0:00:02 > 0:00:05Pets - don't you just love them?
0:00:07 > 0:00:09In this series, we're going to meet
0:00:09 > 0:00:12plenty of people who really, really do.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13It's like having more children.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16It's as easy to have two or three as it is 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 love her. She always gets loads of compliments.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28We have a sort of core following, the ones that read it every day.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Our love for them appears to have no bounds.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Later, we're in Cork, expecting a new baby.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39This is a good way to show them good things happen when the baby is
0:00:39 > 0:00:43crying, so they feel good when they hear the sound of the baby crying.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45In Belfast, our Chihuahuas face the snip.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49There is a possibility the dog can also become more aggressive.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52But first, we meet Taylor-Rae and her valentine.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53Spoilt rotten.
0:00:59 > 0:01:00Big smile.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04In Banbridge, beauty queen Taylor-Rae Hamilton
0:01:04 > 0:01:08is preparing young hopefuls for the ultimate beauty pageant.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Straighten your back up, Abbie, just a wee bit more.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14But, for Taylor-Rae, there is one girl more beautiful than anyone.
0:01:14 > 0:01:15Beautiful.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Meet Taylor-Rae's Pekinese, Coco Chanel.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26This little beauty never fails to turn heads wherever she goes.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Oh, she's got a wee dress!
0:01:28 > 0:01:31She's got a wee dress on and she's got her slippers back at home.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33She is absolutely ruined.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35She gets bathed three times a week,
0:01:35 > 0:01:39she has Coco Chanel perfume sprayed on her, she has her nails,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41- her hair done... - Could I swap places?
0:01:43 > 0:01:44She's ruined, I swear to God!
0:01:44 > 0:01:48She has a better wardrobe than me, I'm not even joking.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- She loves the attention.- Does she? - Loves the attention.
0:01:57 > 0:02:02In the last year, Taylor-Rae has spent more than £5,000 on Coco.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08And today, the pair are attending their local beauty parlour.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15- Where did you get Coco? - I had seen Coco on Gumtree
0:02:15 > 0:02:17and she was over in Yorkshire.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20So I had to get a friend to bring her over on the boat
0:02:20 > 0:02:23and I had to collect her. She was just a wee bundle of fluff.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25That was it, I fell clean in love.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28She took sick two weeks after I had got her.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31The vet had said, "It's up to the wee dog if it's going to make it
0:02:31 > 0:02:32"through the night or not,"
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and that whole night, I sat up screeching.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37But she got through it and she's sturdy and strong now.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40She's just grown up so quick.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42People think I have a child in the pram and then they come over and see
0:02:42 > 0:02:46Coco just sitting there. Probably thinking, "What an ugly baby!"
0:02:46 > 0:02:49But to me, it's like a child. I see her as my baby.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51I know a lot of people say that about their dogs,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53but I really do see her as my child.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55God forbid if I never had children or anything,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57I'd be happy enough just to have Coco.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01She's everything to me, like.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The other love of Taylor-Rae's life is boyfriend Gediminas.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09This muscle-bound fitness instructor has a bone to pick with Coco
0:03:09 > 0:03:11and her lazy ways.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13She just doesn't walk for me. She wouldn't walk up the town,
0:03:13 > 0:03:16she wouldn't walk up the stairs, she has to be put in her pram.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17She's a complete diva, like.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22Come here.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25He says he'll try to get her out of the habit of not walking,
0:03:25 > 0:03:26but I don't think he will.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29She's too ruined. It's too far gone now.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Coco...
0:03:32 > 0:03:34I think he's a bit mortified cos she's sitting there
0:03:34 > 0:03:37with her tiara on in a pink dress and the pink lead.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43But, no, everything is pink in her life.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Pink dresses, pink hair bobbles,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48pink hair dye, pink nails, sometimes.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51- Aw.- She's a designer dog.
0:03:51 > 0:03:52But she's spoiled rotten.
