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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Dog winning BGT

40 replies

CalamityKate · 14/05/2012 12:49

Just musing, really.

Given that there was reportedly a huge rise in demand for Dalmatian pups when the "101 Dalmatians" films came out, what do we think will be the result of Pudsey's win, if any?

Is it good for crossbreeds, because it shows people that it isn't only purebreds that can be trained to do all sorts of things?

Or will it lead to a rise in unscrupulous crossbreeding ("these puppies are the same breed as the BGT winner!!")

Apparently Pudsey has already sired a litter (to a BC mum). I bet his owner will be offered ££££s by people queueing up to let Pudsey at their bitch.

Or is BGT small fry compared to a Disney movie?

OP posts:

clam · 14/05/2012 13:25

Whilst I can see there might be a demand for any pups Pudsey himself might sire (and as you say, he already has, but those pups are already homed I presume) I can't really see a huge rise in demand for dogs exactly like him because he's a mix of 3 breeds, I believe. How could you easily replicate that? It's hard enough with the half and half ones, e.g. poodle crosses.

That said, I have to point out that, colour aside, he does look quite a lot like my cockapoo!

The most heart-warming thing about this act was how happy and well-cared-for he seems to be. I'm not normally a fan of performing dogs, but he looked llike he was having a blast and I can't believe that Ashleigh would ever have anything but his best interests at heart.

TheCunnyFunt · 14/05/2012 13:50

I'm actually a little cross at Ashleighs parents. I know he was given to her a few years ago now but on the clip of her recieving him, he's in a tiny cardboard box that you can't see any airholes in! Couldn't they have put him in a cat carrier and stuck a bow on or something?

Anyway, you could be right Kate, I can imagine it now, websites (like Pets4homes for example) will be overrun with adverts "For sale, Pudsey look-a-likes etc". He looks a lot like Paul O'Gradys old dog Buster, I think he was a Bichon Frise X Shi Tzu. I think. What breeds is Pudsey?

multipoodles · 14/05/2012 14:10

Pudsey is already a UK agility champion, has been passported and has represented UK overseas. His pups were breed within the agility community and are well placed in homes for exactly what they were bred for. This is not unheard of in agility circles. Of course back yard breeders will leap on the bandwagon, but dogs like Pudsey are trained not born like that. He is a Border Collie/Bichon Frise/Chinese Crested cross. He has an awful jaw, if you looked closely during some shots it is very undershoot, coming I imagine from the CC as they can have bad dentation. All said, he is fantastically trained and Ashleigh has put in enorous work with him, this she didn't acheive overnight in her back garden. A long career in agility was the first step in their career. I wish them all the sucess in the world, and I think she wants to go into business training dogs for TV and film. :)

TheCunnyFunt · 14/05/2012 14:22

He is amazing, I still find it hard to believe that she is just 16 and has trained him to such a high standard inbetween her schoolwork and GCSEs. I remember he was a BF and CC but couldn't remember what else. He looks nothing like a BC tbh! I bet his pups were cuties though :o

ObviouslyOblivious · 14/05/2012 14:28

Re. the box and air holes, they bred Pudsey. So I imagine he was literally put in the box, carried into room and given to Ashleigh.

clam · 14/05/2012 14:36

And maybe they wanted to pretend there was something quite dull in the box. I bet there were airholes in it. It was a brief glimpse on-screen, and quite grainy so very hard to say there weren't any.
Doesn't look to me like a family that would neglect or mistreat their animals.

ObviouslyOblivious · 14/05/2012 14:42

I know them and they absolutely do not mistreat their animals.

TheCunnyFunt · 14/05/2012 15:13

Oh I didn't realise they bred him, that makes sense now RE putting in box and virtually straight back out.

How does everyone know so much about them and I don't??? With the exception of Obviously.

clam · 14/05/2012 15:19

I read crap online articles!

Ponders · 14/05/2012 15:21

google is your friend, CunnyFunt

there is masses out there if you look for "ashleigh & pudsey"

yesbutnobut · 14/05/2012 15:22

Yes I think Pudsey was one of the family's own litter of pups, so I can imagine he was in the box for a very short time! What comes across is what a bond Ashleigh and Pudsey have, but as others have said, Ashleigh is from a family of dog trainers so it is not like one day Pudsey just stood up and started walking around on his back legs.

