0:00:00 > 0:00:03Hello, and welcome to the Brathay Estate
0:00:03 > 0:00:06on the banks of Lake Windermere in the Lake District.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08This beautiful part of the country
0:00:08 > 0:00:12is about to play host to a contest like no other -
0:00:12 > 0:00:15a physical and mental competition for humans...
0:00:15 > 0:00:16Go!
0:00:16 > 0:00:18'..and their dogs.'
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Good boy! OK. Up, up!
0:00:20 > 0:00:24We've scoured the country and found eight people
0:00:24 > 0:00:27who all believe they have the ultimate relationship
0:00:27 > 0:00:29with their canine companions.
0:00:29 > 0:00:33We'd love to win it to prove to the world how good Douglas is.
0:00:33 > 0:00:34We understand each other.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37We've been a team since he was seven weeks old,
0:00:37 > 0:00:39and he's now nine.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Flapjack's beauty and my brains,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42we should make quite a winning combination.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44This way, this way, this way! Flapjack!
0:00:44 > 0:00:45Over the next four weeks,
0:00:45 > 0:00:49guided by some of the country's top dog trainers...
0:00:49 > 0:00:51That is incredible.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..and canine scientists...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56What it tells us is that Betty is ambidextrous.
0:00:56 > 0:00:57Same as me!
0:00:57 > 0:01:01..we'll see them unlock the full potential of their partnership.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02You're ace, you are.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Go!
0:01:04 > 0:01:05They'll compete in a series of challenges...
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Let's go, Douglas. Let's go, Doug.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10..and the best duos will win a place in our grand final...
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Whoops!
0:01:12 > 0:01:15..where one pair will be crowned ultimate champions.
0:01:20 > 0:01:22If you think you know what your dogs are capable of,
0:01:22 > 0:01:23think again.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41If, like me, you share your life with dogs,
0:01:41 > 0:01:45you'll know there's an undeniable connection there.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Most owners will tell you that they have the perfect pet.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Now these eight pairs are about to put their partnerships
0:01:52 > 0:01:53to the ultimate test.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Hailing from across the nation,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00our duos come in all shapes and sizes.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04I know I am competitive.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Betty, she loves competition.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08I think, as a team, we're crazy.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10Don't fall asleep.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14From mongrels...
0:02:14 > 0:02:17He's a rescue dog, so winning something like this would emphasise
0:02:17 > 0:02:19how well we have done together.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21..and pampered pooches...
0:02:21 > 0:02:23She's my fur baby.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25She's a proper little princess.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27..to working dogs.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29We're going to be a good team
0:02:29 > 0:02:31because we have a great working relationship.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Technically, we should be unbeatable.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38To get to the grand final,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41where one pair will be crowned ultimate champions,
0:02:41 > 0:02:45our duos will compete for points in a series of challenges.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47None have had specialist training,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51and the contest is designed to suit all our breeds,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55so each week we'll see them tested on a different aspect
0:02:55 > 0:03:00of the human-dog dynamic - starting with communication.
0:03:00 > 0:03:01DOGS BARK
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Obviously, communication is central to any success in a team sport,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08especially one that involves a human and a dog.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12How much of our communication do they actually understand?
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Well, it turns out, more than you might think.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17You see, humans and dogs
0:03:17 > 0:03:20have lived side-by-side for at least 15,000 years
0:03:20 > 0:03:24and have developed one of the most sophisticated cross-species dynamics
0:03:24 > 0:03:26seen anywhere in the animal kingdom.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28So, for this set of challenges,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31we're going to use some new and innovative ideas
0:03:31 > 0:03:34so that we can better communicate with our dogs
0:03:34 > 0:03:36and improve our relationship.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39But, of course, I'm not going to be doing it on my own.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46I'll be joined by clinical animal behaviourist Sian Ryan
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and her top team of trainers.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Good morning, everyone. ALL:Morning!
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Welcome to the fine Brathay sunshine here.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57We have got a trial for you that is incredibly difficult,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00but nevertheless, it's a starting point.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Their human-canine communication skills
0:04:04 > 0:04:09are about to be put to the test by the Nature Slalom.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12The pairs will be timed as they compete over a course,
0:04:12 > 0:04:14passing through gates as they go.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15Sounds simple,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18but at each gate they can employ just one
0:04:18 > 0:04:22of the three modes of communication we use with dogs.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26At the first gate, they'll use verbal commands.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29At the second, just body language.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33And finally, at the toughest gate of all, nothing but eye contact.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Quite an ask, so before they get started,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Sian wants to give our pairs some pointers.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Your dogs can't learn if they're not paying attention to you.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Without saying anything,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47wait and see if they will look at you naturally.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50Soon as they make eye contact, give them a reward,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52bearing in mind that if we're giving them food rewards
0:04:52 > 0:04:55you're going to cut down on the amount of food
0:04:55 > 0:04:57they're going to get in their bowls for tea tonight.
0:04:57 > 0:05:02Recent findings suggest that non-verbal cues play a vital role
0:05:02 > 0:05:05in communicating with our pets.
0:05:05 > 0:05:06So, Mitch has looked up at you, Colin.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09That's great, so give him the reward.That'll do.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15Zuri's just like, "I will lie here like a princess
0:05:15 > 0:05:18"and I will look at you and you'll reward me," which is perfect.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22We're not asking for anything other than eye contact.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25Although the average owner rarely does it,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28one can communicate with dogs using eye contact alone,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31and if mastered, it can be highly effective
0:05:31 > 0:05:34and can help strengthen the relationship
0:05:34 > 0:05:35between person and pet.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Good boy.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Sian has one more instruction for our pairs.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44These challenges are really, really tough for our dogs.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46They're way outside their normal routines,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48so we're splitting them into small groups
0:05:48 > 0:05:51so that they don't get overwhelmed by what they're facing.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56The eight duos have been divided into the reds and the yellows.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58I think this is bigger than me.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00The two groups will face different challenges,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03but they'll all be testing the same core skills.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08Send him through here, but then you're going to reward him here.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11And it's the reds who will face the Nature Slalom.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Flapjack! Flapjack! Go, go, go!
0:06:14 > 0:06:15Good boy. Good boy.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20None of our duos has ever attempted anything like this before,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23so before the challenge begins,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26a chance for the reds to check out the course.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Here, here, here, here. Good lad. Good lad.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Good boy!
0:06:31 > 0:06:34This is all a big learning curve. This is, like, "Wow!"
0:06:34 > 0:06:36He's doing all right.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37We know it's a tough challenge.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41If you get to gate three, that's an amazing achievement.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45We're going to go for this. We're going to go for this big-time.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48With points at stake
0:06:48 > 0:06:50and their fellow competitors watching on,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53first up are Colin and Mitch.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Colin, are you ready?I am. Your time starts now.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Come on, Mitch! Good lad! Good lad, Mitch! Good lad!
0:07:00 > 0:07:03At the first gate, they can use verbal commands.
0:07:03 > 0:07:04Good lad, Mitch!
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Dogs respond to both the words we say and the pitch of our voices.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09Good boy!
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Colin and Mitch are off to a good start.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Mitch, Mitch! Mitch, come on!
0:07:15 > 0:07:18He says, "I'm just getting my reward."Good lad. Good lad, Mitch.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Good boy. Come on.
0:07:21 > 0:07:2361-year-old Colin and three-year-old
0:07:23 > 0:07:26lurcher/Bedlington collie cross Mitch...
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Go on, up you get. ..come from Dartmoor in Devon.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Despite losing a leg after a motorbike accident,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Colin has an active job, with Mitch always at his side.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42Mitch helps me with my duties as gamekeeper,
0:07:42 > 0:07:44which he's pretty good at.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Mitch means a real great deal to me.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49He enriches my life by being my companion.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51It's a personal bond.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56Colin has taken a traditional approach to Mitch's training.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Got an old-fashioned attitude to dogs.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Human, dog. Dog, human.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Just remember who's the master.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Good boy! Good boy! Good boy!
0:08:08 > 0:08:10But at the body language gate,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13will Mitch understand his master's commands?