0:03:52 > 0:03:54- She's mummy's girl.- Aw.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56I know, but it's hard not to spoil them, like,
0:03:56 > 0:03:57I just think they're there to spoil
0:03:57 > 0:04:00and I know some people think it's quite controversial,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02that she should be walking or not wearing her clothes,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04but I enjoy it and she enjoys it and...
0:04:04 > 0:04:07I just think if everyone treated their animals half as good
0:04:07 > 0:04:09as I treated Coco, there'd be so much less
0:04:09 > 0:04:12animal cruelty in the world. Would you be jumping, Mrs?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14- COCO BURPS - Oh, big burps!
0:04:14 > 0:04:17She's an awful burping habit too.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Meanwhile in Cork...
0:04:23 > 0:04:24Come on!
0:04:24 > 0:04:28..Gillian is preparing her dogs for some earth-shattering news.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29Quick!
0:04:32 > 0:04:33Good boy.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So this is Arthur, our older Basset.
0:04:37 > 0:04:38He is going to be ten in December.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40And then this is Nero.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43So he is a little bit of
0:04:43 > 0:04:44the wilder of the two.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51He's just a bundle of energy.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56A gentle giant who believes he is about the size of a Chihuahua.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58He gets really excited.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01He's really excited around noise, he gets excited around kids,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03which obviously is a little concern.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Nero and Arthur's rural bliss is about to be turned upside down
0:05:09 > 0:05:12by the arrival of Gillian's first child.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13Good boy!
0:05:15 > 0:05:17So I'm just gone the eight months.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18So three weeks left.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22So kind of in the last stages of preparation
0:05:22 > 0:05:25and kind of getting prepared for bringing baby home.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27You know, how we're going to handle all that,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30how baby fits in with our life, with the lads and stuff.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Because, up to now, obviously, there's just been them.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35Nero, he is probably the main concern.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38I think the crying could upset him.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40You know, as they say, new noises and stuff,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42he doesn't react terribly well to.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43And that's a nervousness we have,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46whether that is knocking over the Moses basket with his tail,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48which is ridiculously strong,
0:05:48 > 0:05:52or whether that's trying to lick the baby and, yeah,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54it's a bit... It's scary, right?
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Gillian has decided to get some professional help
0:06:01 > 0:06:05and has called in Nanci Creedon, a dog behaviourist based in Cork city.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Today, she has brought along her assistant, George.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Hi, Gillian. Nanci Creedon.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20- Nanci, nice to see you. - How are you?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23- Follow me.- Thank you.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25When there's a new baby coming home, to your dog,
0:06:25 > 0:06:27they are not tiny little human beings.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31They're just a funny-smelling little toy that they don't know what to do
0:06:31 > 0:06:34with. So the main risk is that first of all the predatory side of things.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Because we all know that our dogs will chase cats.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38So when it comes to a new baby,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42because they smell funny and because they sound funny,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45sometimes it can trigger the same kind of behaviours from dogs.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47And then, the other big risk is they start guarding the baby.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50And while some people think it's cute to see their dog
0:06:50 > 0:06:52protecting their newborn baby, it's highly dangerous.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55When your dog guards something, like a sock, and they feel
0:06:55 > 0:06:58they're being threatened, they pick up the sock and they run away.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02What we want is your dog to just not care about the baby.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06We have our baby, George.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08You can call your baby George if you want to!
0:07:08 > 0:07:11So we want to teach the dogs what to do the very first time
0:07:11 > 0:07:13they greet the baby.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Arthur, Nero, come on!
0:07:15 > 0:07:16Come on in.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- You, too. Good boys.- Good boy!
0:07:20 > 0:07:21Now... So that's perfect.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25That's what we want. We want them to be aware, but not to care.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27And if they come too near the face...
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- Good boy!- ..you've got the area protected and when they move away,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33- good dogs.- Good boy.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34Ah!
