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? HE CHUCKLES
0:00:12 > 0:00:15But you'd be amazed at the sometimes baffling lengths we go to
0:00:15 > 0:00:16for our pets.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18ALL: Surprise!
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Oh, dirty. That was silly, wasn't it?
0:00:20 > 0:00:22The time...
0:00:22 > 0:00:23Oh, that's lovely.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Yay!
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The money...
0:00:26 > 0:00:29- She looks like a princess!- She does.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Not 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 > 0:00:54This week we enter the astonishing world of designer clothes for dogs,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57with its eye-watering prices.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00A bespoke outfit normally starts at £1,000.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Why should your dog not be dressed in the best?
0:01:03 > 0:01:05She's admiring herself in the mirror!
0:01:05 > 0:01:08We meet a man who is just mad about pigeons
0:01:08 > 0:01:11and has one that's worth almost as much as a house!
0:01:13 > 0:01:18In his heyday, probably worth 50, 60, 70,000.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22And I return to the rescue centre where I got my dog Baz from,
0:01:22 > 0:01:28to hear about the tough life faced by our nation's pooches.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31Dogs that have been collected by the dog warden,
0:01:31 > 0:01:32they only keep them nine days,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36and if they're not claimed, they're destroyed.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39Hybrid dogs, or so-called designer dogs,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42that come from the mating of two different pedigree breeds,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45have become very popular these days,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48which means that one poodle super-stud
0:01:48 > 0:01:51can father a bewildering variety of offspring.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Meet Jasper, in Bedfordshire, owned by breeder Annette.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Jasper is one of the UK's most prolific studs.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08He has fathered an amazing 400 pure and crossbred dogs,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11with a price tag of up to £900 per puppy.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15His offspring is worth around a staggering £300,000.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22He has sired miniature poodles, cockapoos, labradoodles,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26shih-poos and he has also done one litter of jackapoos.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Dare I say it, that's a lot of poos to remember.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Good boy, such a lovely dog, aren't you?
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'Jasper loves his job.'
0:02:35 > 0:02:37And Jasper is a really nice stud dog,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39he's very good with his ladies,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and he's a perfect gentleman, aren't you? Yes.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43As a 12-year-old,
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Jasper could be nearing the end of his breeding days,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47so Annette's keen he passes on
0:02:47 > 0:02:50as many of his fabulous genes as possible.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Today, he's meeting two-year-old cocker spaniel Maddy.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Her owner, Val, wants to crossbreed her with Jasper,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59to have cockapoo pups.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01You get the brains of the poodle,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03which is more so than the spaniel,
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and it also knocks some of the scattiness out
0:03:07 > 0:03:08of the spaniel breeding.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11You also have the big advantage that they don't moult.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14If I was to mate Maddy with another purebred cocker spaniel,
0:03:14 > 0:03:19the puppies would probably be able to be sold for about £450, £500.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23But if I mate her with a poodle, they're worth about £800 or £900.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Which is ridiculous, really,
0:03:25 > 0:03:27because they are mongrels, at the end of the day,
0:03:27 > 0:03:29but they're very popular.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33It's time for Jasper to meet his lady.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35- Your girlfriend.- This way, come on.
0:03:35 > 0:03:36In.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Now, viewers of a nervous disposition
0:03:40 > 0:03:42may want to look away at this point.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Who's a good boy? Come on.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49- Good girl.- Good boy. Very good boy.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52- Excellent.- Good girl. - Good boy. Keep her steady.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Although they're doing what comes naturally,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59the breeding process can be much more difficult than you imagine.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Bit of a help from the owners is often needed.
0:04:02 > 0:04:09I turn him around because it's easier to keep control of both dogs.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13It's normal for dogs to tie like this for up to 20 minutes.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15- Sometimes he passes out, doesn't he? - Yes.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17- You've been here when he's passed out.- Yeah.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21Yeah, sometimes Jasper collapses in a heap.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- Yeah, it's all too much for him. - Yeah!
