Episode 6 Sport Relief's Top Dog

72 dogs.

24 celebrity team captains.

And one big tournament to find...

Sport Relief's Top Dog.

On tonight's show, Team Sharron.

Sharron Davies, former Olympic swimming champion,

and her pet British bulldog, Pig, are joined by assistance dog

trainer Dawne Vosburgh from Buckinghamshire

and her working chocolate Labrador, Tilly, a medical detection dog.

And supply chain performance analyst Gareth Button from Coventry

with his pet sheepdog, Emi.

They're taking on Team Caprice.

Caprice, a model and businesswoman, with her pet Chihuahua, Roly,

is joined by director Neil Smith from Kent and his dog, Monty,

a Leonberger who works as a therapy dog.

And dog walker Charlotte Hickey from West Sussex with Coral,

a pet springer spaniel.

It's time for our two teams to go head-to-head,

it's Sport Relief's Top Dog.

Thank you. Hello and welcome to Sport Relief's Top Dog -

the show where the dogs take the lead.

So, let's crack straight on and meet tonight's star players.

For Team Sharron, it's Sharron and...

This is Pig. Named by the children because, as you can hear,

she sounds a great deal like a pig rather than a dog. DOG GRUNTS

Is she talking?

She is. This is how she breathes all the time.

She's not distressed or anything. She's excited to be out and about.

Tell us about the breed

because everybody is questioning the sound they make and the drooling.

Is this what the breed always does?

I think they probably have been too over-bred over the years.

They've got very squat faces and large heads

and it does make it difficult for them to breathe.

We are hoping that will change

because it's not terribly healthy for them.

She's very lovable, I thoroughly recommend them as companions.

-Wonderful. Welcome to Top Dog!

-Thank you very much. Lovely to be here.

-Dawne. Who is this, please?

-This is Tilly.

Tell me all about this amazing dog.

Tilly is an ambassador for the charity I work for.

We train them to detect things like cancer, type 1 diabetes -

anything that's scent-based for a medical condition.

That's amazing. Thank you very much indeed.

APPLAUSE

-Hello, Gareth.

-This is Emi.

This is a pet/companion-cum-flyball agility dog.

She is so sweet. And she loves watching TV.

Yeah, she loves watching TV, especially if dogs come on.

She will enjoy this series, then! Even when she's not competing.

I wish you the very best of luck. Let's hear it for Team Sharron!

APPLAUSE

Let's meet the team captain for Team Caprice, it's Caprice!

APPLAUSE

-Hello!

-Oh, sweetheart.

-Hello.

-What's your name?

-CAPRICE: My name is Roly.

Everything is so dramatic until you give him a sausage.

He eats sausages, he will do anything for it

and he goes number one and number two all over the house!

Seriously, I've gone through three dog whisperers.

They are not trainable, these dogs.

Roly. Don't do wee-wees on the carpet any more!

It's worked. Caprice!

APPLAUSE

Now, what breed is this bear of a dog?

-This is Monty and he is a Leonberger.

-Can we get him to sit up?

Monty, stand.

Look at the size of... Oh, goodness me.

He is a therapy dog and he goes into...

..day centres to visit the elderly.

-Yeah, he's a family pet, one of three.

-Sorry?!

-We have another two at home.

-Of Leonbergers?

-Yes. Slightly bigger than him.

-Bigger than him?!

-Yes. Let's hear it for Neil, thank you.

-Hello, Charlotte.

-Now, who have we got here?

This is Coral, my rescue springer spaniel.

She used to be terrified of other dogs, and being a dog walker

I had to walk her around and slowly reintroduce her to other dogs.

-How long did that take?

-A few months.

She was a dramatically changed dog

Oh, how lovely.

She seems so settled and happy here with all of the other dogs around.

-Oh, yeah, she's really enjoying herself.

-Wonderful.

She's a really gentle dog. Best of luck to Team Caprice!

So, let's introduce them to our first challenge - Top Gun Dog.

APPLAUSE

This is a game that not only tests the dogs' ability to retrieve from

the water in the fastest time, but also the handler's shooting skills...

..as they try to rack up as many points as possible.

Every time the handler fires a shot, they must wait for their dog

to retrieve the ball before they can reload and fire again.

So as Neil and Monty... Would you like to go off and get ready?

OK.

APPLAUSE

We can say hello to our resident water experts, David and Ellie.

Give us a wave, Dave!

Give it some welly, Ellie!