0:08:16 > 0:08:19Even as puppies, dogs respond to things like pointing,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and one study suggests that gestures
0:08:22 > 0:08:26are at least three times more effective than verbal commands.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Good lad, good lad!Hey, well done! Excellent.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32And finally, the toughest gate of all -
0:08:32 > 0:08:34eye contact only.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41'Eye contact releases a hormone called oxytocin
0:08:41 > 0:08:43'in the brains of both owner and dog...'
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Just the eyes.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48'..triggering a positive response in both,
0:08:48 > 0:08:49'but will Mitch get the message?'
0:08:53 > 0:08:56LAUGHTER
0:09:02 > 0:09:04The eyes didn't do it.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Your eyes were turning into a bit of a head swirl.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09It was lack of understanding.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I wasn't giving him the right signals.Oh, well done, Colin!
0:09:12 > 0:09:14We fell at the final hurdle.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18We're not performing as a team.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20I'm finding it really, really frustrating
0:09:20 > 0:09:24because I'm not getting the results from him that I'm asking of him.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Good swaying going on. It was that bit!
0:09:27 > 0:09:29You were like a slightly demented giraffe.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Andrew.Yes? On your marks, get set, go!
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Using a verbal command and a clear gesture,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Andrew and Border Terrier Betty make short work of the first gate.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Using the same gesture, this time without words,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Andrew gets Betty straight through the second gate.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Well done!
0:09:55 > 0:10:00But can they keep up the pace at the eye-contact-only gate?
0:10:00 > 0:10:04SHE LAUGHS
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Good girl! No! Come back!
0:10:04 > 0:10:06I think that might've been pure momentum.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09We're not going to the lake! Come on!
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Bit out of breath. I think she was heading for the lake in celebration.
0:10:13 > 0:10:14She was going to go for a swim!
0:10:14 > 0:10:17But the last one, the whole motivation was to stop
0:10:17 > 0:10:19and just use your eyes...
0:10:19 > 0:10:21OK...rather than chase you through the gate.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22Oh, OK.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24So, we're going to dock you a point.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Got a great, quick time but completely broke every rule!
0:10:29 > 0:10:31We came unstuck a little bit,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34so maybe we need to be Team Little Less Crazy.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Next up, 21-year-old Ellie from Greater Manchester
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and her dog Benny,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43who she rescued from the streets when he was just a few months old.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49When I first got him, I couldn't even walk him on a lead.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52Absolutely terrified. He was hiding under the tables.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56So, from then to where he is now, he's come on amazingly.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Benny, come on!
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Most owners build trust with their dogs during puppyhood.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Benny was so neglected and traumatised
0:11:05 > 0:11:07that Ellie has had to work extremely hard
0:11:07 > 0:11:09to forge a bond with him.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Lie down.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Good boy!
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I think that winning something like this would just sort of
0:11:17 > 0:11:19emphasise how well we have done together.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Ellie, are you ready?Just about.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29On your marks, get set, go!
0:11:29 > 0:11:34Come on. Benny, come on. Come on. Come on.
0:11:34 > 0:11:35Benny, come on! Through you go.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37Benny, come on! Through you go.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Oh, nicely done!Good boy!
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Well done.Good boy!
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Ellie and Benny are off to a strong start.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Sit.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Good choice, just to set him up there.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59BOTH:Yes!
0:11:59 > 0:12:00Good boy! Yes!
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Well done!
0:12:05 > 0:12:06Come here.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08All good so far...
0:12:08 > 0:12:09Sit.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12..but can they be the first pair
0:12:12 > 0:12:15to get through the fiendishly difficult eye-contact gate?
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Now he's getting very little input from her.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28He's got a little bit distracted.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Benny, come here.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Come here. Sit.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Dogs are one of the only species to make eye contact with people.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Research has shown that humans display emotion
0:12:40 > 0:12:43on the right side of their face first,
0:12:43 > 0:12:44and that's where dogs look.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46It's called gaze bias,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49and it's one of the things that gives human and dogs
0:12:49 > 0:12:51their unique relationship.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Oh!Don't believe it! That is incredible!Well done!
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Benny, come here!
0:13:03 > 0:13:07That is absolutely fantastic!
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Absolutely superb. He's done me proud.Oh!
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Little Benny Bear.Bless him!
0:13:17 > 0:13:18I think it's fantastic.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21I couldn't have asked for him to do any better, to be honest.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Not bad for a street dog.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25He's come so far from what he was.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27I mean, we've taught him everything from scratch,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29so to see him now doing things like this,
0:13:29 > 0:13:31he's done absolutely fantastic.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Well done, Ellie!Yay!
0:13:37 > 0:13:38Well done, Ellie! Well done, Benny!
0:13:38 > 0:13:40It was almost like you knew what you were doing.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Yeah! Almost!
0:13:44 > 0:13:47She's set the bar quite high, hasn't she, Flapjack?
0:13:47 > 0:13:52The final pair to face this challenge - Toni and Flapjack.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53OK, now look, Jack,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55there's more of this if we get all the way to the bottom.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58It's an understatement to say that the pressure is on.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00Oh, no, don't! That's freaking me out!
0:14:00 > 0:14:03Don't say that! Just count me down! OK.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09Flapjack's so loyal and kind and funny and exasperating,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12and...he's my friend.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Toni runs a clothes shop on the King's Road in London
0:14:16 > 0:14:18with the help of her trusty assistant,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21three-year-old Labrador Flapjack.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Flapjack is very beautiful, but he's not the brightest.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26He's very handsome and slightly thick,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29probably like a certain number of ex-boyfriends I've had.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I'd like to win, because that's the whole point of doing a competition,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35and in a way, it would be delightful if I could find out
0:14:35 > 0:14:37that actually, I was completely wrong
0:14:37 > 0:14:39and that he's not as thick as we think.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Three, two, one - go!
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Jackie, come on! Let's go! Let's go, let's go!
0:14:47 > 0:14:49OK, Flapjack, through! Good boy!
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Hooray, hooray, hooray! Let's go, let's go, let's go!
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Come on, Jackie! Come on, Jackie!
0:14:54 > 0:14:56Come on, Jackie.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Good boy!
0:15:01 > 0:15:05Toni and Flapjack make short work of the first two gates,
0:15:05 > 0:15:09but success rests on the final eye contact gate.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Dead still.Just remember, dead still.Dead still, Toni.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16Just the eyes.I know. I've just remembered.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18You've lost your dog. You can call him back to you.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21Flapjack! Jackie, Jackie.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22Bit of focus, friend.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Give him one last go...
0:15:28 > 0:15:30OK...to help remember what he's doing.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33I don't think he knows what he's doing, Sian.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35I think he does. Yeah, I think he does.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Jackie.Oh.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49Aw!
0:15:49 > 0:15:50Well done, Flapjack!
0:15:51 > 0:15:53What has happened today already is,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56he's started looking at me a lot more.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57So, even at that last one,
0:15:57 > 0:15:59he didn't understand what he was meant to be doing,
0:15:59 > 0:16:01but he did look at me. He was looking at you.
0:16:01 > 0:16:02He's got really... And at one point,
0:16:02 > 0:16:04he was looking at you, looking at the gate.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Those caramel eyes were staring at mine.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08They were trying to understand.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Yay!
0:16:12 > 0:16:14There was that tiny spark that we saw in the challenge today,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18and I want to grab that and try and build on it
0:16:18 > 0:16:20and maybe developing that into something big.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21Well done, Flapjack!
0:16:23 > 0:16:26With the first challenge complete for the reds,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30Sian is already seeing a change in our duos' dynamics.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Once we got them to drop that verbal communication,
0:16:32 > 0:16:33start using their body language,
0:16:33 > 0:16:35the dogs are paying more attention to them,
0:16:35 > 0:16:37they've got more eye contact.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39And the dogs were following what they're being asked to do.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42So the relationships are going to be increasing on day one.Yeah.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45I think they're all feeling that the nature of their relationship
0:16:45 > 0:16:47is changing and improving.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49But which red pair performed the best?
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Come on in, come on in.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54'We're ranking them based on how many gates they got through
0:16:54 > 0:16:56'and their speed on the course.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01'The pair that perform best will win four points, the next best, three,
0:17:01 > 0:17:03'then two, and the worst pair will get just one point.'
