After last week's opener, in which Martin Clunes (pictured) discovered where dogs came from and why they hooked up with man, he looks more closely at the relationship. What did man get out of the deal, and what's happened to our relationship with dogs today?
These days most people - including Clunes - keep dogs as companions and not much else. But when the first dogs came scavenging round the edges of human society, a key discovery was made. It transformed our relationships with them: we could train dogs far more that any other animal.
Having failed to train his own six-month black labrador, Clunes drives north to the Cumbrian fells to see expert dog training in action. He meets shepherd and border collie trainer Derek Scrimgeour. Derek explains how - through centuries of breeding and training - the inner wolf instinct to kill has been harnessed.
In the remote snowbound Rocky Mountains in the middle of winter, a dog's nose can make the difference between life and death. Clunes meets search-dog handlers Colette Daigle-Berg and Bonnie Gaffney, and takes part in a training exercise with search dog Sula. After Martin is buried alive high up a hillside under 3ft of snow, Sula is released and sent to sniff him out. It's impressive how quickly she tracks him down and digs him out - much to Clunes's relief.
But there's a darker side to our relationship with dogs. In the modern world we can lose sight of dog's needs and instincts. Clunes visits a London dog boutique and discovers that the canine retail industry is huge and growing phenomenally. And while a lot of it may be harmless if expensive fun, some owners' eccentric whims are not healthy.
Worse than that, though, is what we've done to dogs through selective breeding. We used to breed different dogs for different jobs, and it was a given that they should be fit and healthy. But some of those jobs have long since disappeared, and those breeds only survived by being remoulded into cuddly household pets. Clunes visits bulldog breeder Alison Barnsby to discover how the British bulldog got its extraordinary shape: it was originally tailor-made to be good at baiting bulls and bears for our entertainment.
Fortunately we're not allowed to bait bulls anymore. But now the bulldog has been transformed into a fashion accessory instead - and its new, more extreme designer shape has caused terrible problems for the breed. In the dog museum in Tring, vet Bruce Fogle explains how nearly half of all modern bulldog pups have such wide shoulders that they have to be born by caesarean section.
Many other breeds have also inherited terrible genetic problems, thanks to our breeding practices: 40 per cent of Cavalier King Charles spaniels suffer from a brain prolapse - it falls out the back of the skull into the spinal column. They're also prone to epilepsy and heart disease.
Despite the terrible problems of selective breeding, dogs still prosper from their relationship with humans. That's because we care for them and look after them. But what would have happened to dogs if they hadn't got together with humans?
To answer that final question, Clunes heads to Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania, to see one of the most ancient canines on the planet: the African wild dog. It doesn't accept humans as substitute members of its pack. As a result, we've hunted it down and killed it as vermin, and driven it to the edge of extinction. There are less than 4,000 left in the wild.
In Mkomazi, conservationist Tony Fitzjohn runs a captive breeding programme for the wild dogs, to try to replenish their numbers in the wild. Clunes helps Tony as he releases six males and two females into the bush for the first time, and sees for himself how this animal's pack exclusivity is different from other canines. What can we learn from this ancient and endangered creature?
Dear Martin, Your programme and presentation was delightful and I was impressed by the humility in which you participated in this show. I much relate to many of the things you discuss as I live in the pack. There is no greater joy than to discover the remarkable intelligence behind the evolution of having raised 6 generations of the same lineage. The intelligence from the first dog to the 6th is very different. I dearly wish to discuss this with yourself, as I am sure you will find my discoveries most interesting. Kind regards and affection from a fellow dog lover. Mercia
September 14th - 12:57pmMR LES PRESCOT said...
Hi Martin I dont know if you will see this message but a help out at a pet- rescue due to the cridit crunch we have seen dontions stop but at the same time more pets need our help due to evictions. we are a registed charity please if you can take alook at our website and if you can help in any way or know any one who can offer any think we are greatfull for any think pet food ,dontions any think from £2.00 amonth our site is www.pet-rescuecharity.co.uk thank you for reading this
September 8th - 12:59pmLynn Thompson said...
