because she's a breed specialist.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17Obviously, she liked them and she likes his movement.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19I imagine that's what she was going with.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21Jason's been doing very well with his dog.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23The difference when you win under a breed specialist,
0:22:23 > 0:22:24she's a UK breed specialist and
0:22:24 > 0:22:27she'll be looking at UK breed standard, I imagine.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29New York is a UK breed standard.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Meanwhile, for Colm it's another win.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Having brought in a new dog from America, Colm is enjoying
0:22:44 > 0:22:46a lot of success.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48This has given Martin food for thought.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51I'm just going to buy a new dog at the moment,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54another one I can show alongside Guapo.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56This would be a fully grown pup. He's six months old now,
0:22:56 > 0:23:00so he's going to be fully grown. Big as Guapo, if not bigger.
0:23:01 > 0:23:05Martin intends to travel to Italy on the lookout for a new pup.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10I will miss Martin when he's away, yeah.
0:23:10 > 0:23:15But I think the dogs will miss him more than I will.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Basically. Honestly, no, I will
0:23:17 > 0:23:19because we are always together.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23She won't tell me she misses me but when I'm away she'll ring me
0:23:23 > 0:23:26and she'll be upset and then I think that's good
0:23:26 > 0:23:28because absence makes the heart grow fonder. Yeah.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30And Jennifer will probably tell me she loves me
0:23:30 > 0:23:33quicker when I'm away than she will when I'm sitting here next to her.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35I do miss you. I will miss you.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42Finally, on Pet Island we meet Northern Ireland's budgies.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Budgie fancying has always been a working man's sport
0:23:46 > 0:23:49and this competition is taking place in the local Orange Hall.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53The top breeder in the north is David Boyd.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56These are the budgerigar awards, all the various awards.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58They're very nice to take home
0:23:58 > 0:24:02because they're lovely in the bird room and they're great prompts.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04On a bad winter's day when you're feeling a bit down,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07when you can look at these then you feel a little bit better.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09These are our cups here as well.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11Over the years we've done away with so many cups
0:24:11 > 0:24:13because people didn't want them.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15My wife hated getting loads of cups coming home.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19So what we try to do now is give rosettes.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Like many of the breeders, David is also helping out as steward.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Number 121, then. John, please.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29They are categorised by colour and by type.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32So you would have a spangle, which would be a type of budgerigar
0:24:32 > 0:24:34with a marking on its wings.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Then you'd have your various colours, like a Lutino
0:24:37 > 0:24:40which is a completely yellow bird - a lovely bird.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42So that's how we categorise them.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44We are now on to the next one, which is opaline,
0:24:44 > 0:24:46green or blue cerise, any age.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50We've a very good system in place. It means no bird can be overlooked.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Every bird is judged because every bird has an individual number.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55It's quite complex for the guys here
0:24:55 > 0:24:58but it means no-one comes and has put a lot of effort in to their bird
0:24:58 > 0:25:00and their bird's not judged.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04This system completely ensures that everybody has equality
0:25:04 > 0:25:07and everybody's bird is judged.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Today's head judge's Davie Henry,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11a legend within the budgie world.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15That's a good green one. Lovely, isn't he?
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Yep, a lovely bird.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20A wee bit raw round here.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24Well, we have a standard, we're looking for type and condition.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Well, it gets me amongst the birds, you see.
0:25:28 > 0:25:29I'm the oldest one.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I'm trying to lead by example.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Even in old age you can still keep budgies.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36They're like everything else, the livestock has to be fed,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38has to be looked after.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42If you don't look after it, well, you bring them in the show bench
0:25:42 > 0:25:45and the judge can tell whether the bird's been that.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48It's time for the budgies to strut their stuff.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Time to select Best In Show.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Now we've reached, in my opinion, the best seven birds in that
0:26:06 > 0:26:09particular champion class.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13So if we do that, we award seven points.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17If there was eight points, you start with eight, seven, six, five, four.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19We only go as far as seven.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22So we pick the seven best birds in various sections,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26put them all together and see which is the best of the whole lot of 'em.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29That's the best bird in show.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33The colour, the condition, perfect.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Nothing wrong with his feet.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38Very well trained. Well, I saw him early this morning
0:26:38 > 0:26:40and knew he was hard to beat
0:26:40 > 0:26:42but I daren't tell anybody that.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44David, whose bird is that? Mine.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49How many did you win today, David?
0:26:49 > 0:26:51I think I won everything which was a major award.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Every major award.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00It is another perfect day for David Boyd and his budgies.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03I think I'll get a big photograph at home because to win
0:27:03 > 0:27:06so much in one day has been absolutely phenomenal.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10Davie Henry is one of the top judges, knows what he's looking for.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12To achieve this today,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15well, I just can't say any more than I'm over the moon.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17I just love the whole demeanour of them
0:27:17 > 0:27:20and how they can be so proud, the cock birds,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22and display themselves so beautifully.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Really is a big challenge to win but every show's different.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28You go out next week and the birds could be nervous,
0:27:28 > 0:27:30don't win a thing. You just have to take the rough with the smooth.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34At the minute, I'm riding the crest of the wave. Long may it continue!
0:27:34 > 0:27:37The competition has brought together not just all sorts of budgies,
0:27:37 > 0:27:39but all sorts of people.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43It has been a successful day all round at Killowen Orange Hall.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46The show went really well. We've had people from all over the province.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50When you see people coming to it and feeling free to come
0:27:50 > 0:27:53and welcome, it's great.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57I wouldn't like it to be just one side of the community.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58It's welcome to everybody.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01No matter who they are they get a warm welcome
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and they'll get a bowl of soup, the same as I get a bowl of soup.
0:28:03 > 0:28:08Everybody is treated equally.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Next time on Pet Island, we follow Martin to Italy,
0:28:11 > 0:28:13shopping for a new puppy.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16He likes you. Yes, course he likes me.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Belfast Pug Club have a Halloween party.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22Pugs are hilarious, so dressed up pugs are even better.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26And in Donegal, we meet internet sensation Hummus.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Hummus means the world to us. She's our fur baby.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Yeah, she's become our child, I think. Yeah.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Hello, I'm Riz Lateef with your 90 second update.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Vladimir Putin says he'll start to pull his military out