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Nero, uh-uh! So what we're going to do now is the sound.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40RECORDING OF BABY CRYING
0:07:45 > 0:07:48So what's really important now is that when they hear these sounds...
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Good boy. ..you want good things to happen.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53It's treats or praise.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Good boy!
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Good boy.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Now...
0:08:00 > 0:08:03So this is just a good, subtle way to show them good things happen
0:08:03 > 0:08:06when the baby's crying so they feel good when they hear the sound
0:08:06 > 0:08:08of the baby crying. So, good boys!
0:08:12 > 0:08:16Every dog is different, so I don't know how they're going to respond.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17Good boy.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20But what I want Gillian to do is to practise, practise, practise.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23So what I have here is a smelly, old nappy.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25And what I want to show you what to do then
0:08:25 > 0:08:28is when you are walking around with this smelly baby,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30with the doll with the nappy,
0:08:30 > 0:08:32you can slowly bend down towards the dogs...
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Good dog. ..and move away again.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38- OK.- If they jump, you need to turn your back straight away on them.- OK.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41So I'm going to let him have a sniff. Good boy.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47- Nero, uh-uh. So, when he jumps, turn your back.- OK.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I don't like to say I'm ready,
0:08:50 > 0:08:54'but I've seen it happen with people who've had to get rid of their dogs'
0:08:54 > 0:08:56and that is definitely a concern.
0:08:56 > 0:09:01Later, we will find out how the new arrival is met by Arthur and Nero.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Previously in Belfast, we met two small dogs
0:09:07 > 0:09:10who were giving their housemate Chris a big headache.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13I nearly have to mop the floors every night I get in
0:09:13 > 0:09:16before I can get my dinner. I don't know what it is they pee,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18but it's very acidic.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Down round the bottom, there's a definite yellowy tinge
0:09:21 > 0:09:24that is gradually creeping up and up and up.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Are you proud of it? Are you proud of yourself?
0:09:28 > 0:09:31At his wits' end, former model Chris decided
0:09:31 > 0:09:33to enlist the help of a dog behaviourist.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Just anywhere they can lift their leg, they will.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Do they do a proper puddle in the house?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Only if they've been like locked... If they couldn't get outside.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45And then you would see, like...
0:09:45 > 0:09:49So it's not really a house-training issue, it's more marking.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- OK.- The most relevant things at this moment in time are hormones
0:09:53 > 0:09:55and habit. There is an order of the pack...
0:09:55 > 0:09:58And I'm not at the top of the pack!
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Problem is me, cos I'm far too soft with them.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04However, after teaching Chris a number of techniques...
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Out.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08I just want him to make eye contact.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Out.- ..she left him with some tough advice.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18In you come. There is an implant you can get.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- OK.- It's a little bit like a microchip.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23It's an implant that goes underneath the skin.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27If that doesn't show a definite improvement in behaviour,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29I would then be thinking about neutering.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Today, Chris is meeting vet Ian Miller to discuss
0:10:36 > 0:10:39giving the Chihuahuas the Chihua-ows.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Castration itself, it is a surgical process
0:10:45 > 0:10:49and that surgical operation would be removing the testicles.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51You're removing the main source
0:10:51 > 0:10:53of the hormone testosterone completely.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57Would it affect their personality? Cos at the minute, like,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00they are quite boisterous wee dogs, and I like that.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04They do have their own personalities and I wouldn't want to change that.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06In all sort of interference with hormones,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10there is a possibility that the dog will either become gentler or it can
0:11:10 > 0:11:13also become more aggressive. So it's a bit of a lottery, you know.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16- A bit of a roulette. - This is the older one.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19He would definitely be sort of the more dominant one.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Will they miss their bits?
0:11:25 > 0:11:28We don't have the information to say yea or nay on that.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32They don't seem to because they don't analyse life
0:11:32 > 0:11:35just as much as a human being might, you know?