Now, just before they jump, we are going to move out of the way

because Monty weighs 10.5st!

-Are you ready for this?

-Yes.

On your barks, get set, go!

Now, all our doggy contestants are matched up to a game that

suits them here on Top Dog.

Leonbergers are naturally powerful dogs -

look at the way Monty uses that muscle to drive through the water.

Impressive stuff.

It looks like a bull's-eye from Neil.

Monty also dead on target, taking the ball in his mouth first time.

Lovely aim from both of them. Sets his sights. Nice shot!

Off goes Monty.

Leonbergers are originally from the German town of Leonberg.

Sadly they were nearly driven to extinction in the First World War.

Whoa, Neil is on fire. Another well-aimed shot.

The faster Monty gets the ball back to him,

more opportunity to score points he will have before the time is up.

BEEP BEEP!

Wow, you can imagine the amount of power Monty has to generate

to launch his ample frame across the water. Fantastic.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

You, together, scored 70 points!

APPLAUSE

So, now let's see if Dawne and Tilly can beat that.

-70 points to beat. Are you ready?

-Yes.

On your barks, get set, go!

There she goes.

Tilly is trained as a gundog so retrieving should be

second nature to her. She confidently grabs that ball.

Wow, an athletic jump. She's keeping her head well up as well.

Good girl.

Good shooting from Dawne.

Good girl!

All those points she's scoring are adding up

but are they enough to beat Neil and Monty?

Was that a bull's-eye? We'll have to wait and see.

Good girl!

Tilly demonstrating the well-known doggy paddle technique there.

Dawne squaring up.

Nice shot but it has left Tilly with a longer swim.

Really showing the calm nature of her breed.

-You've got 15 seconds.

-Come on, swim!

Will she make it back before the buzzer?

-Come on,

-Dawne . One more!

Dawne fires off a round, it's not quick enough.

Dawne tells us that Tilly loves to be the centre of attention -

a performance like that, she will be one very contented canine.

APPLAUSE

Well done to both of you.

Now, we know that you earlier got 70 points,

and I can tell you that you two got 65 points.

So close! But well done.

Aw, so happy!

Many congratulations and now off you go to get dry, all of you!

So, while the dogs get a proper rubdown, let's bring it on.

It's Monty and Tilly doing the wet dog shaggy shake.

# Shake your groove thing Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah

# Show 'em how we do it, now

# Shake your groove thing Shake your groove thing, yeah yeah

# Show 'em how we do it. #

Now, we love dogs on this show so we've recruited five highly

experienced experts to take care of them.

Reena Patel is our resident vet

and senior clinician at her local practice.

Roy Dyer is our canine consultant.

He's been training dogs for over 50 years.

Kristina Glover is a veterinary approved pet behaviour counsellor.

David Pugh trains dogs to swim and save lives, and alongside him

is his apprentice, Ellie Bedford.

APPLAUSE

Sadly, there's no time to PAWS, as we move

straight on to our next game.

This involves the dogs leaping over a series of hurdles in a race

against one another.

They'll have to release a ball at the opposite end

and deliver it to their owner.

The first dog to deliver three balls wins the heat.

It's the best of three heats.

So, please, if you could take your positions to play Hurdling Hounds.

APPLAUSE

OK, good luck, everybody. On your barks, get set, go! Go!

Charlotte and Coral versus Gareth and Emi here.

Tremendous speed from both dogs.

Coral's got a ball and is heading back.

They are neck-and-neck. Emi is lagging slightly

but she's still performing admirably. Sailing over the hurdles.

Coral's lead increasing.

Sharron not looking too hopeful for her team-mates.

Coral has finished, and having a well-deserved treat.

-Emi not in such a hurry.

-Well done.

The first round went to Team Caprice.

Coral the springer spaniel certainly lived up to the name of her

breed as she sprang across the obstacles to win the first round.

Team Sharron, you have to win this round to stay in the game.

On your barks, get set, go.

It's the best of three,

and at the start of the second round they are very much neck-and-neck.

Emi is slightly in the lead this time.

But Coral executes a phenomenal turnaround to close the gap

and bring them back to an equal footing.

She's lost her concentration, Emi back in the front.

Emi racing ahead now.

And the round is Emi's. What a turnaround.

That was incredible - round two goes to Team Sharron.

Sheepdogs like Emi are known for being intelligent

and able to pick up tasks quickly.