Ponders · 14/05/2012 15:26

(disclaimer - this is from one of the many DM pieces!) he was one of a litter of 6 & Ashleigh wanted to keep him from the start but all 6 were supposed to go to new homes; her dad was more adamant about that than her mum, but in the end her mum talked him round.

I would guess from her reaction in that video clip, when she opened the box, that she really had no idea & thought he'd gone.

She seems like an absolutely lovely girl & a talented dancer/choreographer as well as dog trainer

(she can do it with other dogs too - there are clips of her performing with one called Rhikey (?sp) a couple of years ago)

SnoopyKnine · 14/05/2012 15:56

Knowing Ashleigh, her family I can assure you that there will be no dodgy breeding on the back of Pudsey's fame. In the agility world Pudsey has been a star for many years and they could already have made a lot of money out of breeding and have not done so.

They are an extremely well balanced dog people with a lot of knowledge of dogs training and many dog disciplines.

Although for all your doubters out there - this does show how well positive training and clicker training works

FioFio · 14/05/2012 16:00

I'm with CunnyFunt ont his, I knew none of the back story. I just thought she was a pretty girl with a cute dog whose legs I worried about terribly

SnoopyKnine · 14/05/2012 16:10

Don't worry about his legs. He is an athletic dog and way fitter than all the pet dogs. He is warmed up properly and has been trained gently over time to build up strength in his legs and core muscles. He has a fantastic diet and regime to make sure (like most highly level agility dogs) that he is fit and healthy

It is an old wives tale that dogs will damage their hind legs if they walk on them. It is actually their core muscle that they use and like use they are less prone to injury if these are strong. Pudsey will be taught to walk like this in stages and only walk on his hind legs when his other muscles are strong.

SnoopyKnine · 14/05/2012 16:11

use = us

FioFio · 14/05/2012 16:12

oh i feel better about his legs now :o

yesbutnobut · 14/05/2012 17:03

Snoopy you must be thrilled he won!

suburbandream · 14/05/2012 18:01

I'm so glad they won! I didn't know any of the back story until I read it in the papers today, but it was so clear from seeing them together that Ashleigh absolutely adored him, I think they have an amazing bond and although I don't think there will be a huge surge in dog-ownership because of it, I do think it will show people how amazing well-trained dogs can be. It can only be positive in terms of changing people's perception of dogs.

clam · 14/05/2012 18:13

Have to say that I didn't have Simon Cowell down as a dog lover. He's gone up (slightly) in my estimation.

TheCunnyFunt · 14/05/2012 18:22

Really Clam? I'm surprised you didn't know! Simon Cowell is renowned for his love of animals! I remember on the x factor once they were talking backstage and Cheryl was talking about how Simon wouldn't let her squish a fly in their judges room thingy. And he let it out the window.

SnoopyKnine · 14/05/2012 18:24

Not a great fan myself although Simon Cowell regularly gives to dog charity - it has been rumored £100,000 a year. He actively supports animal rights and appeared in a PETA video about animals being left in hot cars.

Yesbutnobut it was good - the agility world alone probably counted for a large percentage of the votes everyone at competitions this weekend was voting like mad

DaDerDaDer · 14/05/2012 18:36

I think one outcome will be an increase in interest in dog agility classes.

I contacted them today about staring with my dog!

Not to do the fancy hind leg walking, but I just got to thinking that I think she'd enjoy being trained and active and using her brain a bit more.

She's a jack Russell/fox terrier cross, a rescue dog we've had her about 10 months. She gets walked for about an hour and half a day, but she is so constantly alert and looking for things to stimulate her I thought we'd give it a go.

Was a bit embarrassed phoning though, thought they'd be thinking 'oh god here's anther one who now wants a dancing dog!'

So, who really has the tAlent, Ashleigh or Pudsey? Could many dogs actually be trained to that extent? Or is Ashleigh just an exceptional trainer?

Ponders · 14/05/2012 18:53

\link{\have a look at this} (have been having a happy half-hour searching for dog dancing/agility )

this one has a lot of Pudsey's moves. From what I've been watching border collies (or crosses) seem to have the best instincts & desire to stick very close. (otoh there are some where the dog does quite a bit of work on its own, away from the handler - there's an Irish dance one like that)

it must take an astonishing amount of patience & skill, however much the dog wants to please. But how rewarding!

clam · 14/05/2012 18:56

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