0:11:35 > 0:11:39But from what I can see, no, they don't miss them as such.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42But castration is for life, you might say.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46It is decision time for Chris.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Well, at least I do know the option is always there.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I would not like to go down that route...
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- No, that's fair enough. - I just feel, like,
0:11:58 > 0:12:02I think I can cope with the odd wee yellow mark
0:12:02 > 0:12:03on the skirting boards and things.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07One of the interesting side issues in all this is that it's usually
0:12:07 > 0:12:11the male owners that would have more resistance to that operation
0:12:11 > 0:12:13than their spouses, so...
0:12:13 > 0:12:16I can definitely understand that, cos I wouldn't do it to myself.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21The thought of it... Just if it was peeing around the house,
0:12:21 > 0:12:22chop off my...
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Back in Banbridge, Taylor-Rae is dropping Coco at her day-care.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42I know who this is!
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Hello, Coco.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Hello, How are you? OK?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49- Yes. How is she?- Not too bad.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Granny Ann looks after Coco while Taylor-Rae runs her glamour empire.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55You're a good girl, aren't you?
0:12:55 > 0:12:57She says, "Give me food.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00"Give me food, Granny!"
0:13:00 > 0:13:01There's Ryan, look.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05But it is Uncle Ryan who spearheads the five-star treatment.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09What time are you working to?
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Half five today.
0:13:12 > 0:13:13OK, say bye-bye to Mummy.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Kisses? Kiss? No kisses?
0:13:16 > 0:13:21You don't love me, do you? Right, see you later, darling.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22See you later. Have a good day.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24See you! Bye!
0:13:25 > 0:13:27There's your little woman.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29My little woman.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Ryan is also a devoted fan of Coco.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Here we go, baby.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Ryan loves Coco.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- Don't you, Ryan?- Yes.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Here, here!
0:13:54 > 0:13:56She makes me laugh.
0:13:56 > 0:14:02The socks on, and the wee dresses she has, and coats and everything.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06I keep telling her, "Taylor, it's a dog, remember it's still a wee dog."
0:14:06 > 0:14:09The only thing is, she gets so attached to them, you know?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11As well as bringing her out for exercise,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Ryan prepares her gourmet meals...
0:14:14 > 0:14:16Chicken, I suppose.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17Coco?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Are you coming in for your chicken, Coco?
0:14:20 > 0:14:25..much to the disdain of Coco's cousin, Stanley.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27She gets treated big-time.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Again, she sits on my knee and I have to give her the treats
0:14:31 > 0:14:34separate from the other two. Daren't feed them together.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Food. And Coco, she's spoiled rotten.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Look at the spoiled face on her.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Spoiled rotten.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44She really, really is.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46Come on, Coco.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51On today's menu is boiled chicken.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54She'll love that.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55- Good baby.- Good baby girl.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- You're good.- She's a great wee article, isn't she, Ryan?
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Of course she is. She's one in a million.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Good girl.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09You have a full belly now. You're not going home hungry anyway.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Sure you're not. - You're a good girl, aren't you?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14She says, "I want pudding now."
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Look at this lovely collar.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18Look at the diamonds on that.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Spoiled rotten.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27Meanwhile, back in town,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Taylor-Rae is preparing a group of hopefuls
0:15:30 > 0:15:32for the ultimate beauty pageant.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33Who wants to jump up?
0:15:33 > 0:15:36I love taking part in pageants and especially Taylor-Rae's
0:15:36 > 0:15:38cos she makes them so fun.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39Let me see your smiles.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41- TAYLOR-RAE GASPS - Gorgeous!
0:15:41 > 0:15:44The pageant brings in beauty queens from across the world.