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Come on in, come on in. OK. There we go, Jackie.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Sit down, my friend.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10'Every challenge will be a chance to win points,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13'and the top-scoring duos will go through to the final
0:17:13 > 0:17:15'at the end of the contest.'
0:17:15 > 0:17:16I have the scores.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19In reverse order. Toni, it won't come as a surprise.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Oh, Jackie, we're last. Unfortunately, you were fourth,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25so we're going to give you one point for that.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28There we are. We've got one point, Jackie.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31In third place, Colin and Mitch.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Two points.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Andrew and Betty, you got all clear through the gates in 41 seconds,
0:17:38 > 0:17:42which meant that you would've won if we didn't dock that last one...
0:17:42 > 0:17:43If we didn't cheat.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45LAUGHTER
0:17:43 > 0:17:45..where you used...
0:17:45 > 0:17:48So you're second, with three points.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51And of course, in first position, that absolutely...
0:17:51 > 0:17:52Oh, well done!Yay!
0:17:52 > 0:17:55..amazing first run. Well done, Benny.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59So, you're at the top here, with four points...
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Killed it. You killed it. Well done. ..in the lead.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Wow.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08'Whilst the points on the board are important,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11'I want to show our owners that when it comes to their dogs,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14'there's always more to learn.'
0:18:14 > 0:18:17We all like to think that we understand our dogs, but in fact,
0:18:17 > 0:18:22in terms of science, we've just scratched the surface.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25So now I want to use the latest cutting-edge research
0:18:25 > 0:18:29to explore just how the bond we have with these animals works,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31and how we can make it stronger.
0:18:34 > 0:18:35Joining us in the Lake District
0:18:35 > 0:18:40in our specially kitted-out science yurt is Dr Emily Blackwell
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and her team from the Bristol School of Veterinary Sciences.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46They'll be performing a series of tests
0:18:46 > 0:18:50to help us get inside the mind of man's best friend.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Come on, Flapjack!
0:18:52 > 0:18:54As we've seen in the Nature Slalom,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58dogs are a dab hand at reading our body language,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00but communication works both ways,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02and if we look closely enough,
0:19:02 > 0:19:06we can learn to read their body language, too.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Toni and Flapjack are here to take part in an exercise
0:19:09 > 0:19:12which should help us understand what a dog's body
0:19:12 > 0:19:14can tell us about its brain.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17What we're going to do today is try and find out
0:19:17 > 0:19:19whether Flapjack has a paw preference.Oh, OK!
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Whether he's right-pawed or left-pawed.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24And with people, we measure it by looking at what hand
0:19:24 > 0:19:27they hold the pen in or what hand they'll use to eat.Mm-hm.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30But what we're doing today is something called first stepping,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32and that was developed by Australian scientists.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36And what we're going to do is ask Flapjack to go down these steps,
0:19:36 > 0:19:38and as he steps down that first step,
0:19:38 > 0:19:42we're going to record which paw he uses.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45In order to correct for things like Flapjack being distracted,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49they're going to repeat this test 50 times.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51It's all to do with what's going on in the brain.Right.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53And dogs, just like us, have two hemispheres.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56When a dog is happy or excited,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58the left hemisphere is the most
0:19:58 > 0:20:00active part of its brain.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02When it's unhappy or anxious,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05it's the right side that dominates.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08This dominance is reflected in the opposite paw,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10because just like us,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12the right side of the brain controls
0:20:12 > 0:20:13the left side of the body
0:20:13 > 0:20:15and the left side of the brain
0:20:15 > 0:20:16controls the right,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19so a dog's paw preference can indicate
0:20:19 > 0:20:22which side of their brain is most dominant
0:20:22 > 0:20:25and give us clues about their personality.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28What we've found is that dogs that are left-pawed
0:20:28 > 0:20:32are more likely to show certain behavioural problems
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and they're more likely to show separation-related behaviour.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38So, I'm hoping he's going to be right-pawed,
0:20:38 > 0:20:40which means that he's having a more positive time
0:20:40 > 0:20:41when he experiences things.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44So, all dogs that show a left-paw preference
0:20:44 > 0:20:46aren't necessarily unhappy.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Mm.But what we've found is that there is an association between dogs
0:20:49 > 0:20:52that are right-pawed with being calmer,
0:20:52 > 0:20:55less aroused when they're encountering something new.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58It's early days in this area of research,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01and scientists don't yet fully understand
0:21:01 > 0:21:03why this correlation exists.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05OK, Toni. The results are in.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11In our 50 trials, he used his left paw 16 times...Right.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15..and his right paw 34 times.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19OK.Flapjack has a right-paw preference in this test.Sure.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21That fits with the dog that I know.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24You can put him into lots of different situations
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and he will remain calm.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Interestingly, similar findings have been made in humans,
0:21:30 > 0:21:34where right-handers have been found to exhibit less anxiety
0:21:34 > 0:21:36and inhibition than left-handed people.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Betty!And the similarities don't end there,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42as Andrew and Betty are about to find out.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43OK, the results are in.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Left paw results then, 21.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49OK.And right paw...
0:21:49 > 0:21:5129.Yes!
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I can do the maths!29.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58It tells us that Betty is actually ambidextrous.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Same as me. Yay!
0:22:00 > 0:22:04But these findings are more than just trivia.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Interestingly, dogs that are ambidextrous
0:22:06 > 0:22:09have been found to have noise sensitivities.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10It's something to be aware of.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13It's early days for this field of study,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16so scientists don't yet know why this is.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19I'm quite surprised we are both ambidextrous.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21We're on the same wavelength, Betty.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24That's probably why we're both just as crazy as each other.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28This is a simple exercise anyone can do with their dog,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and once you know your dog's paw preference,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34there are things you can do to help keep them content.
0:22:34 > 0:22:35If they are left-pawed,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39being aware that strangers or loud noises may make them anxious
0:22:39 > 0:22:41is a good place to start.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49While the reds already have some points on the board,
0:22:49 > 0:22:50now it's the yellows' turn
0:22:50 > 0:22:53to put their communication skills to the test.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58For our next challenge, we've come here to Rydal Beck.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Now, typically when we go out walking with our dogs,
0:23:01 > 0:23:06it's the dogs that get down into the stream, snuffling around.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09We never normally experience the world that they do.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Today, that's all going to change.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20Your task today is to scramble up that stream.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22So, it's wet, it's relatively slippery.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25There are some deep pools. There are some waterfalls.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29There are some narrow canyons that you'll have to navigate through.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32And frankly, folks, this isn't the tropics,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34so that water is not preheated for you.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36LAUGHTER
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Funny, that.Sorry about that.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Just like the Nature Slalom, navigating this stream
0:23:43 > 0:23:47will require our owners to use all three methods of communication.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52At the bottom of the course, the water's calm,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and it's quiet enough for our owners to use verbal commands.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00As they reach the steeper sections, that won't be enough.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04Verbal communication here is going to be very difficult.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06The rushing water down there is so noisy,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10so you're going to have to rely upon your body language, your eyes,
0:24:10 > 0:24:12to communicate with your dogs.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16The key to challenge success is that teamwork and that communication
0:24:16 > 0:24:18between you and your dogs.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21You looking out for them and them being aware of you.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25OK. I can see you're all itching to get into the ghyll.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Balls are placed along the course,
0:24:28 > 0:24:31which the dogs will have to collect as they go.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33It's not about speed.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35The pair with the most balls...
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Roger!..will get maximum points. Fetch it!
0:24:38 > 0:24:40Before the challenge begins,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43the yellows get a chance to check out the course.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46And whilst most of our dogs have no problem retrieving...
0:24:46 > 0:24:48That's it. Good boy.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50..persuading them to hand the balls over...
0:24:50 > 0:24:54He's off!..is proving problematic. Monty, give me the ball!
0:24:54 > 0:24:56Doug, come here, please. Dougie!
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Dougie!
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Dougie!
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Who's a good girl? You are so clever. Come here.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07First to tackle the course for real, Daisy and her dog Zuri.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09I'm quite excited,
0:25:09 > 0:25:14but my heart just dropped when they say it's my turn!