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Jasper has done his bit, but like any pregnancy,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29there are all sorts of things that can still go wrong.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Good girl, come on, quick, quick.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I have to get her into the car quick,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36so that she doesn't have a wee on the way,
0:04:36 > 0:04:41and lose all the sperm that we've managed to get inside her.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45All Val can do is wait and see if Maddy will fall pregnant.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49MUSIC FROM HOVIS AD: "New World Symphony" by Antonin Dvorak
0:04:49 > 0:04:51As you can probably tell by the music,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53we're heading for Yorkshire now.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57And if it's not a story about whippets, it must be pigeons.
0:05:02 > 0:05:03- Come on, then. - HE WHISTLES
0:05:03 > 0:05:05Come on.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Mark has been breeding them for 40 years now,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and became one of Britain's top pigeon racers.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Champion Shadow. Shadow, his name.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16People come from all over the world just to see him.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Probably one of the best pigeons in the world.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21He's certainly the best pigeon in the UK.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24He's 18 years old, he's not fertile, we don't believe, any more.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28There's 27 first Open Classic and National winners
0:05:28 > 0:05:29bred down from this pigeon.
0:05:29 > 0:05:35In his heyday, probably worth 50, 60, 70,000 by a public auction.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38My word. Between you and me,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40I'm starting to look at pigeons in a whole new light.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42I don't think, in my lifetime,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44we'll ever come across another pigeon as good.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47I'll be sad when anything happens to him, very sad.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49It'll come the day when something does happen to him,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52unfortunately, but...it will be a sad day for me.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Mark had his first pigeon at the age of eight,
0:05:55 > 0:06:00and now devotes ten hours a day to his feathered friends.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02I'm just fascinated with them. I just...
0:06:02 > 0:06:05They come first, really, in my life, and they have done for many years.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07There isn't a day goes by
0:06:07 > 0:06:09without thinking what I'm doing with pigeons.
0:06:09 > 0:06:10Even on holiday, I never switch off.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Probably sad, but I don't.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18He tried to give up racing five years ago to focus on breeding,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21but the passion to compete burns too fiercely within,
0:06:21 > 0:06:23so he's planning a comeback.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27But if it goes wrong, his champion reputation could be ruined.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30You know, it's a bit like a boxer, I suppose.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33If he isn't confident of coming back after having a retirement,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35it's a bad thing to do.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So I wouldn't want to come back and make myself look daft,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I want to come back on a winning streak,
0:06:40 > 0:06:41and I'll be trying hard to do it.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Today, Mark and his mate Dave are getting the pigeons
0:06:44 > 0:06:46ready for a training workout.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48We're going to have winners, I know we'll have winners.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51There's no doubting that. It's just how many winners we have.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Mark is certainly talking the talk,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57but is he getting a little too confident?
0:06:59 > 0:07:03As the crow flies, or the pigeon, they are 30 miles away from home,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06and it's time for Mark to release them.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17Pigeons use a tiny magnet in their head and the Earth's magnetic field
0:07:17 > 0:07:22as just one way to achieve their miraculous navigation.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25But it's how fast they can do it that matters.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28Well, it's 15:55.
0:07:28 > 0:07:29I would expect today,
0:07:29 > 0:07:33you'd be looking at about 40 minutes for them to return.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36So, if they're in with that 40 minutes, they've flown all right.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40These test flights are crucial,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43as the pigeons are also actually memorising local landmarks,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47but that's not the only thing they need to look out for.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49We have a bad problem in the UK with hawks.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51They have done us damage in the past,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53and if a sparrowhawk happened to hit the race team
0:07:53 > 0:07:55just prior to one of the big nationals,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58it could put them off form for a good few weeks.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02By the time Mark gets back, his mate Dave has some news.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05- Come all right? - Yeah. Yeah, they've come all right.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10Most of Mark's pigeons have beaten him home, safe and sound.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Time to check the timing.
0:08:12 > 0:08:1517 minutes past. 24 seconds.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17A second and 25.
0:08:17 > 0:08:1923rd and 25. 25. 26.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22- Oh, they've come all right, haven't they?- 26. 26. Yeah.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25I'll be honest with you, I have no idea really what any of this means.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27But I'm sensing it's good.