0:15:46 > 0:15:47I'm representing Tunisia.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48I'm representing Romania.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50I'm representing Dublin.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52And I'm representing South Armagh.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56But, for these queens, the beauty is not just skin deep.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59It's not just about looking pretty, like a normal girlie girl,
0:15:59 > 0:16:04but actually having a cause to be able to go out and do things.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08It's all about the experience really. It's not about winning.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Not for me anyway, maybe for a lot of people, but not for me.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Going to make sure there's no spider fingers and nice neat hands
0:16:14 > 0:16:16and we're going to go into our wee T stand as well.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Well, what we do is T stands so it makes your legs look longer
0:16:19 > 0:16:21if you put your feet into the shape of a T.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23I'm only five foot one, so I need to do this.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24And it's all about the smile.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27You have to make sure you have a good, big smile on your face.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28Look like you're enjoying yourself
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and it's bringing personality to the camera too.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- What am I like? - SHE LAUGHS
0:16:33 > 0:16:36I could talk... See when the camera's on me...
0:16:38 > 0:16:40But Taylor-Rae also has her eyes
0:16:40 > 0:16:44set on a beauty pageant of a different kind.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49I have actually, before, considered having a pageant for dogs because
0:16:49 > 0:16:53I know how many people love their animals as much as I love Coco.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56So therefore, with Coco having the wardrobe that she has,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59and everything that she needs,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02I think a pageant for dogs would be fantastic.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08So are you going to tell us your ages?
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- Gracie, do you want to go first? - Five.- You're five.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12- Six.- Six.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- And Amy?- Six.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15Six as well. Oh, my word.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Guess what age I am.
0:17:17 > 0:17:1959.
0:17:19 > 0:17:20- 59?! - LAUGHTER
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Oh, my goodness! I haven't had that one before!
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Oh, my goodness. I love it.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39Back in Cork, and Nanci Creedon is returning to collect baby George...
0:17:46 > 0:17:47- Hi, Nanci. Come in.- I'm back.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49How are you?
0:17:49 > 0:17:51..and also to see how Arthur and Nero
0:17:51 > 0:17:54have taken to their new brother.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58So, congratulations.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- Thanks a million.- So, baby George is no more and now we have James.
0:18:02 > 0:18:03- Yes.- Brilliant.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04So, how did it go
0:18:04 > 0:18:06when you introduced baby James to the dogs?
0:18:06 > 0:18:08We practised quite a bit.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- Great.- I'd practise walking around with George and stuff
0:18:11 > 0:18:13so my neighbours probably think I'm insane.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16When he came home, it was definitely
0:18:16 > 0:18:19awkward when I introduced them at the start.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21We came in, he stayed in the car seat.
0:18:21 > 0:18:22Brought the dogs in then.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25They had a good sniff and it went really, really well.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Both of them were very much in your slogan of
0:18:27 > 0:18:29"We're aware, but we don't care."
0:18:29 > 0:18:33So really, the first introduction was excellent.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38With James in the house, Mum's old routine has gone out the window...
0:18:42 > 0:18:45..and the boys are no longer getting their share of attention.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48OK, so we're feeling a little bit guilty because you don't have
0:18:48 > 0:18:51as much time for them as you'd have had in the past so we really needed
0:18:51 > 0:18:53to find exercises and things for you to do that aren't massively
0:18:53 > 0:18:56time-consuming, without leaving the house, but could still tire
0:18:56 > 0:18:59the dogs out while you're still tending to the most important thing,
0:18:59 > 0:19:01which is the baby.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Nanci has devised an exercise programme for the dogs
0:19:03 > 0:19:07which can be easily done in the comfort of their own home.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10So the first thing you want to do is a little bit of nose work.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13So we use our eyes to read books and really entertain ourselves
0:19:13 > 0:19:15and dogs use their nose to do the same thing,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18so grab a few dirty tea towels, a couple of treats.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21Put the treats under the towels so the dogs can't find them.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24That way then, they can use their nose and really sniff things out.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Really tires them out, really good exercise for them.
