For The Love Of Dogs With Alison Hammond Season 13 Epissode 02
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs is a British documentary in which comedian Paul O'Grady follows the work of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. In each episode the cameras follow Paul as he leaves his home to help rehome some of Battersea's Dogs.Year started: 2012
Country: UK
IMDB rating: 8.6
Categories: Documentary
Stars: Paul O'Grady Shaun Opperman Marc Baylis
Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs is a British documentary in which comedian Paul O'Grady follows the work of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. In each episode the cameras follow Paul as he leaves his home to help rehome some of Battersea's Dogs.Year started: 2012
Country: UK
IMDB rating: 8.6
Categories: Documentary
Stars: Paul O'Grady Shaun Opperman Marc Baylis
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Ah, being young is a wonderful thing. It's about discovery, identity and not having a care in the
00:13world. That is unless you've had a tough start. This week we go all out to help a young lurch
00:28across struggling to trust. Oh, she's gone here. It's amazing. A spaniel pup in search of a special
00:35kind of home. Oh, he's working for that food. Look at that. Alison Spielberg in the house.
00:41Well done, buddy. And I venture into feline territory to help a young cat in a fight to
00:48survive. My sled just breaks my heart just looking at her. Over in Kennels, four-month-old
01:00Cocker Spaniel Woody might be small, but he's quite the lively one.
01:05The big stuff. Who do you think you are? Hannah Georgie has been caring for him. Oh, look
01:15at this little bundle of energy. Oh, I'm going to have to take my coat off for this little
01:18one, ain't I? Hello. This is little Woody. Hi, Woody. Oh, my goodness. He's so excited.
01:24Oh, I like the name, Woody. Woody. So he was found in Woodland at six weeks old when he came
01:28into us. Oh, who would leave you, eh? I know. You're so lovely, aren't you? Look at him.
01:35Oh, he's adorable. He's very excitable, so he needs to go to an appropriate home, really,
01:41because this is his second stay at Battersea. Oh, stop it. He hasn't been returned. Yeah,
01:45bless him. Is it because we've got this energy going on? Basically, yeah. Is that the reason?
01:49So he got rehomed. They just couldn't cope with how much energy and things he had. I mean,
01:52when you think about it, he's been through a lot, hasn't he? He was found in the wood, he's been
01:57here, then he's been to a home, then he's come back here. He's sweet, isn't he? He looks
02:00a little baby. Cocker Spaniels are a working breed, so without a job to do or toys to play
02:07with, they can quickly become wrestlers. He's starting to be naughty now. Are you being
02:12naughty? He's only four months old, so he's still
02:14at his sort of, like, mouthing face. Oh, he's lovely. So we'll get him some toys and stuff.
02:17He's your dinosaur. Is that your toy? So, second stay, so we don't want this to be a regular
02:22thing, do we? Exactly. So we're going to explore working homes for him, so Spaniels as
02:26breeds are really good at using their noses. So because he's got so much energy, we're
02:30going to go out to see if he's got it in him sort of mentally to be a sniffer dog, really.
02:33The only thing, he hasn't sniffed out that I've got some chicken.
02:36Give him time. He hasn't sniffed that out. Oh, yeah.
02:39Look what I've got here. Have you seen this? It's here.
02:43He's just smiling the chicken. It's right here, babes. I don't know what you're looking over
02:48there for. Look, what's up here? It's right here. What's this? It's right here. What's this?
02:55Yay!
02:57You clever thing. I think he'd be a great sniffer dog. But it did take a while, babes. So we've
03:05definitely got our work cut out at Sniffer Dog Training School. It's not always easy to
03:14find a new direction, especially if you're a little unsure of the world. In the chilly
03:20hours and minutes of uncertainty I want to be. Over in the paddock, six-month-old lurch-across
03:30Rita is struggling in her new surroundings. To feel you all around me and to take your
03:39hand. And he's scared of, well, pretty much everything. You a bit too worried? The handlers
03:45often set up cosy, safe spaces in these situations. Hope Rita doesn't mind my gate
03:51crashing. And catch the wind. Hiya. Hi, Ellie. How you doing? Good, thank you. So this
03:59is little Rita. And she's come in just because of a change in owner circumstances. She's
04:05really wary, isn't she? Exactly. Because of lurchers being quite worried dogs in general,
04:10it might just be that she will need a little bit more time. Aw, she's so gentle with you.
04:16Lurchers can sometimes be sensitive. And for Rita, this means she struggles when meeting
04:21new people. Hello. Would you like to come say hello? Not yet. She's very worried at the moment.
04:27So she might not have had, like, a lot of life experience and she's just basically getting
04:31used to so many different things. So what sort of training are you going to put her through?
04:35So we'll probably do a lot of, like, confidence building bits with her. But then we'll also
04:39do some training with her meeting new people. Yeah. Yeah. Aw, she's gorgeous. You are beautiful.
04:45What do you think I could do to get to know her better? So I think it would be a lot of going
04:51at her pace, but definitely some chicken. Well, it just so happens. What's that? Will you take
04:59some chicken from me yet? Or no. What about if I put it here? And some chicken. There you go.
05:07Take your time, babe. I've got all day. She's nervous. Oh, she's coming close. Oh. Come here. Hi. Oh, my God.
05:15It's amazing what a bit of grub can do. Bye-bye. But hopefully next time Rita will be just a little bit braver.
05:23Take a little time to smile. Make a little thing worthwhile. So smile.
05:32I'm a firm believer in going at your own pace. Look what I've got for you.
05:38Especially when you've fallen on hard times.
05:43Over in the cattery, one-year-old Mel was found a few weeks ago badly injured.
05:51Vet Laura has been caring for her.
05:55So this is Mel. She came in to us a couple of weeks ago from a local vet's
06:00where they suspect she was involved in some sort of major trauma.
06:04Looking at her injuries, you'd suspect it can be from sort of hitting a car
06:09and the tyre going over her from sort of the pattern on her back.
06:13I can see this is major, isn't it? She's lost some hair on this side as well.
06:18Yeah. And she had an injured eye, which you can tell that we've unfortunately had to remove.
06:23Poor thing. I can show you a photo of the eye from before.
06:27Oh, look how swollen it was. It's completely gone, hasn't it?
06:31Oh, gosh, she looks so sad there.
06:34She did have a couple of fractured ribs.
06:36So I'll zoom in and you can see the small fracture lines on them ribs there.
06:41One, two, three ribs fractured. Yes.
06:44That must have been so frightening for her. Imagine her going through that.
06:48She was on a lot of pain relief when she came to us initially.
06:50She is due her spray on her wound to help healing, so we can do that now.
06:57Just a little spray, my love.
07:01The antibacterial spray should keep the wound free from infection.
07:07Lovely.
07:08Done very well. She's doing really well.
07:10I mean, would you say she's out of the woods yet?
07:13She's still got a little way to go, so we're still monitoring her wounds really closely.
07:18Honestly, it just breaks my heart just looking at her. It really does.
07:22Caring is a full-time job round here.
07:25Whether it's a cuddle in the sunshine or bedtime stories with the Hammond.
07:31Sweet buddy, let your worries all flee.
07:34Or being a non-stop treat dispenser.
07:37The chicken always gets them.
07:41For Woody, it's keeping his curious mind busy.
07:45And today, we're finding out if he has sniffer dog potential.
07:53Behaviourist Nate is helping with his training.
07:56How are you doing, Woody?
07:57I heard he's going to be the next big thing.
07:58Do you think?
07:59Yeah.
08:00So, do you think he could be a working dog?
08:01Absolutely, but obviously for working at this age, it could be a little bit too young.
08:17Really?
08:18But I think we're both here today to find out.
08:20Jake's asked me to film Woody's training, which he'll then send on to various organisations that use sniffer dogs.
08:28I've got this.
08:29Just call me Alison Spielberg.
08:31Okay.
08:32I'm ready.
08:33You're ready?
08:34I'm ready too.
08:35The first thing that I want to see is if he's able to actually chase those toys.
08:40Oh, there he is.
08:41That's a very good sign from the beginning.
08:43That was a very good sign.
08:48There he is.
08:49Perfect.
08:50Oh, lovely.
08:51Even this movement, it's actually important.
08:52He's exploring around and he's got so many things to look at and he's confident enough
08:56to go.
08:57Can I just say, Nate, you look great on camera.
08:59Oh, thank you.
09:01Anyway, back to the matter in hand.
09:04So, the toy's got Woody's attention, but what about Grub?
09:08Okay.
09:09So, already, he's willing to work for the food that I have in my hand.
09:16Oh, he's working for that food.
09:17Look at that.
09:18Look at the speed and the intensity he's displaying.
09:20Look at that.
09:21Oh, lovely.
09:22That's very good.
09:23Now, for him to make a tiny bit more effort, I'm going to place the food up here.
09:30Because this one, you'll actually be able to note it.
09:32Sniff it out.
09:33Exactly.
09:34There he is.
09:35See that?
09:36Yeah, I can see.
09:37Well done, buddy.
09:38What's interesting is seeing when he's actually working, he actually calms down.
09:44Yeah.
09:45Exactly.
09:46And that's purely because that's his genetic makeup.
09:48He's built for that type of things.
09:50So, who do you think will take our Woody on?
09:53I mean, there's all sorts of areas where he could go, but the police department, the
09:57Ministry of Defence.
09:58But from what we've seen from him today, generally, it comes natural for him.
10:02So, what's next now?
10:03So, after you edit those videos and you're going to pass them over to me so I can send
10:07them to those outlets, we'll just continue to work with him and improve his abilities.
10:12Yeah.
10:13And then, once someone comes and has a look at him, he'll be more prepared than he is
10:16right now.
10:17Lovely.
10:18While I leave Woody getting his nose stuck into everything...
10:28Rita is still wary of new things and new people.
10:32Is it scary?
10:36So, I've spread the chill-out room with goodies to entice her to make friends.
10:42Hello.
10:43Oh, I've got some food here for you.
10:45Do you want some food?
10:46So, because she's quite foodie, this will hopefully build up her confidence around
10:49people and it puts less pressure on her.
10:51Look how close she's coming to me.
10:53Exactly.
10:54Licking can simulate calming as well, so this is probably quite nice for her.
10:57Yeah.
10:58She's a proper foodie, isn't she?
10:59She's like me.
11:00So, this will help her brain to keep her busy while she's around strangers and getting
11:04used to people.
11:05She just took my food.
11:06See, she's getting braver and braver each time.
11:08I'll go gently down here.
11:09Look at this for you.
11:11Yeah.
11:12Oh, I feel like we're becoming friends.
11:15And then we'll do this similar set-up as well with other strangers and she'll know there's
11:19nothing to be scared of really in the end.
11:21Yeah.
11:22Well, she's doing a good job right here and now.
11:24Yeah, she's definitely getting the hang of things, I think.
11:28Here you go.
11:29Here you go.
11:34Here you go.
11:35Baby Steps is definitely the way to go with Rita.
11:39We're one step away from that big cuddle.
11:43For every rescue, the ultimate goal is finding the perfect forever home.
12:02And if Woody's going to become a sniffer dog, we need to show he has star potential.
12:11Okay.
12:12This is where all my editing skills come into play because I've got to make this video
12:18absolutely perfect.
12:19Okay.
12:20I'm going to put a banging track on there.
12:22Do you like this?
12:23Yes.
12:24Yes.
12:25Yes.
12:26Cheese those toys.
12:27I think I'll edit there.
12:28Oh, there he is.
12:30Yes, Woody.
12:31Look at the speed and the intensity he's displaying.
12:34Yes, Naik.
12:35Yeah, you're doing a great job.
12:36Well done, buddy.
12:37Just call me Woody's Mummy Jack.
12:40Send me.
12:41Watch me now!
12:43So happy.
12:44I think I've absolutely smashed it.
12:46I mean, literally, what would he do without me?
12:49Rita's also been getting lots of help to bring her out of her shell.
12:55Today we're going to continue with her confidence building and have a bit of fun as we go.
13:10She's found the lucky mat already.
13:12I think that's one of her favourites.
13:13We know she's a foodie, don't we?
13:15Yes, we do.
13:16But she's quite happy moving around the environment by herself, so she's definitely getting a bit more confident.
13:20Yeah.
13:21Oh, do you think you can go in the tunnel?
13:24Agility tunnels are great for building confidence, but cardboard boxes lined up would work just as well.
13:32Oh, she's gone in.
13:33She's getting a lot braver.
13:34Oh, hold on.
13:35Yeah.
13:37Rita!
13:38Rita, look.
13:39There's one.
13:40It's nice that she's even taken it from me, to be fair.
13:42Yeah.
13:43That's a big sign, because if she was too worried, she probably wouldn't want the food at all.
13:46Oh, wow.
13:47She's following the chicken you threw in.
13:49That's amazing.
13:50Yeah.
13:51See, look how happy she is to go through that tunnel now.
13:53Oh, wow.
13:54Oh, look, she trusts me.
13:55Good girl.
13:56Hello.
13:57Good girl.
13:58Have you seen what's going on?
14:00Shall I go and get the blue tunnel?
14:01Because it's a little bit longer.
14:03I think that would be fun.
14:04Okay, I'll go and get it.
14:05Oh.
14:06Oh, she's following you.
14:07She's very interested.
14:09Look at this.
14:14Wow.
14:18You go through there.
14:20Rita.
14:22Ready?
14:23Get it.
14:24That's not quite the route we were hoping for, but you've got to keep persevering.
14:30Rita.
14:31Yeah.
14:32I mean, she might not have done the whole blue one, but look how far she's come, Ellie.
14:37Like, she would never have done that the first day I met her.
14:40Well done, Rita.
14:41Rita's come such a long way, and we're getting there, slowly.
14:46It's been a few days since I met Mel.
14:47There's a bit of magic in a simple little smile.
14:48The veterinary team have been treating her wounds with antibacterial cream.
15:04But today we're going to do something that should help speed up the healing.
15:11Today we're going to laser her back leg wounds.
15:13And what does the laser do?
15:14So, it promotes tissue oxygenation, which means that the cells and the skin can heal quicker
15:20and better.
15:21And that's exactly what we need, isn't it?
15:23Right, darling.
15:24So, do you want to come over here?
15:26Give me some love?
15:27Okay, let's go over here, darling.
15:28I know, I know.
15:29Male's not keen on goggles, so a facer away from the light.
15:34But for me, it's the finest designer eyewear.
15:37Goggles on, men in black time.
15:39There we go.
15:40I'm ready.
15:41Are we going to do it for two minutes?
15:42We do, yes.
15:43She's a good girl, isn't she?
15:45Just sitting there.
15:46Laser therapy increases circulation to the injured tissue, helping it to repair quicker.
15:53So, that light is literally over the wound.
15:58It is.
15:59It's okay, it's okay.
16:00Look how good she is.
16:01Look at her little foe.
16:02She's just chilling out, having her little laser done.
16:05She tolerates her a lot more than some other patients probably would, yeah.
16:08Really?
16:09Three, two, one.
16:11She's done it.
16:12Well done, Mel.
16:14She did so well, didn't she?
16:16She did.
16:17Go on, do you want to go and have a play?
16:19Come on.
16:21Oh, look.
16:22Oh, look.
16:23She's happy as Larry.
16:24You wouldn't believe she's been in some sort of car accident.
16:27I told you one day I'd find someone to care.
16:36Sometimes the residents here really do amaze me.
16:42And Woody's up there with the best of them.
16:45His showreel must have impressed, because the Ministry of Defence had been in touch.
16:51They don't usually take dogs as young as Woody, so it's time for a pep talk.
16:55Right, listen.
16:57You're about to meet the MOD.
16:59Andy and Stu, OK?
17:01They're going to be watching every move.
17:03But listen, this is serious that we make a good impression, OK?
17:07Woody, look at me, Woody.
17:09You've got this, all right?
17:10Hello.
17:11Hello, you all right?
17:12Hey, Woody.
17:13Nice to meet you.
17:14How you doing?
17:15Yeah, good, thank you.
17:16What are you going to do with him today, then?
17:17So, a little bit different to what we would normally do for an older dog.
17:20We're going to just do some basic retrievals to see if he'll just come back with a toy,
17:23just see if he's got the energy and instinct to go for the toy.
17:26OK, all right.
17:27I'll let you do your thing.
17:29I feel like a nervous mum watching.
17:35If I had a boy, would he?
17:36Good, he had.
17:37He's doing really good.
17:41He's distracted with the slide.
17:43Oh yeah, he's smiling.
17:44Can you see the sniffing?
17:45Imagine if that was drugs.
17:46Do you know what I mean?
17:48Sniffing it out.
17:49What a boy.
17:50Signing.
17:51Yeah, he's confident for such a young boy.
17:55Definitely got a favourite toy.
17:56He has.
17:57He likes that ball.
17:58Woody's now the retrieval.
18:00Well, for the tennis ball at least.
18:02But he's not bad for four months old.
18:06So, what sort of work do you think he'll be doing if he does past this stage?
18:10So, if he's successful, he could go to the wider army or to the RAF.
18:15Oh, wow.
18:16But because he's so nice and soft, he could be a drug detection dog.
18:19I mean, guys, I don't want to put you under any pressure or anything,
18:22but the big question is, would you like to take Woody?
18:28Um, yeah, I think we will.
18:30Yeah, we'll take him on trial, yeah.
18:31Really?
18:32Yeah, he's got plenty about him.
18:33He's super confident around people.
18:34Loves his toy.
18:35Like, he's got lots of retention on the ball.
18:37So, that's all good signs.
18:39Oh, I'm so happy.
18:40Can I hug you?
18:41If you will.
18:42Thanks.
18:43Oh, this is wonderful news.
18:44Yeah.
18:45So, he's going to have the best life ever.
18:47He'll have a great life, yeah.
18:48See you later, Woody.
18:49Oh, I'm going to miss you.
18:51My work here is done.
18:54And just a few weeks later,
18:56at the Defence Animal Training Regiment near Leicester,
19:00Woody's work continues and he's loving every second.
19:04Woody's getting on really well.
19:05He's a little superstar.
19:06He's took to it like a duck to water.
19:08And we've actually moved him on to early search stages.
19:10The Kong's his toy of choice.
19:12We pretend to hide it round him in little places
19:14and then we'll let him go through and search for the Kong.
19:17Good boy, Woody!
19:19He's even made friends with a big German Shepherd,
19:22Maddie Cross, called Sonja.
19:23And they love going out and playing together.
19:25What are you doing?
19:28If he continues to progress as he is now,
19:31he will then go through his life as a search dog
19:34for up to six, seven years.
19:36And then, most likely, he'll retire with one of his handlers
19:40and settle down to be a pet at the end of the day.
19:43Sounds like a great life ahead.
19:50Back at Battersea, there's also some great news for our mouth.
19:56She's now thriving in the cattery.
19:59Oh, she's purring.
20:01Honestly, I can't believe her wounds are so much better.
20:04That laser is incredible.
20:07She's going to make a really lovely pet cat for someone.
20:10Oh, absolutely.
20:12And just four weeks later, Mal's now found the perfect home
20:16with Cameron and Abby in South London.
20:19I think we could immediately tell when we brought her back
20:22how grateful she was to just be in her place.
20:25Like, straight away, she was jumping on furniture, jumping on her bed.
20:29She is a solid part of the family.
20:32She's warmed her way into our hearts very quickly.
20:35Ooh, honey bun.
20:36Ooh, honey bun.
20:37You're the only one.
20:39I should say, stay safe, Mal.
20:42Ooh, ooh.
20:48Rita's been at Battersea three weeks now.
20:51And with her newfound confidence...
20:53Good girl.
20:54..she's ready for a new home.
20:57Ooh, I'm loving her good name Rita.
21:01..but she's not going anywhere without a last visit from yours truly.
21:04truly. Are you coming up now? Well, she's a lot more confident. Oh, isn't it lovely when they
21:09change? It is. She's even letting me have a little stroke. Oh, it's beautiful. And finally taking
21:17food from my hand. I think she's ready to find a new home now. Oh, absolutely. And it didn't
21:23take Rita long to find one. She now lives with Rob in Surrey. Rita's doing amazing. Just settled
21:33in like she's always lived here. I'm an artist. So Rita has become my studio assistant. Not
21:38quite a critic. My studio is at the end of the garden of my house. So she has free reign
21:45of the garden. And yeah, she's a joy. She knows how to get away. That's for sure. We ridiculously
21:55love her already. My wife messages me all day. How's Rita doing? What's she been up to? Yeah,
22:00it's actually worse than when we had the kids. We've definitely lucked out. Haven't we
22:05missed? A very precious love. And it looks like she has too. Happy days ahead, Rita.
22:15you