0:08:27 > 0:08:28The pigeons what's come today,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31they've done it in roughly around 30 minutes.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32If we can keep this up,
0:08:32 > 0:08:35and they keep coming as well as what they've come today, yeah.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38I'd be confident in putting them in any race.
0:08:38 > 0:08:39So Mark's hard-won reputation
0:08:39 > 0:08:44is soon to be riding on the back of pigeons like the lovely Lady Blue.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47A few months' time, we might have a national winner.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49I would have thought so.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I hope so, anyway!
0:08:52 > 0:08:57We'll find out if Mark's comeback into the world of pigeon racing
0:08:57 > 0:09:00goes to plan later in the programme.
0:09:00 > 0:09:05In the meantime, let's meet someone who feels that her pet dog
0:09:05 > 0:09:07is in need of an image makeover.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14This is Beans,
0:09:14 > 0:09:19a one-year-old whippet belonging to top fashion model Tuuli, in London.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Beans. Come. SHE WHISTLES
0:09:21 > 0:09:22Come on.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25But Beans is a typical unruly youngster,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29very far from the demure little lady Tuuli would prefer.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32I don't know why I think this, but she looks quite tomboy-ish.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35She looks like a boy, everyone assumes that she's a boy.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37I think the way she acts is, as well.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Tuuli wants Beans to abandon her laddish ways,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47in favour of a more refined and ladylike demeanour.
0:09:47 > 0:09:48Come on. Good girl.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Good girl.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56So she's trying to persuade her with a complete stylistic overhaul.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59I've decided to get Beans a bespoke coat.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00She wears coats anyway, she's a whippet,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02they get incredibly cold.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Because she's so tomboy-ish, I thought it might be quite fun
0:10:05 > 0:10:07to get her something that was a little more girly,
0:10:07 > 0:10:09a little bit more feminine.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15For a coat befitting a fashionable lady,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19Beans will be coming here to Shoreditch, in trendy East London.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22This is an haute couture establishment
0:10:22 > 0:10:27that makes designer garments just for dogs, and it's run by Lilly,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31who charges up to £5,000 for bespoke outfits.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36The people who come in wanting bespoke,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38the things they've all got in common is,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41the dog is an important person in their life.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46Beans and Tuuli have high fashion on their mind. Well, Tuuli does.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Beans probably just wants to run around the park and jump in puddles.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Hello, Beans! Oh, hello.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- Lovely.- Hello. Ahh. Shall we take her off the lead?
0:10:58 > 0:10:59Sure thing.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Beans makes a beeline for the other dogs in the shop.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Not now, Beans. Remember we have to be ladylike.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14I thought, first of all, we'd look at the different fabrics...
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Brilliant. Yes.- ..all the tweeds and amazing Harris Tweeds for Beans.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Tweeds look good on whippets.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Yeah, and because they're wool, they'll actually keep her warm.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24- This is the Ellesmere, so... - Very smart.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Very on-trend. - What do you think, darling?
0:11:27 > 0:11:29This one I think may be too dark.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32This is the Allerton.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- I think it's a bit masculine for her.- Yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I mean, you know, she's such a tomboy as it is,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39it might be nice to not, sort of, bring that out.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Maybe something a bit more girly.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44'A bespoke outfit normally starts at £1,000'
0:11:44 > 0:11:49and it takes probably about 40 to 90 hours to make.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52£1,000 for a dog coat?
0:11:52 > 0:11:56It really is a quality item that will last you years and years.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00And it's exactly the same as when you go for a Savile Row suit.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03That colour looks such a beautiful contrast with her coat.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05- I think it looks lovely on her. - It looks fantastic.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Makes you look like a little girl.
0:12:08 > 0:12:10- OK, so shall we measure her now? - Sure.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12I'm going to take some measurements.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Such a good girl.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18You know, your dog, why should your dog not be dressed in the best?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Well, I hope my dog Baz wouldn't expect me
0:12:22 > 0:12:26to shell out those sums for such fashion frippery.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28You can see that she's such an unusual shape,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32a standard...you know, other breeds that, basically,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35aren't whippets or greyhounds, it doesn't quite fit.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Doesn't sit right.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39I'd love to try a hat on her.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Just because you make such great hats, just to see
0:12:41 > 0:12:42what it might look like.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44It would be so much fun, wouldn't it?
0:12:44 > 0:12:46TUULI LAUGHS
0:12:46 > 0:12:50- Good girl.- Oh, she looks gorgeous.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53- She looks like a...- Cute. - She looks very French.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56- Very French! - Very French, like a little...
0:12:56 > 0:12:58I'm really excited about Beans' outfit,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00I think the colour is going to be great,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03it's really unusual for a whippet to be in such a bright colour,
0:13:03 > 0:13:06and I think she's going to look really smart.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10You may think so, Tuuli, but the real question is
0:13:10 > 0:13:15how tomboy Beans is going to take to this new look, and new persona,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17once it arrives.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25Recently, my wife Anne and I have taken on a new family pet ourselves.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27He came from a rescue centre
0:13:27 > 0:13:31and all we know is that he had a very disturbed early life.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35We're having a somewhat difficult time trying to heal him.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40Baz is the first rescue dog we've ever had, and today I'm going back
0:13:40 > 0:13:44to the rescue centre to update them on how he's getting on.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I meet Denise, one of the centre's trustees.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- Good morning.- It's brilliant to see you back again.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Lovely. What a day. Beautiful.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Brilliant, isn't it?
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- Well, we've still got some of our old residents here.- I see.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01But, I've got some puppies I want to show you, they're just in here.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- Come and have a look at these.- Right.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Look, what do you think about that?
0:14:06 > 0:14:07Oh, my God!
0:14:07 > 0:14:09Oh, darling!
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Aren't you a clever mummy? All your babies.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Still pestering you for their breakfast.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17How old are the puppies, actually?
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- These are about seven weeks, now. - Seven weeks.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Yeah, and we've got...- Gosh. - ..two girls and three boys.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- Eager feeders, aren't they? - Yeah, they are! Yeah.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28- My God.- Yeah, she's such a good mummy as well, she's lovely.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30They'll get found homes very easily, won't they?
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Yeah, they will, very easily, yeah.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- We've had a lot of interest in them...- Oh, yes.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- ..so they'll be going home next week.- They're so darling, aren't they?
0:14:37 > 0:14:38Hello!
0:14:38 > 0:14:41'Too many dogs in the UK lead horrendous lives.
0:14:41 > 0:14:47'I mean, last year, 120,000 strays were picked up by local authorities,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50'and many thousands ended up being put to sleep.'
0:14:51 > 0:14:53Oh, dear.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57This centre alone rescues 800 unwanted dogs a year.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- DOG BARKS - Yes, I know, I know.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04This chap came into us, sadly, due to a marriage break-up.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09- Yes.- But we also rescue, on a regular basis...
0:15:09 > 0:15:12about once a fortnight, these days, we go to Wales,
0:15:12 > 0:15:17to a dog pound, and we bring back the entire pound-load of dogs,
0:15:17 > 0:15:22because there's an awful problem with unwanted dogs in that area.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26It's dogs that have been collected by the dog warden,
0:15:26 > 0:15:27and taken into the pound.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30So, they only keep them nine days and if they're not claimed,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32they are destroyed.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38I've discovered that when Baz was rescued from death row in Wales,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41he was just one day away from being put down.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44He is one lucky dog.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46How's Baz getting on?
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Baz is fantastic.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52I mean, he's seriously uplifted Anne's life.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54I hope he's not taking your spot.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59- I mean, he's still a bit frightened with me, a little bit.- Yeah.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01- Yes.- We didn't know his background, of course, so...
0:16:01 > 0:16:06- No, no. But he's so lovely and so... - Yeah.- But he is nervy.