Now she's got the idea behind this, she seems to be flourishing.

One more round to go.

OK, are you ready, everybody?

This is for the points. On your barks, get set, go!

Coral is first out of the gate

but Emi has caught her up at the team captains.

Side-by-side, it is any dog's game just now.

Coral pulling ahead.

It is close.

Looks like Coral has done it.

Good girl!

When you see two dogs in head-to-head competition

like this, it really makes you realise what

beautiful and graceful creatures they are.

Both of them showed remarkable prowess -

their owners should feel really proud.

Many congratulations. That was a victory for Coral and Team Caprice.

Well done.

APPLAUSE

Which of course means, after two games, that Caprice is

ahead by two games to nil.

Now, everyone taking part tonight is here to support a really

great cause and if all this canine caper has got you inspired,

then why not join us to raise money and change lives?

There are all sorts of ways you and your dog can get involved.

The first ever Sport Relief Games take place

from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd March.

The best way to join the fun and games is to sign up to run,

cycle or swim.

We just cycled for Sport Relief!

But there are lots of other ways you can take part

and raise money for Sport Relief along with your faithful friend.

How about getting sponsored to go on a group dog walk?

Or you could set up your own dog obstacle course

and ask for donations to take part.

For more ideas and to get your own fundraising kit,

visit:

Please do get involved.

Sport Relief is working to save lives

and to change them for the better.

Every donation makes a vital difference.

Now, it's time for our celebrity team captain Caprice

and Roly and Sharron and Pig to play the next game.

And it's a test of tasty temptation.

Sitting face-to-face, the player must keep their dog's

attention as a sausage is swung mere inches from their pal's face.

However, should the dog lick the sausage or bite

the sausage, our celebrity will fall from grace.

How many swings of the sausage will each dog resist?

Let's find out as we play Swing Low Sweet Chewy Sausage.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

Team Sharron is in position. So, are you ready?

-Ready as we're ever going to be, I think.

-On your barks, get set, go!

No. No, no, no, no. Ah, ah, ah, ah!

-No!

-Straightaway Pig is focusing more on that sausage than on Sharron.

No! LAUGHTER

Good girl. Ah, ah. No!

Sharron is bravely attempting to pull back Pig's attention.

She is enraptured by the porky pendulum.

Reverse. Reverse.

Despite their imposing features, the bulldog is said to be

an excellent family pet who forms strong bonds with children.

I can't tell you about kids

but Pig is definitely forming a strong bond with that sausage.

-She wants the sausage.

-Tremendous self-control from Pig.

Come on, you lot. This is terribly unfair.

-I'm going to eat the sausage in a minute.

-Even Sharron's tempted.

No! Oh! LAUGHTER

BELL SOUNDS

Well done!

-APPLAUSE

-Incredible!

Denying every instinct, Pig has stoically resisted

the swinging sausage and given Sharron's team a perfect score.

That'll do, Pig. That'll do.

Congratulations! Especially to Pig, who resisted all temptation.

I am amazed.

Let's see if Caprice and Roly can do as well.

Now, it is 20 swings that Roly has to resist the sausage for.

-On your barks, get set, go!

-OK, sweetheart.

Roly clearly worried by the enormity of this challenge.

-Just look at those puppy dog eyes.

-Look at Mommy. Look at Mommy.

I will give you three sausages if you don't eat this one sausage...

-That's a deal, Caprice.

-I'm not lying. I'm going to do it.

OK. Now focus on Momma's eyes.

Caprice using a clever combination of bribery

and positive reinforcement to control the wild beast in Roly.

So gosh-darn cute! Oh, sweetheart! You look so cute!

Considering what Caprice told us

earlier about Roly's uncontrolled love of sausages,

his ability to resist the pork product is incredible.

Sweetheart! LAUGHTER

Mommy's so proud of you.

Roly clearly determined not to be the WURST at this game.

Oh! APPLAUSE

-BELL SOUNDS

-He's done it!

You've won!

Roly brushed aside the banger and came in equal with Pig.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Congratulations as well to Roly,

-who also managed to resist 20 swings of the sausage.

-I know!

APPLAUSE That was such a mean thing.

Because you both have the same score we are in a tie-break situation.

Could you give us a squeak of your squeaker please, Caprice?

-TOY SQUEAKS

-And Sharron.

-TOY OINKS

-OK. For the point. Here we go.

In Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone,

what was the name of the three-headed guard dog?

-A) Bubbles. B) Fluffy. C) Cuddles.

-TOY OINKS

-Sharron.

-Fluffy.

-Correct.

You get the point. Well done.

I had no idea. APPLAUSE

Let's have a look and see what that does to the overall score.

It is now 2-1. Many congratulations to you.

And the 2-1 lead will earn you a very,

very handy time advantage in the final deciding game.

Gather round, people. It's time for the Bark Off!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, this is a relay race.

The course will be completed one dog at a time.

If an obstacle is refused or incorrectly cleared,

-they will hear this sound...

-KLAXON SOUNDS

They will only get two attempts at each obstacle

and they cannot move on until they hear this sound.

-BELL RINGS

-Thank you very much.

The team who completes the course in the fastest time will take overall

victory and be in with a chance of going through to the grand final.

Team Caprice is in the lead, which means that Team Sharron

have the pressure of going first.

And because they are lagging behind 2-1, they will be starting

their run with 15 seconds already added to the clock.

-It's time now to play the Bark Off.

-APPLAUSE

OK. Are you ready?

On your barks, get set, go.

Gareth and Emi start confidently over Stonehenge,

dashing over the bridge. Lovely.

-Tunnel. That's it, good girl. Come here.

-Look at that tail wagging.

Now, is she going to have the discipline required

-at Swindon's Magic Roundabout?

-BELL RINGS

Well done.

-Over.

-Bounding over Sherwood Forest.

-Get in the tunnel! Yes!

Through the tunnel and Gareth pointing the way. Off she goes.

Emi's won over 20 rosettes in agility and flyball

-and that is certainly a sure-footed weave.

-There you go.

-Will Emi be comfortable crossing the open water?

-Stay!

So far, so good. She doesn't look totally comfortable, though.

-Stay.

-I think she's looking for the life jackets.

Nerves holding, though.

-Good work, Emi.

-APPLAUSE

Over. Over. Through. Through. Through.

Travelling north over Hadrian's Wall, the Forth Bridge

-and they've done it.

-OK. Your turn.

-APPLAUSE

-As Dawne and Tilly start their run,

it looks like Tilly is more interested in playing than running.

-Steady.

-Fine crossing of the Thames. Descending to the Tube.

-Good girl.

-Straight onto the sit-and-stay.

-On this. Sit.

Working with medical detection dogs,

Tilly is used to following instructions.

The model of obedience. Well done, Tilly.

-LAUGHTER

-She has boarded the famous ferry.

Will she remain on-board?

-No! She has walked the plank!

-KLAXON SOUNDS

Back in, but she needs to complete the crossing

to pass this obstacle.

# Ferry cross the Mersey... #

-Wait. Wait. Wait.

-Will she or won't she?

-Good girl!

-Lovely.

It seems Tilly can't get enough of her new favourite mode of transport.

She has left something below deck!

Dawne brings her back to the challenge

-but they've lost vital seconds.

-Yeah!

-Team leader Sharron and her bulldog, Pig, up next.

-Good girl.

-Come on.

-Pig taking the slow and steady approach to Tower Bridge.

Through there.

She's not fast but there is a solid confidence to her style.

-Quick, quick, quick! Come on.

-A slow meander.

I can see that Pig's enjoying this. She's grinning from ear to ear.

-A stand-and-stay for the bulldog.

-Good girl. Good girl.

BELL RINGS

The adjudicator is satisfied, she can move on.

-Over the jump.

-Come on.

A nimble little hop and she's over the smaller Sherwood Forest jump.

Travelling side-by-side through the Welsh train tunnel.

Pig's looking more comfortable than Sharron here.

Sharron has decided that Pig's skill set is more suited to the

-Giant's Causeway than the weave. And she's not wrong.

-Now the ferry.

Now she's spotted the mighty vessel ahead.

-Looks like she is having second thoughts.

-Sit.

Lie down. Lie down.

-Lie down.

-Solidly in position...

-Hope Pig doesn't get seasick.

-Ah, ah, ah!

Oh, she's dived overboard. She is swimming for shore.

-She isn't stopping.

-Pig. Piggy.

She really isn't a fan of river travel.

Looks like she is heading for the exit.

We won't do that one, darling - come on.

Sharron and Pig reunite and after a few encouraging words,

-Bulldog is back on track. Over Hadrian's Wall.

-And one more.

Looking like she would rather not cross the Forth Bridge.

-APPLAUSE

-Through the end.

-With some loving guidance from Sharron, they've done it.

-Baby!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well done to Team Sharron. Would you like to know your time?

Five minutes, 21 seconds. Congratulations to you guys.

-Team Caprice, you know the time you have to beat. Are you ready?

-Yes.

On your barks, get set, go.

Charlotte and Coral making a speedy start.

Up and over Tower Bridge, heading straight for the Tube.

Coral has been playing flyball for two and a half years

and is on her local team.

The speed she needs for that is being put to good use

in this Bark Off.

-Good sit-and-stay.

-BELL RINGS

Here we go.

-Coral nearly misses tunnel.

-Good girl.

Squeezes past Charlotte to dash over Mount Snowdon.

-Weave, weave, weave.

-Beautiful weave!

-APPLAUSE

-A tight, skilful weave from Coral.

-Wait.

-Coral is on the ferry. She struck a lovely pose there.

-She loved that.

-What a stylish approach to this obstacle.

Coral has been kayaking with Charlotte in the past

and being aboard holds no worries for her. Magnificent.

Good girl.

Your turn.

Working for Pets As Therapy, Monty has to be good at cuddling,

-as we can see here.

-LAUGHTER

-Monty making light work of Tower Bridge.

-Tunnel.

-Tunnel.

-I think he may be claustrophobic.

He's doing everything he can to avoid the Tube.

Neil gently guiding him through.

Looks like Monty would rather dance with Neil than move on

with the game. Nice moves, though, Monty.

Monty only just fits onto the roundabout

but he is staying there now he is on.

-BELL RINGS

-Deciding to take the small jump.

Let's see if he has conquered his fear of tunnels.

-How are you both going to fit in there?

-That is a tight squeeze.

No hesitation from Monty.

Again, Monty's playful nature not helping him save time,

but at least he is enjoying himself.

-10.5st of dog, everybody.

-KLAXON SOUNDS

Monty has kicked the boat away in his haste to disembark.

I think if YOU sit in it, and he'll pull you along...

-LAUGHTER

-He only just fits in the vessel.

-LAUGHTER

-He is off the boat again.

Move on. Monty, do a couple of jumps, go on.

Not the most successful run of the Bark Off that we've seen.

The important thing is that Monty clearly enjoyed it.

-APPLAUSE

-Caprice, your turn.

Caprice and Roly starting their journey.

Caprice is holding a container of treats.

She seems to know exactly how to motivate Roly.

Roly is so intent on the contents of that the bucket

he hardly notices he is crossing Tower Bridge.

Caprice has thrown in the treat like bait. Come round the other side.

She's drawing him out with the promise of even more tasty titbits.

APPLAUSE OK. Let's try this. Sit. Stay. Stay.

Roly's sitting well...

-BELL RINGS

-And he's done it!

APPLAUSE Come on, baby.

-Moving on over the Sherwood Forest jump.

-Come to Momma.

Caprice is talking Roly through every aspect of the course.

So much fun.

More positive reinforcement from Caprice as Roly crosses

-the next obstacle.

-Roly. Yeah, this is so fun. Such a good boy.

Roly cresting Snowdon's peak. One giant step for one tiny dog.

That took Monty one step.

Sensibly deciding to take the route across the Giant's Causeway.

-Up in the ship.

-Caprice gives him a helping hand into the boat.

Caprice has given him something more substantial there.

-That's where the sausage went from the game.

-Lovely!

It looks like Roly finally got his sausage.

What better way to enjoy it than crossing the beautiful Mersey?

-Come here, my big boy.

-And he hops. Over the last few jumps.

-Here we go.

Ready? Go get him!

And he has made it. Caprice is jubilant.

-Nicely done.

-APPLAUSE

The time to beat was five minutes and 21 seconds.

And I can reveal that you managed it in a time of...

-..four minutes, 35 seconds.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Huge congratulations to Team Caprice for winning tonight's show,

for which each of your dogs gets a dog toy.

But was it fast enough to qualify for the semifinals?

Only the top four winning times of the series will make it through.

And your time of 4:35 puts you in sixth position.

Well done, though. Commiserations. And a very respectful time indeed.

Remember, if you want to take part in all the Sport Relief fun

and games, please sign up for an event near you.

You can find all the details and fundraising ideas

and Sport Relief treats at:

Thanks to all our dogs and owners for taking part and thank you

so much for watching. We'll see you tomorrow.

-Until then, good night.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE