0:00:02 > 0:00:05As a nation, we are just potty about our pets.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Lunchtime!
0:00:06 > 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 > 0:00:17But you'll be amazed at the sometimes baffling lengths we go to for our pets...
0:00:17 > 0:00:18ALL: Hi!
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Dirty! That was silly, wasn't it?
0:00:21 > 0:00:24- ..the time... - Oh, that's lovely. Yay.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27..the money...
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- She looks like a princess!- She does.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32- ..not to mention the love. - Oh, yes, that's nice.
0:00:32 > 0:00:37So join me as I enter the extraordinary and often bizarre world
0:00:37 > 0:00:39- of our pedigree pals.- Hello!
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- Come on! In you come!- This week,
0:00:52 > 0:00:55the couple who gave up high-flying city jobs
0:00:55 > 0:00:58to breed alpacas.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59They are gentle animals.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03They're happy to come right up to you and just snuffle your face, have a good sniff.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Come on. Come on.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08We meet the UK's most passionate champions
0:01:08 > 0:01:10of these curious hairless cats.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12They're so intelligent, so clever.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15I could never go back to having a cat with fur.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18And with my new dog, Baz, still rather troubled,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21I call in a pedigree expert.
0:01:21 > 0:01:22Good boy.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24I'm hoping this last-ditch attempt
0:01:24 > 0:01:28will help me understand what makes him tick.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32- He's got quite a Collie-ish look, with his nose down, as well.- I know.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36- He's a big sniffer.- Yes.- Good boy.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42The world of alternative therapy is well known in humans,
0:01:42 > 0:01:44but you may be surprised to find
0:01:44 > 0:01:48that there are complementary therapists for pets, too,
0:01:48 > 0:01:53and they claim to be able to heal even relationship problems.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01We're in Brighton and the home of Ruth,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04a secretary with the RSPCA.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08Ruth just couldn't help bringing her work home with her.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12She owns a rescue parrot and a rescue dog,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16but the parrot and the dog really don't get on.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19# War! Huh! Yeah! #
0:02:19 > 0:02:20PARROT SQUAWKS, DOG BARKS
0:02:20 > 0:02:23- # What is it good for? - Absolutely nothing... #
0:02:23 > 0:02:26The whole situation with the two of them does worry me
0:02:26 > 0:02:30because I want it to be a happy, calm,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32relaxed environment for all three of us,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35and it isn't like that. PARROT SQUAWKS
0:02:35 > 0:02:40Okey-Dokey, the orange-winged Amazon parrot, was rescued first.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44I've had him for about 11 years. He is disabled, he can't fly.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47He's very much in love with me
0:02:47 > 0:02:51and he lets me stroke him and just do a little bit of grooming,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55which is what he'd be doing if he was in the wild with a female parrot.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57He thinks that I'm his wife,
0:02:57 > 0:02:59but I know that I'm just his carer.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01But recently, Rafiki,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04a five-year-old Tibetan Spaniel cross,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05came into their lives.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08He was found in a Spanish killing station,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12where stray dogs go into and unfortunately don't come out of.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16He was very lucky to be rescued and brought over to the local RSPCA,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18where we made friends.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23On his paw, there's an obvious round scar, and he also has one on his other paw.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27We don't know exactly what caused it, but they look like cigarette burns.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31We don't talk about the past, though. He doesn't want to hear about that.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Ruth's two damaged pets now compete for her affection
0:03:35 > 0:03:37and feathers fly when they're together.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Stay there. Good boy. That's a step up.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44What a good boy. Nobody's going to hurt you.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47PARROT SQUAWKS Nobody's going to hurt you.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Okey's definitely not as relaxed as he normally is.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52PARROT SQUAWKS Are you OK?
0:03:52 > 0:03:57Rafiki's showing a lot of interest. He's licking his lips, yawning, showing frustration.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I know that if I put them very close together,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03there would be an altercation.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- Ow!- Oh, dear!
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- And that's part of it. - Who's a naughty boy?