0:25:14 > 0:25:17The 37-year-old finance controller
0:25:17 > 0:25:20lives in Somerset with her two-year-old Samoyed -
0:25:20 > 0:25:23a reindeer herding breed from Siberia.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Zuri and I are really close.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28I work from home, so we are together all the time.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32She's quite stubborn. I suppose she's a bit like me.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Come on! What's this?
0:25:34 > 0:25:38I'm looking forward to the contest and taking on these challenges
0:25:38 > 0:25:40because, you know, I'm quite competitive.
0:25:40 > 0:25:42I like trying new things.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45I want to do my best, and I'm sure Zuri will, too.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56OK. Off we go.Thank you. Good luck, Daisy!Good luck!
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Good luck! Good luck!
0:25:58 > 0:26:01'Whilst the others watch on, Daisy and Zuri head for the water.'
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I would like to collect, like, at least ten balls.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07I think that would be nice.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12'To keep our pairs safe, they're equipped with buoyancy aids
0:26:12 > 0:26:14'and flanked by our safety team.'
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Zuri! Come on then, this way! Yay!
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Zuri! What's this? What's this?
0:26:21 > 0:26:24'So far, Daisy has failed to persuade Zuri
0:26:24 > 0:26:26'out of the starting blocks.'
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Why would she want to get into the water?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Just to mess up her hairstyle, isn't it?
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Zuri!'Seeing that Daisy is struggling, Sian steps in.'
0:26:37 > 0:26:41So, don't force her to come any further.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Can you see she was a little bit more nervous?
0:26:45 > 0:26:47'In unfamiliar situations...'
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Come on then, Zuri!
0:26:50 > 0:26:52'..understanding our dog's body language
0:26:52 > 0:26:55'is as important as them reading ours.'
0:26:57 > 0:27:00There are some key signals to look out for.
0:27:00 > 0:27:05When a dog licks its lips, it can be a sign they're nervous,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08whilst tucking its tail between its legs or crouching can mean fear.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Keep an eye out for those lip licks, nose licks, that reluctance.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18If we try and put pressure on her, she's going to dig her heels in.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22We just need to keep showing Daisy the best way to interact with Zuri
0:27:22 > 0:27:24to get the best out of her.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Come on, then, Zuri! Where's the ball? Zuri!
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Remember, no pressure on her.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Zuri, what's this? Zuri!
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Come on, then! Zuri, come on.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38'Daisy gives Zuri plenty of verbal encouragement...'
0:27:38 > 0:27:40What's this? I've got a ball.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42I think it's frustration.Yes. She wants to follow.Yeah.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Do you want the ball? Come on, then!
0:27:44 > 0:27:48'..and eventually, she dips her toe in and snatches a ball.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50'But then...'Come on, then! Bring it over here!
0:27:52 > 0:27:53'..calls it a day.'
0:27:55 > 0:27:57SHE LAUGHS
0:27:57 > 0:27:59'This pair might be out of their depth,
0:27:59 > 0:28:01'and they will need to work hard to build their confidence,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04'but they've made a start.'
0:28:04 > 0:28:07The communication that you were showing with Zuri then,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09we talked about not putting too much pressure on her,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12and you were trying to make it fun, trying to make it a game.
0:28:12 > 0:28:13She wants to be with you,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16and she didn't have the confidence in that situation.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18But, you know, we'll get there. Well done.Thank you.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Right, go and get warm. Thank you very much.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24I'm proud of her. I can see...
0:28:24 > 0:28:28When I was calling her, I could see that she's desperate to get to me.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31I think she's done brilliantly. She gave her best.
0:28:33 > 0:28:34'Next up...'Doug...
0:28:34 > 0:28:36'..a chance for Josh and Douglas
0:28:36 > 0:28:38'to get their first points on the board.'
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Come on! Get it, fetch it!
0:28:41 > 0:28:4327-year-old Josh and Douglas,
0:28:43 > 0:28:47his 19-month-old Labrador/springer spaniel cross,
0:28:47 > 0:28:49come from Honiton in Devon,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51where the old saying "man's best friend"
0:28:51 > 0:28:54sums up their relationship perfectly.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56I try not be his master, try and just be his mate.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58I love playing with him.
0:28:58 > 0:28:59I never see it as exercising the dog.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01I see it as going out with Douglas.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06I wouldn't be happy going into something
0:29:06 > 0:29:08if I didn't think I could win it.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10I would absolutely love to win it,
0:29:10 > 0:29:12to prove to the world how good Douglas is.
0:29:14 > 0:29:17Find it! What's this? What's this?
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Come on, then! Come on, then! What's this?
0:29:20 > 0:29:24'Using clear verbal commands, Josh gets his dog straight in...'
0:29:24 > 0:29:27Good boy, Doug. Good boy! Good boy.
0:29:27 > 0:29:31'..before Douglas gets straight back out again.'
0:29:31 > 0:29:35Doug!He's like, "OK, so you're in the water and I'm on the bank.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37"This is how this picture is." The wrong way round.Yeah.
0:29:37 > 0:29:39Completely the wrong way round.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42Dougie! Come on, then! What's this? Do you want to play?
0:29:42 > 0:29:44'With just two tokens bagged...'
0:29:44 > 0:29:47He's going to bring it over to us or something crazy.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49'..Douglas stops playing ball.'
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Come on, then. Douglas is telling us quite clearly
0:29:52 > 0:29:54he doesn't want to go in there. He is.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Dougie. Here you go. That's what you wanted.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00He's confused.He is, cos I'm normally up here.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04'As close as they are, Josh and Douglas have a lot to learn
0:30:04 > 0:30:06'when it comes to communication.'
0:30:06 > 0:30:09Really tough. And body language is something you don't really look at.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11You kind of look more to a treat or telling them something,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14so it's a new thing for both of us, which is what we're after, really.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16It's kind of why we're here.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22So far, none of our duos has really got off the starting line.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Can Jake and Monty do any better?
0:30:25 > 0:30:27River, getting balls.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30Running through the river, getting balls.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33This is, like... He's made for this.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35I'm not!
0:30:33 > 0:30:35HE LAUGHS
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Come on, then.And he's spotted the ball straight off.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Monty, get the ball!But he's not quite sure how he's going to get in.
0:30:45 > 0:30:46Good boy, come on!That's nice.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49Jake's just giving him a little bit of encouragement there.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Come on, in!
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Whoa! That was brave! In for the ball. In for the ball.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56'Unlike our first two pairs,
0:30:56 > 0:30:59'Jake has managed talk Monty into taking the plunge.'
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Woo! Come on in!
0:31:02 > 0:31:03Come on! Come on, Monts!
0:31:03 > 0:31:06'As they get into the noisier, steeper section,
0:31:06 > 0:31:10'Jake's non-verbal communication will be more important
0:31:10 > 0:31:13'to keep Monty on course.'
0:31:13 > 0:31:15Give me the ball! There we go.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21'Clear body language helps Monty focus on the balls.'
0:31:22 > 0:31:25Oh! Oh, it's fast. Come on, up there, up there.
0:31:25 > 0:31:26That's it. Good boy.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Just look at that really lovely teamwork between the two of them.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31Jake's there supporting him, spotting him.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35Come on. There we go. There we go.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Now they're onto the first waterfall.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39So, how's he going to cope with this?
0:31:39 > 0:31:41This is quite a hard-core challenge, isn't it?
0:31:41 > 0:31:43'As they start to climb,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46'it becomes clear that after almost a decade together,
0:31:46 > 0:31:49'for this pair, communication is a two-way street.'
0:31:49 > 0:31:51JAKE GRUNTS
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Awesome!
0:31:53 > 0:31:56He's doing brilliantly. I'm so impressed.
0:31:56 > 0:31:57There we go. All right.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00They've taken their time, they've done it together.
0:32:00 > 0:32:05OK, up, up! Good boy. Get the ball! Monty!
0:32:05 > 0:32:07Where's the ball? Yes!
0:32:07 > 0:32:09Come on, guys!
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Slow down, Monty! Wait for me!
0:32:13 > 0:32:15Good boy, Monty!
0:32:15 > 0:32:17One, two, three.