0:16:06 > 0:16:07Still quite nervous.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11I have a golf buggy of my own in the garden,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14and just before dusk, you know, seven o'clock,
0:16:14 > 0:16:18I go out with Basil on the lead, with the cart,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21- so walking him further than I could perhaps walk...- Sure.
0:16:21 > 0:16:26- And Anne now sits in the passenger seat...- Fantastic.- ..with the lead,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- and he trots along.- Wow.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30And last night, we...
0:16:30 > 0:16:34I managed to talk Anne into letting him off the lead
0:16:34 > 0:16:38for the last, maybe, mile, and he just trotted along there.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41- Brilliant.- And when he saw the gate, trotted ahead to go in it,
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- so it was lovely. - It's a perfect life, isn't it?
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- Yeah.- Perfect life.- It is.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Getting Baz back on form will take a while longer still,
0:16:50 > 0:16:52but thanks to the rescue centre,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I can at least give him the love he deserves.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- DOGS BARK - Oh, I know. Oh, I know.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03I very much hope all these other dogs find loving homes too.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Back with Jasper, the poodle super-stud,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15and Annette has some disappointing news.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Unfortunately, Maddy didn't get pregnant this time
0:17:17 > 0:17:22and, as we all know, if you have sex, it doesn't always result in a baby.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25But he has sired a litter of puppies since that mating.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29So it indicates there isn't a problem with him.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32I do hope it wasn't us that put him off his stride.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Going out somewhere special today.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Now Jasper is getting all spruced up.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39He doesn't know it yet,
0:17:39 > 0:17:44but Annette has organised a rather unique surprise party for him.
0:17:44 > 0:17:49Today, for the first time, Jasper is going to meet his kids.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54They've all gathered to pay homage to their dad.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56It's a bewildering party, this,
0:17:56 > 0:18:00with an extraordinary variety of crossbreeds and purebreeds.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02Now, let me see if I can get this right.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04MUSIC: "Daddy Cool" by Boney M
0:18:04 > 0:18:08Meet Molly, Jasper's daughter with a Labrador.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Which makes Molly a labradoodle.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Ah, that's Dotty, another daughter, she's a purebred poodle.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19That's Holly, another labradoodle.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22But she seems to have lost her oodle.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24And this is Joey, from a bagle mother,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27that's a beagle-basset cross.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Does that make him a bagledoodle?
0:18:30 > 0:18:33The party is full to the brim with poos, and oodles,
0:18:33 > 0:18:37and they're all here to meet their dad, Jasper.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Bless him. Jasper just thinks he's going for a nice walk.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47ALL: Surprise!
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Look!
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Who are these? Look.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Oh, I think Jasper is getting emotional, he might need a moment.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00It's bagle, look, Jasper. It's your wife, it's your wife.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Hee-hee-hee!
0:19:02 > 0:19:03Jasper, who's this? Who's this?
0:19:03 > 0:19:04Hey?
0:19:10 > 0:19:12But there's another reason
0:19:12 > 0:19:14that Annette's gathered everyone for Jasper today.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Recently, his vet has found a serious problem.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Jasper has been diagnosed with cancer now
0:19:22 > 0:19:26and so, this is the end of his mating career, and...
0:19:26 > 0:19:30So today is a very poignant point in his life,
0:19:30 > 0:19:35because it's the closure of children, and all the things related.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45The vets think he'll only live another 6 to 12 months,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48so everyone's more determined than ever to make the party
0:19:48 > 0:19:51a glorious tribute to Jasper.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55With Jasper looking on proudly,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58they're holding a contest for the best-looking of all his kids.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Gaynor, the practice manager from the local vet's, plays judge.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05This is a class for the offspring of Jasper,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07and it's just picking an animal
0:20:07 > 0:20:11that sort of looks at you and looks cute.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15I'm thinking that we'll just let them walk.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20To judge how they move, the dogs strut their stuff on the catwalk.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Or is it dogwalk? Holly's first.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26It's actually quite funny
0:20:26 > 0:20:28to see that you've got sort of a Labrador-looking...
0:20:28 > 0:20:31that doesn't look like it's got any poodle in it whatsoever.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34OK, the next one.
0:20:34 > 0:20:35Oh, there's Dotty.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37They all seem to be of a very similar...
0:20:37 > 0:20:39They're all quite calm.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43This one is Oscar, a beagle-poodle cross. Or a boodle.
0:20:43 > 0:20:44We like him.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46And I like the fact that it's all a big family, isn't it?
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Which is nice, all together.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Oh, that's nice.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Parade over. Who's getting a prize?
0:20:54 > 0:20:58- Third place goes to you. Thank you. - Ooh!
0:20:58 > 0:20:59Dotty, well done.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04So that's Dotty. The purebred, who seems thrilled.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07And second...to you guys. Well done.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- Thank you!- There we go. Who's having that?
0:21:09 > 0:21:12And that's Oscar, the, um...boodle.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14There we go. Congratulations.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15There we are. Thank you.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- Well done.- OK? Well done.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21And the winner is Joey, the beagle-basset-poodle cross,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24looking resplendent in his handsome green neckerchief.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27I didn't think that he'd win that one there, but, yeah, very proud.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Very proud.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35He's a very worthy winner, he takes after his dad.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Don't you think, Jasper?
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Well done.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43This is Jasper's au revoir to the life of being a stud dog,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47so he will just be a pet at home on the sofa now.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50I'm very proud of him, he's been a good dog to me,
0:21:50 > 0:21:55and they only come along once in a lifetime, as good as him.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58So, yeah, he's a good dog.
0:21:58 > 0:21:59That's very touching.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04What a fabulous way to celebrate a much-loved pet's life.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11We're back in Yorkshire with Mark, the pigeon man.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14He's in the last stages of preparation
0:22:14 > 0:22:16for his first race in six years.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18But he's had a disaster.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21His pigeons have been attacked by a bird of prey.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25The actual sparrowhawk come over the fence
0:22:25 > 0:22:27and went straight into the loft, followed the pigeons in.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29By the time we rushed to the door to do anything,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32as we went, it actually got one of them pinned to the floor,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34and it was going at it.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Another few seconds and he would have had its, probably,
0:22:36 > 0:22:40its neck ripped, or its back ripped and into it, to kill it.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Mark, luckily, did manage to rescue the bird that was attacked,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46but it was his great hope, Lady Blue.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49As you can see, where the hawk's grabbed her,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51taken all the feathers out of the wing.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54But the problem is what it's done mentally, upstairs,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56here in her head.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57She'll be petrified now.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00She hasn't actually flown out of the loft since that day.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02I am frightened to death that if we let her out,
0:23:02 > 0:23:04not sure we're going to get her back in.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09It is devastating, really, because she's won three races
0:23:09 > 0:23:12and I think she would have carried on to win more,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15but...that could be her race career over.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19The sparrowhawk attack has not just affected Lady Blue,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23all of Mark's pigeons in the loft have been severely traumatised.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24Once mentally attacked like that,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27they're never going to forget that, never.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29So, you know, it's getting that confidence...
0:23:29 > 0:23:30And they're no different than humans.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33Some can handle the stress better than others.
0:23:33 > 0:23:34So, really, until we watch them,
0:23:34 > 0:23:38we're not going to know the full impact of damage of what it's done.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41This is a huge blow for Mark's comeback into racing,
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and it may have scuppered his chances of success
0:23:44 > 0:23:46for the entire season.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49You can't expect to win top-class competition
0:23:49 > 0:23:51with birds that aren't 100% right.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53We're just going to have to analyse it week by week
0:23:53 > 0:23:56to realise if we're going to enter them pigeons again.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05And finally to London, with Beans, our tomboy whippet.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09She's waiting for a new haute couture coat to arrive.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11I'm so excited.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15Designer Lilly hand-delivers it herself to Beans' owner,
0:24:15 > 0:24:16fashion model, Tuuli.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Oh, I love... I can't...
0:24:18 > 0:24:21- It's like... Oh, it's so amazing. - Oh, you should open it.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Oh, my God, the colour's amazing!