0:19:27 > 0:19:28Come on.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Now...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32He's going to be very good at this game.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Good boy. What you do then is you progress by just hiding the treats
0:19:36 > 0:19:40in more difficult places. You can wrap it up in balls of newspaper.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44And you don't need to be involved. Took two minutes to set up
0:19:44 > 0:19:46- and then the dogs can have ten minutes of fun.- OK.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Another thing that you can do then is mental stimulation.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53So anything that gets your dog thinking and makes them use
0:19:53 > 0:19:56their brain, kind of like us doing a crossword, tires them out.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58So this is a video game for dogs.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Get an old box and just empty toilet rolls
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and then dropping loads of treats into it.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06The dogs then can see them, they can smell them,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09but they can't get to them so the dogs have to problem solve.
0:20:11 > 0:20:12Good boy.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15So his brain's really working now.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24And what you can do then, to make it more difficult next time,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27because a lot of these toilet rolls are a little bit more squished,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29by putting more toilet rolls in but less gaps,
0:20:29 > 0:20:32it will be harder next time. Exactly.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38And just get your husband then to clean up the mess afterwards.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Gillian is doing brilliantly and the dogs are getting on really well
0:20:41 > 0:20:43with James, which is so important.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46She's clearly still very committed as well to being a good dog owner,
0:20:46 > 0:20:47making sure the dogs are happy.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49I think she is well equipped now to go forward
0:20:49 > 0:20:52and make sure that everyone stays safe and stays happy.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54I think it's gone really good, you know.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57The dogs are just accepting that James is just another member of
0:20:57 > 0:20:59the family and they are completely at ease with one another.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Like, the three of them now are asleep.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Back in Belfast, it has been a close call for Bruiser and Pablo.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17The training is definitely improving.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20They are not piddling as much as they were.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23It's like watching them all the time, giving them new boundaries,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25but it is hard work.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26KNOCKING
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Hi, Chris. How are you?
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Today, dog behaviourist Elaine Power is checking in
0:21:33 > 0:21:35to see if her training tips have paid off.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38How are you getting on, Chris? How's things going?
0:21:38 > 0:21:41They've definitely improved. The house smells fresher,
0:21:41 > 0:21:42you might have noticed.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45There's less yellow stains on skirting boards.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46I'm cleaning a lot less.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50All in all, the pain has gone down so much.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53I wouldn't say it's perfect yet, but there are definitely
0:21:53 > 0:21:56- a lot less puddles round the house, which is good.- Brilliant.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59It takes a while. It's the habit of a lifetime, Chris.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02It's not something that just changes overnight.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04But what we've done, you do have to
0:22:04 > 0:22:06maintain and continue long-term,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08like for the rest of their lives really.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10It does get easier though.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14A lot of people do believe that once they see improvement, they think,
0:22:14 > 0:22:16"Well, that's that done and we're sorted."
0:22:16 > 0:22:19And it's really not. As soon as you revert back to what you used to do,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21they revert back to what they used to do.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24The house isn't stinking, which is always a benefit.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27I don't feel embarrassed bringing people into the house.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29But, as Elaine said, it is keeping it up. It's just me struggling
0:22:29 > 0:22:32being stern with them, especially with this one here
0:22:32 > 0:22:35cos he just looks up at you with his wee eyes and he looks like
0:22:35 > 0:22:38he's crying and puts his tail between his legs and it's just
0:22:38 > 0:22:41so difficult and so I have to sort of force myself...
0:22:43 > 0:22:45..to be mean, which I'm not very good at.
0:22:53 > 0:22:58Meanwhile, life is not all rosy for Taylor-Rae and Coco,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02who have parted ways with someone special in their lives.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Well, unfortunately, I don't have a man in my life any more.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09So on Valentine's Day, it was just me, Coco Chanel and a glass of wine,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12so it's been like that for a while now.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14She's my baby. My number one.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17If I was to settle down and meet a nice man,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19they would obviously have to
0:23:19 > 0:23:23come aboard as a step-daddy for Coco Chanel
0:23:23 > 0:23:27because Coco Chanel is my number one so they have to love her.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29It's love me, love my dog.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37In Ballywalter, siblings Niamh and Ethan
0:23:37 > 0:23:41are on their morning training session with miniature horse Ray.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46Went down to the horse show in Cavan and didn't pay attention
0:23:46 > 0:23:49but then when it came to the miniatures, I was sort of going...