0:32:17 > 0:32:18Oh!
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Go on!Go, Monty!Come on, Monty!
0:32:23 > 0:32:26'Finally, at the top of the course,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29'Monty - and eventually Jake - cross the finish line...'
0:32:31 > 0:32:33That was an awesome display.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36Great teamwork throughout, plenty of communication.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38You just did such a good job.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42'..collecting an impressive 20 tennis balls along the way.'
0:32:42 > 0:32:43Monty! Mwah!
0:32:48 > 0:32:52Can our final pair, Badger and Bodger, do even better?
0:32:52 > 0:32:54I'm feeling a bit nervous.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56A bit nervous just about finding my footing
0:32:56 > 0:32:58and not letting Bodger down.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01I think if we can both get to the top together,
0:33:01 > 0:33:05it'll be amazing and it'll make our bond even stronger...
0:33:05 > 0:33:08if that's even possible.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11Rock and roll, hey.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13SHE WHISTLES
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Jenny, known as Badger,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19and her collie/cocker cross Bodger
0:33:19 > 0:33:21come from Skipton in North Yorkshire.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24I've always wanted a dog from very young.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27And I wanted it to love me and then me to love it kind of thing.
0:33:27 > 0:33:28I just wanted that connection.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Their close relationship provides Badger with more than just company.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36We like to go on walks and real adventures.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38One of the reasons I'm such an active person
0:33:38 > 0:33:40is because of the Tourette's.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44When I'm engaged in a sporting activity, I never tic at all.
0:33:44 > 0:33:47So I could be on maybe a six-hour bike ride and I wouldn't tic once.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49It's quite relaxing.
0:33:49 > 0:33:50Fetch it, Bodge.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53When we're out running, she's always pretty close by.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55She keeps an eye out for where I am.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58And I don't know if that's her
0:33:58 > 0:33:59thinking she needs to look after me...
0:33:59 > 0:34:01SHE LAUGHS
0:34:01 > 0:34:03..or whether she's just worried about being left behind.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05She's so clever. You are.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08Bodger, you've got to find the balls.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10Good luck, Jenny.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Off she goes. She's in, straightaway.
0:34:19 > 0:34:24Bodger, what's this here? What's that? Good girl.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26In here. You can do it.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30To this side. Oh!
0:34:30 > 0:34:32I think Jenny's just realised how cold it is.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Bodge, you got a ball?
0:34:35 > 0:34:37There it is. That's it. Good girl.
0:34:37 > 0:34:38Fetch it here.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41Good girl. Good girl!
0:34:44 > 0:34:47Bodger is dashing around, bouncing off the rocks.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Good girl! Go on, Bodger! You can do it!
0:34:50 > 0:34:52I tell you what, she's like a mountain goat,
0:34:52 > 0:34:54the way she's climbing over there.
0:34:58 > 0:35:00Bodger...
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Where the course gets really noisy and steep, the pair are split up.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06Where's the dog?
0:35:08 > 0:35:13'Here, their ability to communicate using eye contact alone
0:35:13 > 0:35:14'comes into its own,
0:35:14 > 0:35:17'and it's helping them keep each other on track.'
0:35:17 > 0:35:20They're always, like, checking back. Good girl, Bodger! Thank you.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23Good girl! I'm coming. I'm coming.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25Fetch it here. Fetch it here.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32'After a strong run, the pair make it back onto dry land.'
0:35:33 > 0:35:37Jenny, that's gone remarkably well. You can't keep her out the water.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40Bodger or otter?Definitely otter.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Look at all those balls, Bodger! Wow.What a haul!What a haul!
0:35:43 > 0:35:45Look at all these balls that you've got.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52'Challenge over, our pairs will be ranked and allocated points
0:35:52 > 0:35:55'based on how many balls they picked up.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58'With two clear frontrunners, the question is,
0:35:58 > 0:36:02'will Badger and Bodger or Jake and Monty come out on top?'
0:36:02 > 0:36:06So, Daisy and Zuri, really gave it your best, which was great to see.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Really nice to see that change in understanding her a bit better.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13I actually think you've already learned quite a lot
0:36:13 > 0:36:15in terms of how to communicate with Zuri
0:36:15 > 0:36:16to get the best out of her.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19Josh and Douglas again had difficulties.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22It was a bit of role reversal there, with you in the water.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Jake and Monty, great teamwork.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28Carrying the dog through, constantly communicating.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32Collecting a bag full of balls, which totalled up to 20,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34which of course are then left us with Badger and Bodger.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37You were collecting balls the whole way you were going,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40and I can tell you that you collected 21.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Did you hear that, Bodger?
0:36:43 > 0:36:45Well done, Bodge.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48My bag was getting really heavy, I had so many balls in it.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50LAUGHTER
0:36:50 > 0:36:53So, in summary, we've got some very wet people
0:36:53 > 0:36:54who have scored some points.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Badger and Bodger, you come top with four points.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03Jake and Monty, here with three.
0:37:03 > 0:37:09Daisy, you score today's one point, and Josh and Douglas here have two.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13So, there you go. Wow, check it out!Well done!
0:37:15 > 0:37:18'While Josh and Daisy both have some catching up to do,
0:37:18 > 0:37:22'Jake and Badger take the two top spots on the leaderboard.'
0:37:22 > 0:37:27She did really well. She kept coming back to check that I was there
0:37:27 > 0:37:29and she knew there was a job in hand.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32I think, as a team, we did really well.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37Oh, I love that boy! He's so cool! I'm just...yeah, amazed.
0:37:37 > 0:37:38Amazed.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Now, we've looked at how we communicate with our dogs,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45but can we also learn about them
0:37:45 > 0:37:48by understanding how they communicate with each other?
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Hello.Hello.Come on in.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53After a lacklustre performance at the Ghyll Scramble,
0:37:53 > 0:37:56Dr Emily Blackwell wants to teach Josh
0:37:56 > 0:38:01how to get to know Doug better with the help of Andrew and Betty.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03What we're going to do now is have a look at how
0:38:03 > 0:38:05your dogs interact with each other.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06We're going to watch them for a while,
0:38:06 > 0:38:10and then I'm going to ask you to tell me what you think's gone on.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12Apart from chaos! It is going to be chaos!
0:38:15 > 0:38:18The dogs quickly begin to engage in rough-and-tumble.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21When I'm out with Betty and she's off lead,
0:38:21 > 0:38:24she quite often gets involved in this type of scenario.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28And people think it's fighting, but is it fighting, or...?
0:38:28 > 0:38:31No, absolutely not. This is play.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34After they do that lovely bow that we see Doug doing,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37is in play and the other dog understands that.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39It's not something that we teach them.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41It's something that they learn from each other.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44Doug needs to learn that some dogs walking in the park
0:38:44 > 0:38:47are arthritic and stiff and in pain,
0:38:47 > 0:38:48and don't want any of this.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52By giving each other permission to play,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55they get to engage in the sort of wrestling that, as predators,
0:38:55 > 0:39:00their ancestors may well have used as training for the hunt.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02From puppyhood through to adulthood,
0:39:02 > 0:39:05these subtle bits of communication between dogs
0:39:05 > 0:39:08help them navigate the world around them.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11So, they signal with their whole body.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14They signal with their facial muscles, their eyes, their tails.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16They signal with their ears.
0:39:16 > 0:39:22In fact, their ears can reveal a lot about how your dog is feeling.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28For example, forward and pricked means they're alert and confident.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Ears fully flattened means fearful.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35And if their ears keep changing position, it means they're unsure.
0:39:35 > 0:39:40For Doug and Betty, time to take the play fight up a notch.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42Now we've put a rope into the equation,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44let's see how they get on and how they play.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47That's lovely.Oh, Doug, you've got a big weight advantage.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49He has, but he's not using it.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Dogs actually do something that we call self-handicapping,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55and that is that bigger dogs don't use all of their strength
0:39:55 > 0:39:57because they want the play to carry on.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Douglas could just pull that out of Betty's mouth,
0:40:00 > 0:40:02but he's enjoying the tug-of-war.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04They're both wagging their tails. Is that...?