0:24:26 > 0:24:27TUULI GASPS
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Wow.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32Now, I've cut it slightly bigger so it doesn't restrict her running.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35- That's amazing.- But put it on her anyway, so she's got movement...
0:24:35 > 0:24:38- No, that's amazing, because she's... - ..and then, she's covered
0:24:38 > 0:24:41- as much as possible on her chest. - Fantastic. Oh, I love it.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45- It's so beautiful! - It's going to look gorgeous on her.
0:24:45 > 0:24:46Incredible.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49BEANS BARKS She's excited!
0:24:49 > 0:24:51- And the hat.- The hat.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53That is very cute.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55But what's rough-and-tumble Beans
0:24:55 > 0:24:59going to make of all this girly paraphernalia?
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Wow. She looks amazing!
0:25:02 > 0:25:05She's admiring herself in the mirror.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07I think the colour on her is so, so good,
0:25:07 > 0:25:09it really makes her stand out,
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and I think the fit, which is the main thing,
0:25:11 > 0:25:15the main point of having a bespoke coat, is just perfect for her.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16It just looks incredible.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19There's two loopholes for her ears to come through,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22so she can still hear.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24Oh!
0:25:24 > 0:25:26You look so chic.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29But what on earth does Beans make of it all?
0:25:29 > 0:25:31It's a cat!
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Tuuli's married to top fashion photographer Rankin,
0:25:34 > 0:25:37who's photographed the likes of Kate Moss and David Bowie,
0:25:37 > 0:25:41even the Queen. She's persuaded him to photograph Beans.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43- Come on.- So cute.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44Isn't it nice?
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- It's very pink. - TUULI LAUGHS
0:25:47 > 0:25:50It's good. It's very pink!
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I have to walk her sometimes, you know?
0:25:53 > 0:25:55So...no, it's good.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58It's beautiful - beautifully made.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01- Good girl. - You can see the detailing, Tuuli.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06A session with Rankin can cost up to £20,000.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Today, it's Beans' turn in the celebrity spotlight.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11OK...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13And I must say, from the way she's behaving,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17maybe she's OK with this ladylike thing after all.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21But as we know,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25I'm afraid there's more to Beans' outfit than just the coat.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27OMG.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Oh, my God.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31I like the jaunty angle.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34- I like it so it's, like, one ear... - The jaunty angle?
0:26:34 > 0:26:36- Yeah, the jaunty angle. I think that's quite good.- OK.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Let's get her in.
0:26:37 > 0:26:42If Beans can live with a jaunty pink bonnet, she can live with anything.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45That's so funny.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Good girl. What's this? What's this?
0:26:47 > 0:26:48Want a treat?
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Why do people like dressing up their animals so much?
0:26:53 > 0:26:54It's so strange.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56You said it.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59It seems dressing up our pets is actually a growing trend,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02to the tune of £30 million a year.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06I sometimes wonder if we've gone barking mad.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08She doesn't like that hat.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10OK. Let's take it off her.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14Beans has had enough for today, but as for Tuuli...
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Oh, that's lovely. Yay!
0:27:16 > 0:27:18That's amazing!
0:27:18 > 0:27:21I think the final images look fantastic. And...
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Particularly I really like the way that the pink stands out
0:27:24 > 0:27:26against Beans' fur, I think it looks really good.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I do think that she managed to behave herself
0:27:31 > 0:27:33reasonably well, and she...
0:27:33 > 0:27:37It wasn't too hard to get the shots, so I'm very happy.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43MUSIC: "The Girl From Ipanema" by Astrud Gilberto
0:27:43 > 0:27:48Back in the park, Tuuli seems to have what she's always desired.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50I definitely think that there's no question in anyone's mind
0:27:50 > 0:27:52that she's a girl.
0:27:52 > 0:27:53It's a pink coat.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56And she definitely looks more girly and ladylike in it, I think.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00I can always hope that it will have an effect on her personality,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04and maybe, one day, she might be more ladylike, fingers crossed.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09I'm not so sure, I think there might still be a tomboy glint in her eye.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Well, for now, it's good night from me.
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd