0:00:02 > 0:00:04As a nation, we are just potty about our pets.
0:00:04 > 0:00:05Lunchtime.
0:00:05 > 0:00:10We are unashamedly animal crackers and I'm just the same.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12What do you think about that?
0:00:12 > 0:00:15But you'd be amazed at the sometimes baffling lengths
0:00:15 > 0:00:16we go to for our pets.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18- ALL:- Hi.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Oh, Bertie, that was silly, wasn't it?
0:00:20 > 0:00:22The time...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Oh, that's lovely. Yay!
0:00:24 > 0:00:26..the money...
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- She looks like a princess. - She does.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31..not to mention the love.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32Oh, yes, that's nice.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34So, join me as I enter the extraordinary
0:00:34 > 0:00:38and often bizarre world of our pedigree pals.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Hello.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51DOG BARKS
0:00:51 > 0:00:55This week, Charlie, a stressed and troubled dachshund, is about
0:00:55 > 0:01:00to find out if he can be helped by a trip to a dog yoga class.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01You can laugh all you want,
0:01:01 > 0:01:05but try it once and then see how you feel afterwards.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08Ohhhhhh.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Goodness me.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Breeder Sharon has everything riding
0:01:11 > 0:01:14on her next generation of show ponies.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Fingers crossed we'll do well. She's looking good.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20And I struggle with my new rescue dog Baz,
0:01:20 > 0:01:25who has a traumatic past and may face a rocky road to feeling better.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28- No, he won't like that. - No, he won't like that.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Even I wouldn't like that.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34I've always loved having dogs and for over 70 years now,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37I've had at least one at home.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40I'm what you'd call a traditional pet owner,
0:01:40 > 0:01:45but recently I've discovered some rather bizarre pet trends afoot.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Believe it or not, these are all poodles
0:01:55 > 0:01:59competing in a controversial new dog show from America.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01Now, wait for this.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03It's called "creative grooming"
0:02:03 > 0:02:06and it's where dogs are given these bizarre makeovers.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12For some reason, it's a craze that's catching on here, as you'll see when
0:02:12 > 0:02:16we follow the two hottest contenders in the British competition.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Oh, hi, Barney.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20First up is poodle Barney in Bedfordshire.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Come on, big boy.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24He's got no idea what he's just walked into.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Top drawer groomer Tanya is about to give him
0:02:28 > 0:02:31the most ridiculous hairdo of his life.
0:02:31 > 0:02:37Creative grooming is basically creating art on the living canvas that is a dog.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40If you say so.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Does that feel really nice?
0:02:42 > 0:02:44The beauty of it is it's short-lived.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47If it goes wrong or if you don't like it, you can clip it off,
0:02:47 > 0:02:49the hair grows back and you can start again.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Day-to-day, Tanya just gets to do a rather boring wash,
0:02:52 > 0:02:57cut and blow dry on dogs. Entering the English creative groomer
0:02:57 > 0:03:02competition is the one chance she gets to show her real talent.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05I'm undecided whether it's going to be flat or three dimensional.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Tanya has been planning for the competition for months,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12and she's come up with a bonkers and frighteningly ambitious plan.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16The theme for this year, because everybody needs a theme,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18is Salvador Dali.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Oh, you couldn't be more surreal.
0:03:21 > 0:03:22I'm a huge fan of his.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26A little bit of genius, a little bit of madness, a little bit of fun,
0:03:26 > 0:03:30all thrown together and I've never seen it done before.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Dali's face on either shoulder.
0:03:32 > 0:03:42The floppy clock is going to be hugely 90 degree flat and very, very
0:03:42 > 0:03:46much prominent, sitting proud of the hip and coming down that back leg.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Yeah.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51I was a bit stupid doing this design.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53- I think you can do it. - BOTH LAUGH
0:03:53 > 0:03:58Between you and me, I don't think Barney's much of a fine art buff.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07But Barney faces some stiff competition, because he's up
0:04:07 > 0:04:12against Bella from Northamptonshire, owned by groomer Sue.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18So strong is Sue's desire to beat her rival Tanya,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20that she's called in a ringer.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Hello.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26Her friend Laurie, who's a champion creative groomer from the States
0:04:26 > 0:04:30and it looks like she's no stranger to hair dye.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Hi, baby girl. What are you doing?
0:04:32 > 0:04:37So, what outlandish and daringly difficult design awaits our Bella?