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Wagging tail... Wagging tail doesn't necessarily mean a dog's happy.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10You have to look at the rest of its body language.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Tail wagging is actually quite complex.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18We know positive emotion activates the left side of a dog's brain,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21whilst negative emotion activates the right.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25One study has shown that when faced with an unfamiliar dog,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28their tail will wag more to the left,
0:40:28 > 0:40:32reflecting a right brain or more negative response.
0:40:32 > 0:40:33Whereas the positive sight
0:40:33 > 0:40:34of their owner
0:40:34 > 0:40:36will set a dog's tail wagging
0:40:36 > 0:40:38more to the right.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40JOSH:Doug, be gentle.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40THEY LAUGH
0:40:44 > 0:40:48These playful interactions help dogs define social dynamics
0:40:48 > 0:40:50without aggressively fighting.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53They absolutely have a great relationship with each other,
0:40:53 > 0:40:55and we want to see, you know,
0:40:55 > 0:40:59both of them having these kind of interactions as often as possible.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02And because it clearly serves a purpose for them,
0:41:02 > 0:41:04dogs, unlike most other animals,
0:41:04 > 0:41:07continue to play in this way well into adulthood.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16In the Lake District,
0:41:16 > 0:41:19our contenders are waking up to a new day
0:41:19 > 0:41:22and their big communication challenge.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26Good boy, Monty.But one of our duos will be sitting it out.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28Come on, then. Stand up for a second.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Monty has a small cut following the Ghyll Scramble,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34so Jake, on the vet's advice, has decided to give him a break.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38He's absolutely fine. He just needs to rest up.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Hopefully we'll be back tomorrow.
0:41:40 > 0:41:43The rest of the pairs face one more challenge
0:41:43 > 0:41:45on the theme of communication,
0:41:45 > 0:41:49and another chance to get vital points on the board.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51After two challenges,
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Badger and Bodger and Ellie and Benny
0:41:53 > 0:41:55are at the head of the pack.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57I think a lot of people look at us
0:41:57 > 0:42:00and think, "Oh, the stereotypical blonde, the fluffy dog.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02"They're not up for the challenge."
0:42:02 > 0:42:04And we're more than up for the challenge!
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Bringing up the rear are Daisy and Zuri
0:42:07 > 0:42:09and Toni and Flapjack.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14We will give it everything we can,
0:42:14 > 0:42:16and so I feel that now is his moment.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Second from bottom,
0:42:18 > 0:42:21Colin and Mitch also have a point to prove.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25I am proper down in the dumps.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25HE LAUGHS
0:42:25 > 0:42:26I'm a competitive person,
0:42:26 > 0:42:29and the reason I'm here is to be completing these tasks
0:42:29 > 0:42:32and doing well.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Welcome, everyone, to Grizedale Forest.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37It's the perfect place for us to introduce you
0:42:37 > 0:42:41to our final challenge on the theme of communication.
0:42:41 > 0:42:42Take a look at this.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54This challenge is inspired by bikejor -
0:42:54 > 0:42:59a sport which sees humans cycling in harmony with their pets.
0:42:59 > 0:43:03It's the ultimate test of communication.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05Amazing!
0:43:05 > 0:43:07Oh!
0:43:07 > 0:43:08Woo!
0:43:10 > 0:43:11Amazing!
0:43:11 > 0:43:13Dogs love to run.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Every single breed of dog that we've got has evolved from the wolf,
0:43:16 > 0:43:18a pursuit predator.
0:43:21 > 0:43:22In this challenge,
0:43:22 > 0:43:25our pairs will have to race against the clock
0:43:25 > 0:43:30on a 1km fast forest track with their dogs leading the way.
0:43:30 > 0:43:34The objective here is for you to match the pace of your dog,
0:43:34 > 0:43:37so if your dog is running fast, you need to cycle fast.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39If your dog slows up, you must slow down.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43No strain must be put on the animal whatsoever.
0:43:43 > 0:43:46What do you reckon, Mitch? Eh?
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Are you going to do a bit of that?
0:43:48 > 0:43:51It looked scary. It looked proper scary.
0:43:51 > 0:43:52Exciting, though.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56'This kind of activity must only ever be attempted
0:43:56 > 0:43:59'with the proper coaching and equipment
0:43:59 > 0:44:01'and in a safe, supervised environment.'
0:44:01 > 0:44:05Make sure that the collars are outside of the harness.
0:44:05 > 0:44:08'Expert Cushla Lamen will oversee training.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10'If any of the pairs fail to get the hang of it,
0:44:10 > 0:44:13'she won't let them compete on the course,
0:44:13 > 0:44:15'and that will cost them valuable points.'
0:44:15 > 0:44:20Make sure that you try and keep the lead as tight as possible.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22You're working equally hard as your dog.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25We're trying to teach them to work away from you.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27Go on, then, Doug! Go on, then, Doug! Good boy!
0:44:27 > 0:44:30The first stage is to train the dogs to run in front of their owners,
0:44:30 > 0:44:33wearing a flexible harness.
0:44:33 > 0:44:34Go, go, go!
0:44:34 > 0:44:38It allows the pair to accelerate and decelerate smoothly.
0:44:38 > 0:44:40She is faster than me.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45The owners on the bikes must then match their dogs' changes in speed.
0:44:45 > 0:44:47Sounds easy, but it's not.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49Going forwards is fine.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51It's the, "What if she stops?"
0:44:51 > 0:44:54I'm just pretty worried.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54BETTY YELPS AND WHINES
0:44:54 > 0:44:58Go, go! Go, go, go, Betty! Go, go!
0:44:58 > 0:44:59Good girl!
0:44:59 > 0:45:00Good girl! Oh!
0:45:02 > 0:45:05Oh, my God!
0:45:05 > 0:45:07Really exciting!
0:45:08 > 0:45:10This challenge will test the pairs
0:45:10 > 0:45:13on everything they've learned so far.
0:45:13 > 0:45:17To succeed, the dogs need to follow their owners' instructions,
0:45:17 > 0:45:19and the humans need to carefully read
0:45:19 > 0:45:22their dogs' body language and set their pace accordingly.
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Go on! Go on! Go, go, go, go! Good boy.
0:45:25 > 0:45:27Whoa, Dougie. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Good boy. Good boy.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30Your voice praise was fantastic.
0:45:30 > 0:45:33This is a great way to exercise with your dog
0:45:33 > 0:45:39whilst letting them set the pace - something many dogs never get to do.
0:45:39 > 0:45:41His tail is up, his ears are right up,
0:45:41 > 0:45:43his whole body posture is elongated.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46That's how I can tell he's happy. Pure ecstasy.Pure ecstasy for him.
0:45:46 > 0:45:47Go on! Go, go, go, go!
0:45:47 > 0:45:50As current leaders of the yellows,
0:45:50 > 0:45:53expectation is high for Badger and Bodger,
0:45:53 > 0:45:57but the novelty of running out in front means nerves are kicking in.
0:45:57 > 0:45:58She was a bit unsure at first.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00She was like, "I don't want to leave you.
0:46:00 > 0:46:02"What are you doing on there?"
0:46:02 > 0:46:04Get on, Mitch! Get on! Get on!
0:46:04 > 0:46:07Despite Colin's determination to claw back points,
0:46:07 > 0:46:11for working dog Mitch, running ahead goes against his training.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15Two-and-a-half years of teaching him to heel on penalty of death,
0:46:15 > 0:46:17and all of a sudden on penalty of death he's got to pull.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19Exactly. And we're confusing them.
0:46:19 > 0:46:21Come on, then!
0:46:21 > 0:46:23Although they've started gaining confidence in each other,
0:46:23 > 0:46:27bottom placed in the yellows Daisy and Zuri are struggling once again.
0:46:27 > 0:46:29As soon as the elastic goes tight,
0:46:29 > 0:46:31you can see her look round and going, "Yeah, she's stopped."
0:46:31 > 0:46:34Stay. Stay there. What's this? What have I got? What have I got?
0:46:34 > 0:46:37So too are current red group leaders Ellie and Benny.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39He's really nervous about anything.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41I think this might be the one where, like,
0:46:41 > 0:46:43the rescue side lets him down a little bit.
0:46:46 > 0:46:49Training complete, and it's time for Cushla to announce
0:46:49 > 0:46:54who is ready to race and who will have to watch from the sidelines.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57We are going to have Bodger, we're going to have Flapjack,
0:46:57 > 0:47:02we're going to have Douglas and we're going to have Betty.
0:47:02 > 0:47:03They were pulling out in front.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06They really got the idea of working in a harness,
0:47:06 > 0:47:07and that was what we wanted to do.
0:47:07 > 0:47:12Zuri, Benny and Mitch will all have to sit this one out.
0:47:12 > 0:47:13I'm very, very disappointed,
0:47:13 > 0:47:17because he's got the capability to pull, it's just getting that link.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19He needs to be in front, he was at the side.
0:47:19 > 0:47:20But you've trained him to be behind you
0:47:20 > 0:47:22when you're out working with him? All the time.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24So, I mean, this was a big ask... Yeah, yeah...to swap over.
0:47:24 > 0:47:26It's a complete different approach.
0:47:26 > 0:47:27Go on!
0:47:27 > 0:47:30But they can still pick up points if they carry on practising,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33and some are already showing signs of improvement.
0:47:33 > 0:47:36Good boy, Benny! Good boy, Benny!
0:47:36 > 0:47:40I'm not sure that he was as worried as Ellie thought he was going to be.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42Good boy! He's getting it.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45Look at him, he can't stop.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47That was really, really good. I'm really happy.
0:47:47 > 0:47:49I'm really happy for him.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54It is a race - I'm going to time you -
0:47:54 > 0:47:57but it's also all about communication.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Absolutely. So remember - nice, clear verbal cues to your dogs.
0:48:01 > 0:48:05Work as a team, get back safely and enjoy it.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08So, the question is, who's going to go first?
0:48:08 > 0:48:11And the very simple answer to that question is Andrew.
0:48:11 > 0:48:14Oh, good luck.Good luck. Good luck, mate.Good luck.
0:48:19 > 0:48:22Are you ready?Yeah.Steady. Go.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26Betty! Go, go, go, go! Go, go, Betty! Good girl!
0:48:26 > 0:48:28Go, Betty! Good girl. Good girl.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30He got off well, didn't he?
0:48:30 > 0:48:32'It's a race against the clock.
0:48:32 > 0:48:35'The fastest will get maximum points.'
0:48:35 > 0:48:36Go, go, go! Good girl!
0:48:36 > 0:48:38If the dog falls behind,
0:48:38 > 0:48:41they'll have to spend valuable time coaxing them back into action.
0:48:41 > 0:48:43Andrew has three points on the board.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46This is his chance to get into pole position.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48Betty was pretty focused, wasn't she?Yes.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50Andrew is uber-focused.
0:48:50 > 0:48:51Come on, Betty!
0:48:51 > 0:48:53But Betty's focus seems to have slipped.
0:48:59 > 0:49:00About to poo, are you, Boo?
0:49:00 > 0:49:05Betty! Betty, are you ready? Go, go! Good girl!
0:49:05 > 0:49:08Betty! Right, Right, right! Come on! Betty, right, right!
0:49:08 > 0:49:10Right, right, right! Good girl!
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Come on, Andrew!Come on, Betty!
0:49:13 > 0:49:16Here he comes. And she's still out in front.
0:49:16 > 0:49:18Come on! Go, go, Betty! Good girl!
0:49:18 > 0:49:20CHEERING
0:49:18 > 0:49:20Good girl, Boo.
0:49:23 > 0:49:27Ah!How was that?It was good.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Slowed down a few times, quite a distance for her.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32She was out in front the whole time, was she?Yeah, yeah.
0:49:32 > 0:49:34She did come alongside when she needed a...
0:49:34 > 0:49:38To powder her nose, shall we say? Oh, really?But, no, she was fine.
0:49:38 > 0:49:39No, it's great.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42Up next, Badger and Bodger.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45They're currently top of the yellow leaderboard,
0:49:45 > 0:49:47but they'll have to fight hard to hang on to that lead.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50You ready?I'm ready.Steady.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52I think Bodger's ready.And go!
0:49:52 > 0:49:54Go. Go on, Bodger! Go, go, go. Go on.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57Go, go! Go, go, go! Good girl.
0:49:57 > 0:50:01Go, go, go. Good girl. Come on. Bodger, go on.
0:50:01 > 0:50:02They're off the starting line,
0:50:02 > 0:50:04but Bodger's body language clearly shows
0:50:04 > 0:50:07she wants to check in with her owner...Hang on. That's it.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Go on...and it's causing the pair problems.
0:50:09 > 0:50:13Run, run, run! Go on! Go on!
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Bodger, go. Go, go, go, go!
0:50:19 > 0:50:22Nicely done. And she handled that so well.
0:50:22 > 0:50:24Waited for the dog to be ready.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Talk about communication, that was lovely.
0:50:26 > 0:50:27That was good. That's what we're after.
0:50:27 > 0:50:29You can do it. Up the hill. Go on, go on!
0:50:29 > 0:50:32But it is costing them valuable time.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36They'll need to pedal hard to catch up with Andrew's pace.
0:50:36 > 0:50:39Steady now. That's it. This way, this way, this way.
0:50:39 > 0:50:40And as they turn for home,
0:50:40 > 0:50:43Bodger's checking in with Badger once again.
0:50:43 > 0:50:46Come on, Bodger. Run, run. Run, run!
0:50:46 > 0:50:49Come here. Because you're tangled. Go on!
0:50:49 > 0:50:52BODGER BARKS Go on, you've got it! Like you were!
0:50:52 > 0:50:53You've got it, go on!
0:50:57 > 0:50:59Here they come. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:50:59 > 0:51:01Oh!
0:51:03 > 0:51:06Hey, good girl.Well, everyone's very excited to see you.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09It was... It was interesting!
0:51:09 > 0:51:13We... Well, once we got through the initial setting off
0:51:13 > 0:51:14with her barking at me,
0:51:14 > 0:51:17when she's in action, she is absolutely fantastic.
0:51:17 > 0:51:19I mean, we saw you go around that first corner,
0:51:19 > 0:51:20and by the time you got there,
0:51:20 > 0:51:22she was way out in front and she was doing brilliantly.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26Well done.Well done.That's good. Let's get you and her a drink.Yeah.
0:51:26 > 0:51:28You're ace, you are.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30Next, Toni and Flapjack.
0:51:30 > 0:51:31Look, he's drooling.
0:51:31 > 0:51:34I have a real anxiety he's going to look over his shoulder
0:51:34 > 0:51:36as we leave, because there's tons of packed lunches behind us!
0:51:36 > 0:51:38They only have one point so far,
0:51:38 > 0:51:41so this is their chance to fight their way back up the leaderboard.
0:51:41 > 0:51:45Go.Go, go, go! Go, go, go! Go, go, go!
0:51:45 > 0:51:47Good boy! Go, go, go! Go on, Jackie, off you go!
0:51:47 > 0:51:49Go on, Jackie! Go, go, go!
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Flapjack, Flapjack, Flapjack, Flapjack! Go, go, go, go!
0:51:51 > 0:51:53He's gone a bit off-piste there.
0:51:53 > 0:51:57Good boy. Go, go, go! Come on! Oh, my God.
0:51:57 > 0:51:59I'm not as fit as you, friend.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04Jackie. Jackie. This way!
0:52:04 > 0:52:06This way. This way.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09Toni keeps up a constant stream of communication.
0:52:11 > 0:52:15Here we go.Go, go, go, go! Oh, good girl!
0:52:15 > 0:52:19Sausages, sausages! Yay! And slow down.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24Straight to the packed lunch!
0:52:24 > 0:52:26Oh, my God, I'm so not fit enough for my dog!
0:52:26 > 0:52:28Got halfway along, he was just cantering along.
0:52:28 > 0:52:32I was like, "I'm not fit enough, Jack. Just hang on, hang on!"
0:52:32 > 0:52:35Well done, my boy. Good boy!
0:52:36 > 0:52:39'Last to tackle the mountain course, Doug and owner Josh.
0:52:39 > 0:52:43'Now, after scoring just two points in their first challenge,
0:52:43 > 0:52:45'he's determined to use what he's learned
0:52:45 > 0:52:48'about reading Doug's body language to tackle the course at pace.'
0:52:48 > 0:52:50As long as I get the kind of wind in his sails,
0:52:50 > 0:52:52I'm sure he's going to be all right.
0:52:52 > 0:52:53But I said that on the last challenge,
0:52:53 > 0:52:57and it didn't quite work out, so...let's just fingers crossed.
0:52:57 > 0:53:00OK, Josh, you ready?I think so. Steady. Go!
0:53:00 > 0:53:02Go on, then, Doug! Go, Doug! Go, go, go, go!
0:53:02 > 0:53:06Dougie, go go, go, go! Go on, go on, go on! Go, go, go, go! Good boy!
0:53:06 > 0:53:09Go on, Doug, keep going. Keep going. Keep going, Doug, keep going.
0:53:09 > 0:53:10Keep going. Good boy.
0:53:10 > 0:53:12See, here you've got a fast dog and you've also got Josh,
0:53:12 > 0:53:15who can actually cycle quite fast!
0:53:15 > 0:53:20Let's go. Come on, Dougie.
0:53:20 > 0:53:22Powerful dog, powerful cyclist.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25He should be top of the team, really, shouldn't he?I think so.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28Let's go. Go on. Push, push, push, push! Go on, push!
0:53:28 > 0:53:31Barring mishaps. Yes, and poo incidences.
0:53:33 > 0:53:35Go on, Doug! Go, go, go, go, go!
0:53:35 > 0:53:38He's blazing.Good boy. Absolutely blazing.
0:53:38 > 0:53:43Woohoo!Good boy. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Dougie, Dougie, Dougie. Good boy.
0:53:43 > 0:53:43Ah! Oh, my God. Doug, that was superb, mate.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47Ah! Oh, my God. Doug, that was superb, mate.
0:53:47 > 0:53:48Well done.How did he go?
0:53:48 > 0:53:51He was superb. I couldn't keep up half the time. He was brilliant.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54Dougie, Doug. Good boy. I'm so proud. Good boy.
0:53:56 > 0:54:00'Race over, and they're going to be scored in their groups,
0:54:00 > 0:54:04'with the fastest red and yellow pairs each receiving four points,
0:54:04 > 0:54:06'and the runners-up three.'
0:54:06 > 0:54:10The four of you who competed, I know you're desperate to know the scores.
0:54:10 > 0:54:12In fourth place...
0:54:12 > 0:54:15Badger and Bodger, you were six minutes and 25 seconds.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18Wow.Seriously. Didn't feel as long as that.
0:54:18 > 0:54:21Really nice use of verbal encouragement from you.
0:54:21 > 0:54:22You read her nervousness
0:54:22 > 0:54:24and took the time to encourage her through it,
0:54:24 > 0:54:25and that's the main thing.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27Well done.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30In third place, dead on five minutes, Andrew and Betty.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32Yeah.Well done.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35She is zonked out at this point.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38Her little legs were going ten to the dozen!
0:54:38 > 0:54:43In second place, three minutes 58, Toni and Flapjack.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46Jackie, I am so proud of you!
0:54:46 > 0:54:50I am so proud of you, Jackie, you dynamic creature.
0:54:50 > 0:54:51From my perspective,
0:54:51 > 0:54:54I can see a real development in your relationship.
0:54:54 > 0:54:57You're starting to understand him a little better, so well done.
0:54:57 > 0:55:00I think we could've gone faster if I'd been a bit fitter,
0:55:00 > 0:55:01but he did really well.
0:55:01 > 0:55:02Top work.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04So, in first place, Josh.
0:55:04 > 0:55:07Well done!And Douglas!
0:55:07 > 0:55:10You stormed it in three minutes 39.
0:55:10 > 0:55:11That's absolutely awesome.
0:55:11 > 0:55:14You have a new sport, because you respond to his body language,
0:55:14 > 0:55:17and he completely trusted your every command.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20Well done. It was lovely. Speed and sensitivity.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22Top work. Absolutely top work.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28'Now it's time to put the points on the board.'
0:55:28 > 0:55:32Josh and Douglas, you started with two, but you add four to it,
0:55:32 > 0:55:35which brings you up to six over here.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37Toni and Flapjack, you've got five.
0:55:37 > 0:55:38Well done, Flapjack!
0:55:38 > 0:55:40Pretty good.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44Andrew and Betty, you're up to six points on our chart here.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47And Badger and Bodger, you're already on four,
0:55:47 > 0:55:50so with the three that you add to that...
0:55:50 > 0:55:51Still romping on!
0:55:51 > 0:55:53..you go on to seven.
0:55:53 > 0:55:55We're still in it, Bodger.
0:55:55 > 0:55:56We're still there.
0:55:56 > 0:55:58'Even though they didn't race,
0:55:58 > 0:56:01'Ellie managed to get Benny to run in front of the bike,
0:56:01 > 0:56:05'so we've decided to award them two discretionary points.'
0:56:05 > 0:56:07Thank you.You did really well.
0:56:07 > 0:56:11'Colin and Mitch and Daisy and Zuri both receive a point for effort,
0:56:11 > 0:56:16'but they failed to make the progress they would have liked.'
0:56:16 > 0:56:19Daisy and Zuri, you add a point to the one that you already had,
0:56:19 > 0:56:21which means that you're up to two points.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24Ellie and Benny, six points in total,
0:56:24 > 0:56:27and Colin and Mitch up to three points.
0:56:27 > 0:56:30But rest assured, there are plenty more challenges,
0:56:30 > 0:56:31and there will be something there
0:56:31 > 0:56:34which we think you and your dog will be able to excel at.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38After all the communication challenges,
0:56:38 > 0:56:40our leaderboard looks like this.
0:56:40 > 0:56:42Badger and Bodger
0:56:42 > 0:56:43have made a great start,
0:56:43 > 0:56:45with the rest of the pack
0:56:45 > 0:56:46hot on their heels.
0:56:46 > 0:56:48Bottom-ranking Daisy and Zuri
0:56:48 > 0:56:50will have a fight on their hands
0:56:50 > 0:56:51to stay in the running,
0:56:51 > 0:56:52but there are plenty
0:56:52 > 0:56:54more points to be won.
0:56:54 > 0:56:58Communication between an owner and their dog
0:56:58 > 0:57:02is a varied and complex thing, and we have a lot more to learn,
0:57:02 > 0:57:07but one thing that is clear is the better we understand our dog,
0:57:07 > 0:57:09then the stronger the bond will be
0:57:09 > 0:57:12and the better the relationship will be.
0:57:14 > 0:57:15I've had a brilliant time,
0:57:15 > 0:57:18and we're really chuffed to be top of the leaderboard as well.
0:57:18 > 0:57:21Can't believe that. It's amazing. So we're super-happy.
0:57:24 > 0:57:29I think because I'm reading her better, she responds better as well,
0:57:29 > 0:57:31so it's all positive.
0:57:31 > 0:57:34I hope for the sake of this competition,
0:57:34 > 0:57:35for the sake of me and Mitch,
0:57:35 > 0:57:38that we start to get this communication going.
0:57:40 > 0:57:42Completely stoked about winning today.
0:57:42 > 0:57:45To see him really enjoying it made me really enjoy it.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51We'll get there, mate. We'll get there, won't we?
0:57:51 > 0:57:55Still love you. Still love you.
0:57:55 > 0:57:56HE CHUCKLES
0:58:00 > 0:58:03Next time...Betty, no!
0:58:03 > 0:58:05..our pairs face a new set of challenges,
0:58:05 > 0:58:09designed to put the trust between owner and dog to the test.
0:58:11 > 0:58:14They'll have to take the plunge with paddleboarding,
0:58:14 > 0:58:18and throw themselves at canine parkour...
0:58:18 > 0:58:20Clever dog!
0:58:20 > 0:58:22..before the ultimate test of the trust between them -
0:58:22 > 0:58:24a tethered cross-country run.
0:58:24 > 0:58:26Let's go, Doug, let's go, Doug! Whoops!