Hi Martin
I so very much enjoyed your programme, watching you with your dogs tells me you care as much as my husband and i do about ours,which is quite exceptional, all six are rescued, they are our life and we love them very much, thank you for your wonderful programme and thank you for letting us share in your lovely family.
Kind Regards
Lynn Thompson
September 7th - 9:48amBarry Bowman said...
Hi Martin, Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed your programme one man and his dogs, brilliant, we have submitted a picture of our little dog Molly, who is a rescue dog, don't you think she looks like the dingo on the Australian beach.
Kind regards
Barry Bowman
September 7th - 9:17amBarry Bowman said...
Hi Martin, Really enjoyed your programme, thought you would like to see photos of our dog Molly, we thought she was the image of the dingo on the Australian beach
i love that show and i love dogs(my border collies 4 certain!!!!)
September 3rd - 7:46pmE. Jane McDougall said...
Brilliant programme, Martin, and what enthusiasm!! However, well said Ray Johnson re- deformities of the modern day bull-dog, dogs used for bull-baiting were a totally different type than that which we see today. Incidentally, bull-baiting was outlawed during the 19th century and the type used to bait bulls became extinct. The modern day bull-dog is, in my opinion, a human genetically engineered breed.
September 2nd - 4:12pmbev grubb said...
we loved one man and his dogs but were disapointed not to have any explanation as to how over the years that wild dogs ended up lookig as they do in our homes today, how did they enginier a poodle or a bull dog? would love to know?
September 2nd - 2:43pmKay Grainger said...
Re: Martin and his dogs. I have never met a man who showed so much love for dogs, but all through both programmes I could'nt help but compare him to my friend Eileen, who has spent many many moons taking in rescue dogs and the love she has for them. I just wish they could meet so I could listen to their conversation.
Hi martin, after watching you fantastic programme a man and his dogs, it really hit home hw much you love your dogs and how you could make a difference to the charity i work for, we are a small animal charity in North wales and we rehome over 1000 domestic animals per year, mainly being dogs and cats. i would really appriciate any support that you can give us, if its a prize for our auction of promises in October, or for you to visit us and support our charity. Please take a look on our website for more details, I look forward to hearing from you soon
All the best and i think your documentary was fantastic.
many thanks
Nicky Owen
Fundraiser
North Clwyd Animal Rescue (reg. Charity No 515195)
September 1st - 11:43amRay Johnson said...
I think Martin allowed himself to be conned by a bulldog breeder. All this nonsense about why the dogs are undershot, why the facial wrinkles, and so on is regularly trotted out by bulldog breeders to explain why they are producing monstrosities. It does not require a great deal of research to discover that bulldogs of old, and in the days when they were fighting dogs, were quite a different shape to the deformed poor creatures of today.
September 1st - 11:39amRay Johnson said...
His dogs are described as pampered pets. If so why does he feed them on a handful of dry biscuit as we saw in the second programme? Do they get the same thing every day? They can not possibly get a well balanced diet this way. There are cheap meats available at the supermarket (especially when the sell-by date has just been reached)Just boil up chicken legs, turkey thighs, liver, shin beef or other cheap meats, remove from the bone and add to an equal quantity of fusili,or all-in-one meal soaked in the liquor, and carrot or greens. It doesn't take a lot of effort and gives the dogs variety.
August 31st - 11:09pmPam Archer said...
A much needed dogumentary,the list would be endless to say why, top of the list for me would be to educate some members of the human race that we are not the only speices to have basic survivle needs but unfortunatly for some its not even basic. The documentary could have so much more scope for what Martin obviously is so passionatlty about.
August 29th - 4:49pmroger said...
martin clunes programme was great
August 27th - 12:17pmFrom Poppy the Dog said...
Following your interesting programme on Sunday evening, I would like to comment about my owner/companion: "no matter how much she paid, no matter how long her pedigree, I am living with a monkey"
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