0:23:49 > 0:23:52"Come on, come on, I want that one to win!"
0:23:52 > 0:23:54I was really into them.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56Good boy.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59When I eventually talked my mum and dad into getting me one,
0:23:59 > 0:24:03we went to look at them and I sort of fell in love.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08They are definitely class.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11I didn't think they were that good until we got him, to be honest.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13- Didn't really like them. - You were against it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:14You were really against it.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Like, Niamh was like, "What's the point in a miniature horse?
0:24:17 > 0:24:20"You can't ride them, you can't do this," but now she's like,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22"They're the best!"
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Loads of people that we know that have them have said
0:24:31 > 0:24:33they're really addictive.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35We're like, "No, they're not."
0:24:35 > 0:24:38But they are. We could get loads more.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Ray needs all the practice he can get for a forthcoming competition.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51I'm the one that works Ray the most cos Ethan won't jump him.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Ethan's scared to jump him cos Ethan jumped him once and he fell.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Ethan just goes out for the glory.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03As well as his daily training regime,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Ray also has his own mini superstitions
0:25:06 > 0:25:08which even include dancing.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11MUSIC PLAYS
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Ray, come on.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17He likes to dance to Derek Ryan songs.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19# It's a heartache
0:25:19 > 0:25:22# Nothing but a heartache
0:25:23 > 0:25:26# It hits you when it's too late
0:25:27 > 0:25:31# Hits you when you're down... #
0:25:34 > 0:25:38It is competition time, and today Ray will be competing
0:25:38 > 0:25:41against some of Ireland's finest mini-horses.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44I'd sleep in a barn with him if they were sick.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46I love them, they're family.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49We spend all our spare hours doing this.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52They are funny to watch. They've great personalities. They're just...
0:25:52 > 0:25:55For the lack of a better word, they're just giant dogs.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59For Ethan, it is his first time against some of the seasoned pros
0:25:59 > 0:26:01of the miniature horse world
0:26:01 > 0:26:03who today are pulling out all the stops
0:26:03 > 0:26:06so as to catch the judges' eyes and ears.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09This is Butters and this is Babs.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12That's Jacksy. Jack The Banner Lad.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15Celticmist Absolut Devotion.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16This one is...
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Anything to catch the judges' eyes, that's the whole idea.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26It's make-up eye gloss.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29It just makes them look larger and blacker.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33And for these guys, they actually get their manes and forelocks
0:26:33 > 0:26:35all straightened with a normal hair straightener
0:26:35 > 0:26:37before they go to a show in the morning.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40Sue always wins.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43She's very competitive.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45- No, I don't!- We hate her.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55The mini-horse scene in Ireland is a hugely growing society.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58This show is going to be, in three to four years' time,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01a huge, huge national championship show.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05It is Ray's time to shine.
0:27:15 > 0:27:22It went clear. Which was good for his first ever jumping competition.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Very proud of him.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- TANNOY:- 'We have our result, and in third place
0:27:31 > 0:27:32'is number 73.'
0:27:34 > 0:27:36And Ethan's chance to get the glory.
0:27:36 > 0:27:37APPLAUSE
0:27:40 > 0:27:43When you take him to shows, I think he quite likes
0:27:43 > 0:27:47seeing horses his size rather than having to look up at everything.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Everything is looking down at him.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51He's very brave.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Next time on Pet Island, we learn to talk to the animals...
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Let's see if Lynne can tell us what they're saying.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11..we meet a Dublin woman with some snappy snakes...
0:28:11 > 0:28:14He went straight for me.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18..and in Bray, love is in the air for Martin and Jennifer.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Mummy and Daddy getting married.