0:04:08 > 0:04:11He doesn't ever bite, erm,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14and he's obviously very upset about Rafiki being in the room.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Things would end tragically if they ever fought,
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and Ruth will try absolutely anything to improve matters...
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- Get over yourself. - ..even something that might be considered quite controversial.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26That hurt.
0:04:26 > 0:04:32She hopes the answer to the relationship problem lies here,
0:04:32 > 0:04:33at the home of Elizabeth,
0:04:33 > 0:04:37who calls herself a complementary animal therapist.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Plants are one of the techniques she uses,
0:04:40 > 0:04:44like the herb catnip here, that helps calm anxious cats.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48It's got a wonderful aroma. He's just relaxing with the catnip,
0:04:48 > 0:04:52and that's what we want for all our animals, to feel really relaxed.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56Elizabeth uses other novel methods to control animal behaviour...
0:04:56 > 0:04:57- Hello, Ruth.- Good morning!
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Hello, Rafiki! How are you?
0:05:01 > 0:05:04..and Ruth desperately hopes that these will do the trick.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08'It would be really lovely if the two of them could be having cuddles
0:05:08 > 0:05:10'and not be worrying about what each other's doing'
0:05:10 > 0:05:12and just be chilled out.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15But can Elizabeth's unusual methods
0:05:15 > 0:05:18heal the rift between Rafiki and Okey-Dokey?
0:05:18 > 0:05:24- We'll find out later. - # Sail away, sail away, sail away. #
0:05:29 > 0:05:34To Northumberland next, and the home of Mel and Mike.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Both were high-flying professionals,
0:05:36 > 0:05:39but gave up their careers to breed, of all things,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43these South American alpacas!
0:05:43 > 0:05:46When Mel suffered a serious injury 13 years ago,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49life changed forever.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51I was in a really low place with my back.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54I could hardly walk at the time, two lots of surgery,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57so it was a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59It was real therapy, if you like, for me,
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and a challenge to just get myself from the back door to the barn,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06just to be able to look at them, or to the field.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10What started as a hobby soon took over their lives.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Breeding these unusual animals
0:06:12 > 0:06:16only caught on in the UK in the early '90s,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20but Mel and Mike have fallen in love with the alpacas.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22They now have 50 of the darlings.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Everybody's attracted to alpacas just by... They look so cute, don't they?
0:06:26 > 0:06:30A lot of the attraction is their characters. They are gentle, intelligent,
0:06:30 > 0:06:34they're happy to come right up to you and snuffle your face, have a good sniff.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38In the breeding world, it's important to win competitions
0:06:38 > 0:06:42because a breeding alpaca with a string of rosettes to its name
0:06:42 > 0:06:45can be worth over £10,000 to a buyer.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47We'll start with these two girls.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50One of their herd, Gallica here,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52has a particularly prestigious pedigree
0:06:52 > 0:06:55and could hold the key to their future fortune.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59This girl is an Australian import called...
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Fallowfield Grand Flowerdale Gallica.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08Her sire is one of the top stud males in Australia.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11In just three days' time, Gallica and others
0:07:11 > 0:07:15will be competing at the prestigious Northumberland County Show.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Now, I don't mean to be rude, and I'm no expert,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21but this lot look a bit scruffy to me!
0:07:21 > 0:07:24This is the show team from hell at the moment, the way they look.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28They got caught in a very heavy storm yesterday and have rolled in the mud.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30They can only look better on show day than they do today!
0:07:30 > 0:07:33I'll keep my fingers crossed!
0:07:33 > 0:07:38To get them competition-fit, they're going to need an awfully big makeover.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Up! No, Leonore, it's not your turn yet.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43God, she's wet!
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Steady, steady, steady!
0:07:45 > 0:07:48There are only some 30,000 alpacas in the UK,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52but Mel and Mike will be up against many of the best breeders.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55The standard will be exceptionally high.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Chop, chop, chop.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- That's one eye done.- Gosh, yes, they do look better already.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04This will be Gallica's first appearance in the showring.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07She's never been on a lead before,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11but her walk will be a key part of the judging.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Gallica, she looks great when she's standing still,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17but walking, she'll pull, she'll not stand up straight.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21The quality of her fleece will also be really important,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24but she's going to have to behave well, too.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26There's a lot of work to be done here.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Gallica's always been a bit nervous
0:08:29 > 0:08:31so she may not walk well on the day, she may lie down.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34It might be a case of the wheelbarrow treatment.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Oh, dear, Gallica! You've got no chance if you do that at the show.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42- Well, this is going swimmingly well, isn't it?- Come on!
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- Come on.- Off you go. Keep going. - Come on. Obstacle course.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47It's just a matter of practise,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50but we're running out of time before the show.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52We've got about three days left to train her,
0:08:52 > 0:08:57so we'll be out there every day with the halter on, trying to get her to walk straight!
0:08:57 > 0:08:59We keep our fingers crossed, we stay positive.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00SHE LAUGHS
0:09:00 > 0:09:03You have to, otherwise there's no point in doing it!
0:09:03 > 0:09:07She's still got to hold her head up, but at least she's walking a lot straighter.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11We'll see how Gallica fares at the County Show later.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Now, in the cat world, there's little that divides taste more
0:09:15 > 0:09:19than the subject of hairless - or Sphynx - cats.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23It's definitely a case of love 'em or loathe 'em.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27# Black and orange stray cats sitting on a fence... #
0:09:27 > 0:09:32It's fair to say that although Sphynx cats are now an established breed at cat shows,
0:09:32 > 0:09:37some people just find them singularly unattractive.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42They look like a cross between a rat and an English bull terrier.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44I don't particularly find them good-looking cats.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- I think they look like ET. - He's got his cover off so you can see his head.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51ET, come home! And it wouldn't be my home, either.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55But meet Sphynx cat breeder Gary,
0:09:55 > 0:09:56who's devoted his life
0:09:56 > 0:09:59to convincing doubters that bald is beautiful.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Give her a cuddle, just like you would a baby.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03There you go.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05I don't think he likes me.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07THEY LAUGH
0:10:07 > 0:10:09He's like a greased pig.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13I prefer ones with fur.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Sorry about that!
0:10:15 > 0:10:20Gary's wife, Karen, is even more passionate about these hairless felines.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25They love having raspberries blown on their tummies and their bottoms smacked.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28They're so intelligent and so clever.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30I could never go back to having a cat with fur.
0:10:30 > 0:10:36At home in Suffolk, Karen and Gary share their house with eight Sphynx cats.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38All Sphynx can trace their ancestry
0:10:38 > 0:10:41to just two North American cats from the '70s
0:10:41 > 0:10:48that both had a rare but natural genetic mutation for hairlessness.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51When they first came out, they were called devil cats
0:10:51 > 0:10:55and people said they looked like defrosted chickens,
0:10:55 > 0:10:58and then when they hold them and feel them they say,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00"That ain't like we thought that was going to be."
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Beauty's in the eye of the beholder.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10CATS MEOW
0:11:11 > 0:11:14The cats are everything in our lives, really.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16They're spoilt rotten.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- We don't spoil them. - They get spoilt rotten!
0:11:20 > 0:11:23The cats found a special place in Karen's life
0:11:23 > 0:11:27after a tragic suicide devastated the family.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Our children have grown up.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31My son unfortunately died,
0:11:31 > 0:11:35and they've just taken the place of the children,
0:11:35 > 0:11:38and they just give us something to get up for every day and to get on with.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41They helped me get through a very difficult time.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43We've got to get on with life,
0:11:43 > 0:11:45and we did.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50Karen and Gary have poured their love into these cats for 22 years now.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53As one of the first Sphynx breeders in the country,
0:11:53 > 0:11:59they are passionately driven to pass on their love of them to new owners.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01There's a growing demand for hairless kittens,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04that typically can sell for £750,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06and they've just had a brand-new litter.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11They've only just been born. Within another couple of weeks, they'll be coming out of this box,
0:12:11 > 0:12:15running around like headless chickens.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- I try not to get attached to them... - You can't help it.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23..because I know they've got to go at the end of the time.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Today, a potential buyer - Stella and her friend Lewis -
0:12:26 > 0:12:28have come to see some of the older kittens.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- DOORBELL RINGS Hello!- Hello.- You must be Stella.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Come on in.
0:12:34 > 0:12:38I have only had regular, domestic moggy cats,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41which have been absolutely lovely, but I've always wanted a Sphynx cat.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43That's the smallest one.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- He's one of the younger ones. - Aww, so sleepy.- He's little Redboy.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51- Oh!- This is Ben. He's very loving.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54- Hello!- He's also very playful and affectionate.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59- This is Harvey. He's more of an outgoing boy. - I like his little ginger ears!
0:12:59 > 0:13:01But before Stella makes her choice,
0:13:01 > 0:13:05Karen and Gary feel they should go through some of the small print
0:13:05 > 0:13:08on the peculiarities of looking after bald cats.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12If you're having your tea, you might want to look away now.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16What you need to do, because they've got no hair in their ears,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20is to get a cotton bud just delicately inside there.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23That would be very, very black usually.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Still interested, Stella?
0:13:25 > 0:13:27The eyes, you need to lift down
0:13:27 > 0:13:30to see if they've got any sort of jelly mucus in there.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32And there's worse to come.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34The tail, he loves this...
0:13:34 > 0:13:36They tend to get blackheads,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40and you just squeeze them out, as you would with any blackhead.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- Like a perennial teenager.- Yes! - THEY LAUGH
0:13:43 > 0:13:46I don't know about you, but I'm feeling queasy.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49It's decision time for Stella.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52But after hearing the downsides, will she still want one?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I really like the character of this one.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59I think he's just got the most absolute gorgeous little character.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03- I have to say I do really love... - The ears.- ..the ginger ears.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07It's really beautiful. So I'll have a think. Not sure.
0:14:07 > 0:14:08They're both gorgeous, though.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12# You better get back, honky cat... #
0:14:12 > 0:14:13Stella can't make up her mind.
0:14:13 > 0:14:18Or do you think the blackheads have put her off altogether?!
0:14:18 > 0:14:20I'll expect to hear from you in the near future.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Sneezy cat!
0:14:22 > 0:14:23Bye-bye.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I think they'd make a very good home with the cats.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30I think if she has one, she'll be back for another, definitely.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32She's going to be addicted to them.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- Thank you.- That's all right. Been nice to meet you. Goodbye.
0:14:35 > 0:14:40A few days later, Stella chose Harvey, the kitten with ginger ears,
0:14:40 > 0:14:43and she's become their latest firm convert
0:14:43 > 0:14:46to loving hairless cats.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48MEOW!
0:14:50 > 0:14:52Oh, look!
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Daisy...
0:14:53 > 0:14:58'Over the years, my wife Anne and I have looked after many dogs.'
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- I mean, that is a divine picture. - I know.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06'But for two months now, our new rescue dog, Baz,
0:15:06 > 0:15:10'has been baffling us with his troubled, edgy behaviour.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12'He's very much at ease with Anne...'
0:15:12 > 0:15:14- He's being slightly playful.- Yes.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19'..but I'm sad to say that, for some reason, he seems very wary of me.'
0:15:19 > 0:15:21The dogs have always been MY dogs,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24because I go out on the course with them, walking and golfing,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28so he's the first one that hasn't been my dog.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Oh!
0:15:30 > 0:15:33'As well as the suspected previous ill treatment,
0:15:33 > 0:15:38'I'm starting to think that maybe there is something in his breeding that could explain his behaviour.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41'It's not just looks, but character too,
0:15:41 > 0:15:43'that's passed on in the bloodline.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48'To help me identify Baz's pedigree,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52'I've arranged to meet one of the country's foremost authorities on dog breeds
0:15:52 > 0:15:54'at my local golf course.'
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- Good morning!- Hello!
0:15:57 > 0:16:01- There we are.- He's lovely, Ronnie. - Yes, he is lovely.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04'Caroline has been The Kennel Club secretary for 13 years
0:16:04 > 0:16:07'and can spot a pedigree at 50 paces.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09'Baz is a mongrel,
0:16:09 > 0:16:15'but I'm hoping she can begin to deduce his ancestry by just looking at him.'
0:16:15 > 0:16:20The initial look of him is very much the sort of standard schnauzer.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24His running action and his legs and his tail and everything
0:16:24 > 0:16:27say something more houndy.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Yes, that, erm,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- almost a sort of a Collie type of influence, as well.- Yes.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36But the other thing that I find interesting is his ears,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39because that real tilted ear on there...
0:16:39 > 0:16:44- Yes.- ..that's quite Collie-ish. - Yes, that is. That's right.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48The Collie breeds, of course, are very, very busy dogs.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- They want to be out, running, doing something.- Yes.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56- But largely, of course, their job is to round up animals.- That's right.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- I can see that in him when he runs in the garden.- Yes.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01You know when a collie goes low
0:17:01 > 0:17:05and then starts running around with the tail hidden underneath?
0:17:05 > 0:17:09'I'm fascinated that there might be some collie in Baz,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12'along with the more obvious schnauzer.'
0:17:12 > 0:17:14- Good boy! - 'Time for us to take him for a walk
0:17:14 > 0:17:18'to see if that gives Caroline any more clues.'
0:17:18 > 0:17:23- He's got quite a Collie-ish look, with his nose down as well.- I know.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25- He's a big sniffer.- Yes.- Good boy.
0:17:25 > 0:17:31And, of course, a lot of the hunting breeds use their noses in the sort of way that he's doing,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34where he's really checking things out.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39'There's now an exciting new way to confirm whether Caroline's hunch about Baz's pedigree is right
0:17:39 > 0:17:42'and that's by testing his DNA.'
0:17:42 > 0:17:46Good boy. It's literally a little mouth swab
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- that takes some little cells from within his mouth.- Right.
0:17:50 > 0:17:51Good boy.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56'The swabs have to be sent to the United States to be analysed.'
0:17:56 > 0:17:59I think it'll be very interesting to see what comes back from this,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03because there are just so many possibilities within this little dog.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05I think we can all see the schnauzer in him,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09but there are quite a lot of different possibilities that could be there, as well.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12'I'm really eager to find out about Baz's ancestry,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15'and whether there really is any Collie lurking in him.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19'I hope it will help me to understand what makes Baz tick
0:18:19 > 0:18:21'and how we can make him better,
0:18:21 > 0:18:25'but we have to wait until next time to find out.'
0:18:29 > 0:18:32It's the Northumberland County Show,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36the biggest event in the calendar in these parts.
0:18:36 > 0:18:4030,000 people are expected, many proudly showing off their animals
0:18:40 > 0:18:44and hoping to win prestigious rosettes.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Going to get knocked over in the rush.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Former townies-turned- alpaca-breeders, Mel and Mike,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54have brought some of their prized animals to the show.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57All hopes are on Gallica, who has a top pedigree.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59I must say, I barely recognise them
0:18:59 > 0:19:02now they've had a rinse and blow-dry.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04Right, so far, so good. We've got the animals in.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08There are over 100 other alpacas entered into the competition,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12so the pressure is on for Gallica's first show.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- Lots of competition. - Lots of competition, really good.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18I'm always nervous at this point. He doesn't do nervous.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22- It takes its course and we will do all right. - I do nervous for us both, actually!
0:19:22 > 0:19:26It's Gallica's time to enter the judging ring in the Adult Female category.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30She's got aristocratic breeding, but she's quite headstrong.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Right, listen, Gallica, you've really got to behave yourself in the ring here.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37We don't want any of this Australian wildness.
0:19:37 > 0:19:42It's very windy out there, so I'm slightly worried about how they're going to react to the wind.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45Who knows, it could all go very badly wrong, actually!
0:19:45 > 0:19:48I'm getting nervous now.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52It's time for Gallica to be judged.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56And that includes her unruly behaviour.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Judging today is Nick,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04who was the first ever alpaca judge in the UK.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08On his farm, he has 1,000 alpacas of his own
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and is one of the biggest breeders in Europe.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15When the judge sees the animals walking in the ring, he's checking their gait,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18just checking that they don't have any conformational issues.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23Next, Nick checks the quality of Gallica's well-bred fleece.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28He's taking a fleece sample, they're putting it on their sleeves, comparing all of them.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32So he's checking the density, the brightness and the character, the crimp in it.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37- ANNOUNCER:- And 10,000 years ago, when the ancient Incans first domesticated them,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40they called this the Fleece of the Gods...
0:20:40 > 0:20:44He's looking for a thick, uniform, spotless coat.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47It's really important, because 60% of the marks in the judging
0:20:47 > 0:20:49are for the fleece.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53In the ancient Inca Empire,
0:20:53 > 0:20:58only royalty could wear clothes woven from the wool of an alpaca.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01I hope she calms down. Fingers crossed.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06The rest of the judging is down to how the alpaca looks and walks.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Judge Nick's looking for a beautifully proportioned animal.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13The problem I have with it is that it's slightly out of balance.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17Not much, and in an intermediate, you'd cut it some slack.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20They're making their decision. They're having their judges' conflab.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22I don't think we're getting it, though.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Judging over, it's time for the results.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31- Can you swap places, please?- Ooh! Is that a good sign or a bad sign?
0:21:32 > 0:21:35- Well done.- And what's this?
0:21:35 > 0:21:38That's red for first place and blue for second. Well done indeed.
0:21:38 > 0:21:43My goodness, Gallica is awarded first prize!
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- Well done.- To me, she looks no different from the others,
0:21:46 > 0:21:48but it's all in the fleece,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and her top pedigree breeding wins the day.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Gallica hasn't been easy, but she's quite chilled, she's calm,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58so I'm actually quite chuffed, actually.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00And she behaved, she walked.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- She was very good in the ring, after the concerns we had. - All our concerns.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08She walked really well in the ring. She stood beautifully, her head was up, her ears were up.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11She looked the part in the ring, which is absolutely great.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Finally, we're back in Sussex.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19Hello, my gorgeous!
0:22:19 > 0:22:25And it's all-out war between Ruth's parrot, Okey-Dokey, and her dog, Rafiki.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Desperate for any solution,
0:22:27 > 0:22:32she's brought them to see complementary animal therapist Elizabeth.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Okey really doesn't like having a dog jumping around him.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40Does he attempt to open his wings up at all when he's in the house?
0:22:40 > 0:22:45It is a bit of a sign of stress when they puff themselves up and put their wings out,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49so he has been doing that a little bit more recently.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Nothing's happened yet, but I'm fearful that if we don't sort it out now,
0:22:52 > 0:22:54something might happen.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58'We all want our animals to feel really good about themselves.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00'That's what I'm interested in,'
0:23:00 > 0:23:03is allowing animals to express themselves
0:23:03 > 0:23:07and be confident and be happy, because when they're happy, we're happy.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Would you mind looking after Okey-Dokey for me?
0:23:10 > 0:23:15With Okey out of the way, Elizabeth starts with Rafiki's therapy.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20So we're now just going to go into a relaxation session now.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23I'm just very gently now, Ruth,
0:23:23 > 0:23:25just stroking, building trust.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31The techniques that I'm using now, even with Morris as he is sat here,
0:23:31 > 0:23:36is that he's adapting to my relaxation as I'm adapting to his.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39So we're blending, we become one, because we are building up trust.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42We're building up this beautiful trust.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47Here goes Morris, in the moment, he can hear something in the bushes,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50and instinct now has taken over where he's just disappeared.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55I don't think Morris was properly in the moment.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Rafiki, on the other hand, is being more receptive.
0:23:58 > 0:24:03He's just gently closing his eyes now, just relaxing back.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- Looks like he's about to go to sleep. - Just letting go...
0:24:07 > 0:24:11- ..and letting go. - It's amazing how calm he is.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Balance in the body.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Elizabeth has no veterinary qualifications,
0:24:16 > 0:24:20so, by law, she's only allowed to give massage-type therapies
0:24:20 > 0:24:23and even then, a vet has had to give her the go-ahead
0:24:23 > 0:24:26to massage Rafiki.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29The greatest healer of all is the body itself.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31I'm not sure exactly what sort of healing
0:24:31 > 0:24:33is supposed to be going on here,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36but Rafiki's had a nice, little lie-down.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37Hello, Okey.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Now it's Okey-Dokey's turn for some alternative therapy.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43There's a good boy.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- Here we go. - Parrots can live to 75 years old,
0:24:46 > 0:24:50and Ruth thinks Okey is around 45,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53so what will this wise, old bird make of it all?
0:24:53 > 0:24:56How are you, handsome? I think he can sense me
0:24:56 > 0:25:01as we're just looking around, making contact.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06It may not look as if I'm doing anything, but we're building trust.
0:25:06 > 0:25:12I'm just enjoying this moment with your very, very special boy.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Hm... I wonder what he's thinking.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- PARROT SQUAWKS - OK, I respect that.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22He's gently taking this healing, which is really lovely.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26This may seem strange, but normally Ruth is the only one
0:25:26 > 0:25:28who can get this close to Okey-Dokey.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31You like Elizabeth, do you?
0:25:31 > 0:25:35- PARROT SQUAWKS - I like you, too.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39This is frankly a bit baffling to me,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41but there's more to come.
0:25:41 > 0:25:46- Good boy.- I want to create a camouflage for Okey.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51It's important that we have this beautiful foliage around him
0:25:51 > 0:25:56so he feels confident, he feels secure when we bring Rafiki in.
0:25:56 > 0:26:02It's time for the moment of truth when Rafiki is brought back into the room.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Goodness knows what's going to happen, but let's keep positive.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08We're going to come in now and, erm,
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- see how they get on. - PARROT SQUAWKS
0:26:11 > 0:26:14OK, Ruth, if you can just carry on being very relaxed.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18I'm just going to give Rafiki some wholesome treats.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Oh, dear! Early signs aren't looking promising.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- How's Okey? - He has had a bit of a flap.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28He knows Rafiki's in the room, but, erm...
0:26:31 > 0:26:35..I think he's doing OK. Good boy. PARROT SQUAWKS LOUDLY
0:26:35 > 0:26:37I don't really want to turn around, if that's all right?
0:26:37 > 0:26:39I'm just working with Rafiki here.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It's all about you.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45But before long, peace resumes.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Sit. Come on, darling, down, down.
0:26:49 > 0:26:50Well done, Rafiki.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52And for the first time,
0:26:52 > 0:26:57parrot and dog are in the same room without a big kerfuffle.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59That's better, isn't it?
0:26:59 > 0:27:01MUSIC: Clocks by Coldplay
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I'm not sure that you can change millions of years
0:27:04 > 0:27:08of predator-prey evolution quite so easily,
0:27:08 > 0:27:12but Elizabeth and Ruth seem to think the session has been a success.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15PARROT COOS It's OK.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Okey was really beginning to get very confident,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and you could see this because he was starting to
0:27:22 > 0:27:24puff up his neck and his chest.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26Good boy.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31With Rafiki, I saw a side of him just starting to open up.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34He's been through a very tough time. He's got a lot of armour.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38'I felt that he was starting to...'
0:27:38 > 0:27:42reveal himself as the real Rafiki.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46- Are you pleased with that first session?- Yes, I'm very pleased.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I'm feeling a little bit more confident
0:27:49 > 0:27:52that we're going to be able to get through this as a family.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Say thank you.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57'I'm thrilled with what we've achieved so far.'
0:27:57 > 0:27:58Thank you.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Both those animals have gone away feeling good about themselves.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- OK, bye-bye now.- Bye-bye, all of you. - Come on then, Raf!
0:28:05 > 0:28:10I think this could definitely be the start of a gentle friendship.