0:04:37 > 0:04:38Good girl.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41It's going to be woodland and butterfly garden.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Woodland and butterfly garden. OK.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46I am still deciding whether I want the fairy or not.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48The fairy's actually the centrepiece of it.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Your eye goes straight to the fairy.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Yeah, but do you make it a fairy or do you make it a butterfly?
0:04:53 > 0:04:56A butterfly's a lot easier than a fairy.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It'll be a showstopper if we can pull it off.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03I don't think Bella's bothered whether it's a fairy or a butterfly.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Last year, Sue stole the show
0:05:05 > 0:05:09when she transformed Bella into the octopoodle.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Sue's rival Tanya knows she and Barney will have to
0:05:13 > 0:05:16up their game if they stand any chance of winning.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21This is about as good as it gets.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23It was absolutely flawless.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25We want to do better.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27We want to beat Sue.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29It is brilliant.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31You'd like it, Umber.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Do you want to be an octopoodle, too?
0:05:34 > 0:05:36It'll be tough.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38It looks like it's going to be scissors at dawn.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45Now, us Brits have always led the way
0:05:45 > 0:05:48when it comes to breeding thoroughbred horses.
0:05:48 > 0:05:49Keep going, thank you.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52But now the bar has just been raised,
0:05:52 > 0:05:54or should I say lowered, because these adorable
0:05:54 > 0:05:59creatures are actually fully grown miniature horses.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01# Crazy horses
0:06:03 > 0:06:05# Crazy horses... #
0:06:08 > 0:06:14But as we're about to find out, breeding them is not a simple task.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18We're in Hampshire at the stud farm of Sharon and Derek.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22They turned to breeding miniature horses after Sharon's riding
0:06:22 > 0:06:25career was tragically cut short.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28I had a riding injury many years ago
0:06:28 > 0:06:31and I can't ride in competition any more,
0:06:31 > 0:06:36so we found we could scale down the operation to these little people.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Since then, she's devoted her life to their breeding and showing.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44They take up far less space, far less time every day.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46- They don't cost as much. - No, nowhere near.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48They don't cost as much to buy as a big horse.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51They don't cost as much to keep, nowhere near as much.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56It's the breeding season and today young stud DC
0:06:56 > 0:06:58is being brought out to mate with Maggie.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00HORSE GRUNTS
0:07:02 > 0:07:06DC is an old hand at this and, my goodness me, as you can see,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08he's already getting a little bit frisky.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11There's a good boy.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13HORSE NEIGHS
0:07:13 > 0:07:16When he does this, it's called flehmen,
0:07:16 > 0:07:21and he's basically smelling her, and then he runs that smell over
0:07:21 > 0:07:24an organ called Jacobson's organ in the roof of his mouth,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and that smell will tell him whether or not
0:07:27 > 0:07:29she is actually properly in season.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Maggie must be in season,
0:07:31 > 0:07:35otherwise she wouldn't put up with all of DC's hot-blooded commotion.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38HORSE GRUNTS
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Good girl. Good girl, Maggie.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Hey, hey.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48HORSE GRUNTS
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Well done, Maggie. That's a good girl, Maggie.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55- Good boy. - You can't hurry love.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03This is Maggie's first ever date
0:08:03 > 0:08:06and DC needs to take things a little bit slower.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08You're not ready yet, you plonker.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11You're being a very good girl, Maggie, aren't you?
0:08:13 > 0:08:17- Is it worth persevering with? - We'll try for a minute or two.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18Come on.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Nature will take its course in good time, if DC calms down.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26But if not, there are others warming up on the studs' bench.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32If she's going to stay a successful breeder,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Sharon's fortunes will rest on her younger horses.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Horses like eight-month-old Ella,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41who's having her winter coat shaved off.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Oh, you're a good little Ella Bella.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Oh - as you can see, she's a bit of a little madam.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48She's a typical toddler.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50She's got the attention span of a gnat.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55She'll do something for a minute and then she'll change her mind.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58In a few days, Ella will have to be on her best behaviour
0:08:58 > 0:09:01because she's being groomed for her first competition,
0:09:01 > 0:09:04but the young ones can be temperamental.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06The worst I've ever had happen with them
0:09:06 > 0:09:09is they'll throw a complete toddler tantrum, stand up
0:09:09 > 0:09:12and flip themselves over backwards, and then just lay there on the
0:09:12 > 0:09:14floor and throw their legs about.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18And literally, exactly like you'd see a toddler in the supermarket aisle -
0:09:18 > 0:09:20"I don't want to do this any more, Mummy."
0:09:20 > 0:09:24And I've had one or two do that in the past and it's very embarrassing.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Well, she's groomed and looking good for the show, but will Ella
0:09:28 > 0:09:32behave and prove she has the potential to be a future star?
0:09:34 > 0:09:38As a nation of animal lovers, it's dogs that steal our hearts
0:09:38 > 0:09:43the most, with almost a quarter of all families having one at home.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46My wife Anne and I are no exception.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Since we've been married, which is nearly 50 years,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- we've had dogs all the time. - All the time.- All the time.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53At least one.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57- Oh, at least one, sometimes two, but mainly one, yes.- Yes.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00They're lovely things to have, creatures to be with.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02They are the family.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Oh, look, Daisy.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06And Ben.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08- No, I think that's Buster. - Is that Buster?
0:10:08 > 0:10:10They look so alike, don't they?
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Yeah. I mean, that is a divine picture.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- I know. Look at them. - I mean, it's just...
0:10:18 > 0:10:21These two darlings. They were darlings.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25- And we called them Rags and Muffin - Ragamuffin.- Yes.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29And they were divine, and we lost one quite early and the other one
0:10:29 > 0:10:36lived for a long time, but we lost Muffin five or six months ago.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39I was heartbroken after we lost Muffin.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43There was a huge gap in our lives and I was determined to replace him.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48# How much is that doggy in the window?
0:10:49 > 0:10:55# The one with the waggly tail
0:10:55 > 0:10:56# How much...? #
0:10:56 > 0:10:58We couldn't manage puppies.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01Cor, I'm 82 for heaven's sake, so I recently went to
0:11:01 > 0:11:07a centre for rescue dogs, where we got a lovely cross breed called Baz.
0:11:07 > 0:11:08Come on, my darling.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11And here he is.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Come and meet these people, my precious. Oh, yes.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16- Oh, no, he won't like that. - No, he won't like that.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- No, he won't like that. - Even I wouldn't like that.
0:11:19 > 0:11:20Come here, precious.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24But Baz has a problem - he seems damaged.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Nothing's known about Baz's past
0:11:26 > 0:11:30before he ended up at the rescue centre, but I have a horrible
0:11:30 > 0:11:34feeling he's been subjected to some truly horrid treatment.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37He's quite skittish, very wary of me,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40and prone to growling at strangers.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43I want to do all I can to make him feel more at ease
0:11:43 > 0:11:45and create a loving bond with me.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49- Oh, he's very, very jumpy. - Yes.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I've called in Candy, who's a dog behaviour expert, to see
0:11:52 > 0:11:56if she can help us understand him and bring him out of his shell.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58- Oh.- Oh, look at that.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01Oh, you like that sausage, don't you, darling? Is it sausage?
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- It is, I'm afraid. - Yes, darling.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07You've got to be a little bit careful about stroking him
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- when he's growling... - Ah, that's interesting.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12You know, he's doing behaviour that you don't want to encourage.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15It's very normal for owners with new dogs,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18if the dog shows a little bit of anxiety around visitors, but don't
0:12:18 > 0:12:22reassure him to the point where he's being rewarded for being fearful.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24- Ah, right.- That's interesting. - He'll keep on doing it.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Yes, he's going to be a fabulous dog.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30I just want him to accept people more easily.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34'I really want Baz to become the same sort of happy
0:12:34 > 0:12:38'companion my other dogs have been, but when Candy and I take him
0:12:38 > 0:12:42'out into the garden, the problem is all too apparent.'
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- Do you want to call him? - Here.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48'Baz only feels safe when Anne is around.'
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Where is your mummy?
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Right, come on, let's see if we can find her.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Let's see if we can find her. Come on.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Where are you, Anne?
0:12:57 > 0:13:01- Oh...- Oh, he's so much happier when you're there though.- Yes.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04I mean, it's a good thing to have the attachment to you,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- but you don't want to make it an over-attachment.- No.- No, no.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Pass on some of the care to Ronnie.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Well, we know that, yes. Sharing the care would be good.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15I'll do his food one day and you do his food the next, yes.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Yes, absolutely, darling.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21And when people do come, if you have a lead on him and then sometimes...
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Why is that?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Just so that he's given a bit more guidance, cos at the moment
0:13:25 > 0:13:27if you let him just go up to people, he's saying,
0:13:27 > 0:13:29"I don't know what to do.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31"I'm going to investigate. I might not like you.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34"I might snap at you. I might growl at you", as he did today.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36Yes. I know what you mean.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39- Come on, my lovely. - Yes, yes, yes.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44- Yes, my lovely.- He's definitely a mummy's boy, isn't he?- Oh, yes.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46- See the difference in his reaction now.- Yes.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48He's smiling again. His tail's wagging.
0:13:49 > 0:13:54This is clearly just the start of a long, tough process to get Baz
0:13:54 > 0:13:57settled, but in the coming weeks I'm determined to make him
0:13:57 > 0:13:59happy whatever it takes.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Meanwhile, we're back with poodles Barney and Bella,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10as their creative groomers get started.
0:14:10 > 0:14:15It's Tanya's surreal Dali design versus Sue's fairy garden.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17So, why don't we put a toadstool there?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20It's a sort of barking mad topiary for dogs.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26One slip and Dali's famous floppy clock could be gone for a burton.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30These three blobby looking things here are ants.
0:14:30 > 0:14:35Tanya began experimenting doing dog hairdos when she was just 15,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38so she well knows the perils of the job.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40We're often asked, "What's the difference between being
0:14:40 > 0:14:42"a dog groomer and a hairdresser?"
0:14:42 > 0:14:44You can't compare the two.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48I've yet to see a hairdresser who will happily groom a person
0:14:48 > 0:14:52who's moving around on the chair, poops, pees everywhere
0:14:52 > 0:14:56and has no problem passing wind in your face when you get to that end.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Moving on. It's time to start adding some
0:15:00 > 0:15:03of the special non-toxic colouring.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07- A lot of people say "Oh, my gosh! Would you do this to yourself?"- Yep.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Yeah. I do.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10It's going to take them
0:15:10 > 0:15:15each about 30 hours of painstaking grooming over several days
0:15:15 > 0:15:18before these exceptionally difficult designs will be ready.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21I mean, I can't help wondering what the dogs,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Barney and Bella, feel about it all.
0:15:23 > 0:15:28A poodle needs grooming, so whilst you're doing normal grooming, you
0:15:28 > 0:15:31may as well do something a little bit different at the same time.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34She's just enjoying the fuss.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37There's so much time involved that you build up a special bond,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40and I think the majority of creative groomers would
0:15:40 > 0:15:43say their creative dogs have the best bonds with them.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48It's a stronger bond than even the show dogs with show owners.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50It's so intensive when you're doing this work.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Well, it's anyone's guess who will come out best there.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59Now, two-thirds of owners say they give their pets the same
0:15:59 > 0:16:01care as their children,
0:16:01 > 0:16:06but some go to extraordinary lengths to make sure their pet is contented.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09DOG BARKS
0:16:09 > 0:16:13This is Charlie, a three-year-old dachshund, who lives in London.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Like my Baz, he's a rescue dog and I'm afraid Charlie's got a problem -
0:16:17 > 0:16:20he's extremely anxious and stressed.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24He barks all the time
0:16:24 > 0:16:28and his owner Alexandra can't bear to leave him on his own.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I usually feel very guilty going to the gym and leaving him
0:16:31 > 0:16:34at home for an hour, knowing that he's been at home all day.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35Hello.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39Alexandra is determined for him to be happier.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Obviously, I love him. I love him as my brother, as my best friend.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47I want to help him with his problems, with his anxiety.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49DOG BARKS
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Oh, he is a bit troubled, isn't he?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Today, Alexandra is taking him somewhere where she hopes
0:16:54 > 0:16:57he'll find some peace. Now, wait for this.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00She's taking him to the latest extraordinary fad
0:17:00 > 0:17:05that's taking hold - it's doga...or dog yoga.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07I'm not making this up.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10I'm hoping that doga will help Charlie relax.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13He is very, very unsettled.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16Yoga helps humans with overcoming such problems,
0:17:16 > 0:17:17I'm hoping it will help him.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Running the yoga class today is Robbie,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24a two-year-old bichon toy breed...
0:17:24 > 0:17:28You use your ocean breath - deep breathing.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31..with a little bit of help from his owner Marnie.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33If you slow down your breathing
0:17:33 > 0:17:37and you hold your dog close to your chest, your dog can feel that.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39It just works.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49I'm crazy and you can call me barking mad,
0:17:49 > 0:17:54but the thing is that I'm absolutely convinced about what I'm doing.
0:17:55 > 0:17:56Ohhhhhhhh.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58You can laugh all you want,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01but try it once and then see how you feel afterwards.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06All the other dogs in the class are starting to get in the mood,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09but Charlie's still not feeling at ease.
0:18:09 > 0:18:15Lift through the haunch and extend through the spine and ahhhhh.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18- DOG BARKS - Oh, Charlie.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21DOG BARKS
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Charlie seemed to be very much there and present in the class,
0:18:27 > 0:18:31and I could see quite a strong bond to his owner,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34and maybe potentially even a little bit too attached.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37And keep your eyes closed.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Just curl up. Imagine you're going to sleep.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43DOG BARKS
0:18:46 > 0:18:50The other dogs are unable to find their inner peace
0:18:50 > 0:18:53with Charlie so agitated.
0:18:53 > 0:18:54Just a little half breath.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57DOG BARKS
0:19:03 > 0:19:06His yapping is ruining the mood.
0:19:10 > 0:19:15So, as a last measure, Marnie is forced to step in.
0:19:15 > 0:19:16Inhale.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21Oh, hello, we might be witnessing a miracle.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24WOMEN EXHALE DEEPLY
0:19:26 > 0:19:30What I was so surprised was that Charlie allowed me
0:19:30 > 0:19:34to work with him and he didn't flip, he didn't look at his mummy.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37So, he allowed me to do a bit of massaging, a bit of work together.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Charlie seems to settle down.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Ahhhhhh.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51It's nice to see Charlie looking more relaxed.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56There was a moment where he could really surrender
0:19:56 > 0:19:58and found his little yoga spot,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01and he calmed down and it was without Mummy and it was without me.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03He just found his own space
0:20:03 > 0:20:07and that will have a huge effect on his wellbeing.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14After months of fear-fuelled stress,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Charlie seems to have finally found a moment of inner peace.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22There's still a lot of work, of course,
0:20:22 > 0:20:25but having these few moments seeing him completely enjoying
0:20:25 > 0:20:29himself is fantastic, and I hope I will achieve much more of it.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32His entire life will be much, much calmer. It's great.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35I can't see Baz and me doing this though.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38I've never looked my best in a leotard.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47It's high noon in Hampshire for Ella the temperamental mini horse.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49And with so much at stake today,
0:20:49 > 0:20:54Sharon's even dusted down her lucky Texan cowgirl outfit.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56I am actually feeling quite nervous this morning,
0:20:56 > 0:20:59but fingers crossed we'll do well. She's looking good.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07This is the biggest small horse show this side of Basingstoke.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10It's Ella's first competition and Sharon's first chance
0:21:10 > 0:21:14to see what the future holds for her next generation of horses.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21I'm very competitive. I go in there wanting to win.
0:21:21 > 0:21:26But success today all rests on Ella's little shoulders.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28I know, it's very exciting.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Although it looks like she's about to throw her toys out of the pram.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38HORSE NEIGHS
0:21:38 > 0:21:40It's very exciting, I know.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43This is not a good time to misbehave,
0:21:43 > 0:21:46as Sharon leads Ella round the ring.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50She's actually settled down much more now she's come in here,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52but fingers crossed. We'll see.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56She's still leaning on me a lot for comfort, but we'll get there.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Diane, who's been judging for over nine years, is watching every move.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05What we're looking for in the miniature horse is that it's
0:22:05 > 0:22:08true to its type, it is nicely put together,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12the length of neck to the body, and that it's moving correctly.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15So far so good.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19- How old exactly? - She's eight months.
0:22:19 > 0:22:20She's keeping it together.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Ella is actually very free in her walk and trot,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25which for a young one is very, very nice,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- and that's probably going to be a big asset for her.- Good girl.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33It's so lovely to see how well this little horse is behaving.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Trot for me.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38But the final judgment is down to Diane.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40OK, thank you.
0:22:42 > 0:22:43She's made up her mind.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Here comes the winner's rosette.
0:22:47 > 0:22:48Come on, Ella.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Wait. No, the winner is a little star.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56- A slightly more mature horse owned by Carol.- What a good girl.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Oh, you're going to love this, aren't you?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- This is going to go straight in the mouth.- Well done.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Oh, well. So, who's getting second?
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- Well done.- Hello... - Thank you.- You did very well.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10..the runner-up prize is going to Ella.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12You were very well behaved.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16You listen to that and remember that comment.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Looks like the future's bright for these two.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21What a clever girl. Yes, you are.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Absolutely over the moon with her, I really, really am.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26I think Sharon and little Ella
0:23:26 > 0:23:29will be walking tall back to the paddock today.
0:23:33 > 0:23:38It's the day of the totally bonkers creative grooming competition.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45And Barney the poodle's in first with Tanya,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48but he's keeping his design under wraps.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51My goodness, Sue's already in the hall
0:23:51 > 0:23:54and just look what's happened to Bella.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57Bella, she thinks this is great fun.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59She's loving the attention.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03She's got more and more perked up as the colour's been going on.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08Her arch-rival Tanya's design on Barney is finally unveiled.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Hopefully, Barney's feeling fab.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Pretty chilled out.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16You don't care, do you, dude? You just don't care.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22It's taken weeks of preparation to get this far,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24but now it's crunch time.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26Right, so guys, you've got an hour
0:24:26 > 0:24:30and a half to complete your trim before the judging commences.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32You may start now. Good luck, everybody.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35The pressure is on to do the last minute
0:24:35 > 0:24:38bit of titivating and sprucing up.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Oh, it's all very intense, isn't it?
0:24:47 > 0:24:50They're all being judged on creativity
0:24:50 > 0:24:53and how intricate their scissor work is.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56I'm going to beat Tanya today. No, I have no idea.
0:24:56 > 0:24:59It looks like I'm in for a good challenge this year.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- In your dreams. - I'm being polite.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07I do have to concentrate, because I've only got 25 minutes left
0:25:07 > 0:25:10to go...and that's really not enough.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14All the while, they're being closely scrutinised by Hannah the judge,
0:25:14 > 0:25:19who's had 20 years experience of grooming dogs herself.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21I am actually looking at how the groomer is handling the dog
0:25:21 > 0:25:24and how they behave and everything.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28I mean, these dogs here are absolutely superb.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30The clock is ticking.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32Do we know how much time's left?
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Not much.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37OK, guys, you have 15 minutes to finish your dog.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41In the closing moments, Tanya has a disaster.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Dali's face is looking a bit more surreal than I think she intended.
0:25:45 > 0:25:52Because Barney moved when we were spraying the stencil on...
0:25:52 > 0:25:56basically it went everywhere but where it was supposed to,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59so I didn't have a clear Dali face, so I'm not doing the other side.
0:26:04 > 0:26:08Oh, dear. Time's run out on the floppy clock for Tanya.
0:26:08 > 0:26:09Done.
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Put your scissors down.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Now it's all done and dusted, I could just sit here crying my eyes out.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Cor. I wish I'd finished.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24There's so much still to do, but...
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I could just cry.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33It's not as transformational as my normal work,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35but I'm pleased with what I've done.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It's almost time for the final judgment,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41and the groomers pull out all the stops to gain
0:26:41 > 0:26:45an edge on their rivals, even transforming themselves.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49This one's come as a wizard, I think.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52I've had to really take everything on board
0:26:52 > 0:26:54and my decision wasn't made until the very end,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58but I have chosen my winner and it's very, very close.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00So, is the winner Candy,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03the Maltese terrier with the Wizard of Oz design,
0:27:03 > 0:27:09or is it Bella's fairy garden from Sue in her party wig,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13or will it be Barney with Tanya's Dali design?
0:27:23 > 0:27:26And the winner is Bella and Sue.
0:27:28 > 0:27:34So, Sue becomes the English Creative Grooming Stylist 2013.
0:27:34 > 0:27:35Can I touch it?
0:27:35 > 0:27:37But who will be in second place?
0:27:42 > 0:27:44And our second place goes to...
0:27:46 > 0:27:48It's Candy and the wizard...
0:27:49 > 0:27:53..and Tanya and Barney come third.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- Absolutely beautiful. - Thank you.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Just very, very ambitious.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58I know. A bit too ambitious.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04I won, which I'm very happy about...
0:28:06 > 0:28:09..but I never speak much afterwards.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Hasta la vista, baby. I'll be back.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Perhaps I should say that no animals were
0:28:16 > 0:28:19harmed during the making of this programme, although those
0:28:19 > 0:28:23poodles there might have lost their dignity just a little bit.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Well, for now, it's goodnight from me.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd