Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Amanda Owen (Part Two)

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

In part two of her walk with Emily and Ray, the wonderful Amanda Owen, the Yorkshire shepherdess, shares more stories from her extraordinary life at Ravenseat Farm.If you haven’t already, be sure to catch part one first, and don’t miss Amanda’s delightful new children’s book Christmas Tales from the Farm, a festive collection of heartwarming stories from her life in the Dales.Follow Amanda on InstagramFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Will NicholsMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Part 2 of Walking the Dog with the fabulous Yorkshire shepherdess Amanda Owen. Do go back and listen to Part 1 if you haven't already and do check out Amanda's brilliant new book for children, Christmas Tales from the Farm. Really hope you enjoy part two of my chat with Amanda and do give us a like and a follow so you can catch us every week. Here's Amanda and Ray Ray. You went on to have nine kids who I've rather impressively named, if I may say. Honestly, I am totally astounded and important. But what I love is that obviously we all know that you know you TV companies got the reason that we know about you and we all love you and have got to enjoy what you do is because TV companies got in touch with you. Yes.

About being on a show called The Dales. Yes. That then became a longer running show that you did on Channel 5 and you now have a show on Channel 4. Yes. Which I'm really enjoying. I think the new series you can watch on. you can watch on 4-O-D the last series and that's about you making over a barn and just in case I hadn't got enough to do but what's interesting about all of this

you know because it's a very it's very different this world isn't it and I presumably you were just thinking right this is what I do I look after the sheep I look after the animals on the farm suddenly it's another income sort of Let's be honest, right? Was that what it was always about for you? It's diversification. Yeah, diversification in the first instance. This all began, really, from making cups of tea.

This is an empire, if you call it that, based on cups of tea. Because there was a footfall of people coming through the farm. So although the places built is one of the highest, remotest hill farms in England, there are people crossing through on foot. And it was coast to coast walk. Yeah, the coast to coast walk, exactly half of it. So it was a bit of a lightbul moment to sort of take note of the people that were coming through the farm and think, hang on a minute, maybe for a few hours every day, I can make a bit of money to go into the farm.

Because farming is one of those occupations that certainly has its ups and downs. it's a difficult it's a difficult one it's all encompassing it is everything but also when it comes to to pain its way where are we at now we're just gonna go up here that is a huge dog over there what does he really think of huge dogs does he actually go up to them and sniff no he'd be a bit frightened of that one right does he avoid yeah only and I tell you why I've just learned from trial and arrow that it's not that dog's fault but he doesn't actually look like a dog. You see Difa that was the first cross mark as to why she shouldn't be a sheep dog.

She was okay being a sheep dog for 10 months of the year but for two months of the year at lambing time or the youse thought she was a lamb because she was white the coloring of her. So what would happen would it be like this comedic moment that looked very unprofessional whereby we would go in the field and all the sheep would be chasing Difa. It was literally the opposite way around. it didn't look great but but you know that's that's that's part of the part of the whole thing if you work with children animals they're going to show you up aren't me whatever whatever you say you think predict might happen well probably not and the thing with clive and the nine children

everyone thinks it was a huge plan but there never was the making cups of tea I could never have known that suggesting to clive that I bought a few picnic benches and got the kettle on would ever lead to working in the media But of course, because you were doing these teas and that sort of increased awareness and inviting people in. Yeah. Somebody comes along. He literally is looking for, he's refusing to move again. Well, somebody came along once, didn't they? A casting director for Wuthering Heights and asked Clive to be in... In the film. Have a role to act in Wothering Heights as a man's servant and your son Miles was going to have a part. Yep. And that didn't happen.

because of the sheep cell. What did the director say? Because it was Andrea Arnold. It was Andrew Arnold. What did he, what did he, how did he say it? Did he say no? Well, he was actually, he was very, very keen. He was up for it.

He was up for doing this. What is making that noise of that tree? Anyway, he was very up for it and he was very open to, to the idea until of course, the filming dates were thrown his direction. He was like, I can't. do that day and she say why and he said there's a sheep sale yeah exactly and it didn't look like he was fully committed to this because I guess you know if you're I quite like that he said no though yeah oh I do there's nothing there's nothing

better than being asked to do something and then nonchill it's saying you don't fancy it because you've got sheep sale that's quite cool yeah exactly but she didn't didn't quite see it the same she saw it as being more non-committal you see so yeah but it all worked out in the end did because he won so you see it was one of those whereby I was quite cross with him because I thought he was losing out on a on a great opportunity and frustratingly he was entirely correct and you got a lot of money for that sheep yeah yeah yeah it was 30,000 there you go 30,000 I mean the sheep's right I've made a lot of money you know when it comes to pedigrees but everybody thinks you know oh like oh the sheep must

be worth that much it's a rarity it's like anything you know it's it's a unique sheep two people want it to be against each other and it makes a good price yeah do you have we're fascinated obviously see have learned a lot about sheep from watching your various TV shows and do you have sort of an emotional relationship and connection with sheep yes you love them so you love them but you also dislike them intensely sometimes it's a bit like I really really sort of draw so many parallels with people and how they are. Some of them have friends, some of them hang out with other sheep. Some of them are perpetual wanderers. So over this last few weeks, we've had probably about

30 come in and I don't even know where they have been, but they miss their appointment at the salon. They didn't get clipped. So they're wandering round, still old woolly, and had to be Sean Lake. We don't know where they've been, but they've obviously been off on their adventures. You get your other ones that get their heads stuck in the fence and particularly stupid. you get ones that are great mothers. Oh, they will mother any lamb. They can actually be a bit of a pain because they will steal other sheep's lambs.

And then you get the other one that basically will have a lamb and go, I don't know what that is. I'm not interested, not bothered. This isn't doing it for me. So, yeah, and I feel like seeing that, it puts a bit of a smile on my face because it's that,

the term is kenning the sheep. knowing the sheep. I like that, Kenning, is it? Is that a Yorkshire sort of thing? I think so, yeah, maybe a bit cumbering as well, but it's Kenning. I always say to the children, it doesn't matter what you glean from books.

You can learn all sorts. You can get so much, but there are certain things that cannot be learnt from a book. Stockmanship and canning your sheep. I guess you could say, you, Ken Raymond, you'll be able to pick up on his moods and where he's at and what he's thinking.

I love that, Kenning. Yeah, yeah, Kenan. And you obviously get asked this a lot, and I'm really interested in how that works in terms of when you have to remind yourself that you are a working farm. Yeah. And you have to separate yourself a bit

from that emotional relationship with the animals. Definitely. Because some of them will be told. Yes. Yes. How do you do that? Is it just... I'll turn it on its head.

Really? Turn it on its head. Because, of course, that... As a farmer and someone who is producing food and working on the land, I take a pride in what we do. I take a pride in the farm and what you can see. I take a pride that we can swim in the rivers because they're clean and I take a pride each time like the other week

when I was down there and I was looking at the baby toads and some of the birds that are coming back in the natural world. But when it comes to producing food to put on the plate, if I'm putting something on my plate, I want to know 100% with meat that that animal has had a good life. Because to be quite honest with you, as a saying goes, two certainties, tax and death, right? So we're all going to die.

and that goes the same with them. If it's meat, it has died, okay? But not knowing about its previous life, is that better? No, definitely not. I feel like it would leave a very bitter taste in your mouth to not know the backstory. The information that you need is that it had a good life,

a length of life. It was cared for. And I suppose you're going to have to say it had a good death as well. And I mean, you know, it's beyond the pale, isn't it? You know, we spoke a little bit before about life on the farm and the children. And it is very much a foundation lesson. It's a grassroots level of learning all manner of things. The facts of life, obviously, the sex bit, birth, the bit in between.

and death and that and coming to terms with that and accepting it and going with it. So yes we have our pets, yes we have a lot of animals and some of them just like people just mind their own business. They they they they you don't particularly develop a one-on-one relationship with all those animals you couldn't but yeah I've got a couple of cows that I absolutely no inside out. One of them, Kira, raised her from being a calf, because her mother had no milk, that was Margaret.

Do you ever, would you ever send up saying, you think, I can't, I can't, this one's going to become part of the family now? Oh, definitely, we've got loads of them. I know that. Yeah, definitely. I mean, definitely, some of them live out their life on the farm, and that's it.

And what's your name that you have for older sheep that almost own the respect? Oh, we call them the crusties and literally it's it's because you have to remember these are The sheep that have got a backstory they may have bred an incredible lamb they may have have Usually there's something within the pedigree or something that to the outside eye to the observer They look like a lot of very Tired old sheep you know they've got smooth horns, you know sometimes it wasn't a horn You don't, you look great.

No, not the tired old sheep. Tired old sheep, you know, a bit sort of bedraggled fluff, sort of like fleece dropping out, tired looking their eyes, on a go slow. And these ones always invariably stay around the farm. Number one because probably the arthritic and they can't go very fast. And number two, because they require TLC, you know, their teeth have dropped out, one tip doesn't work.

You know. Again. Again. Know the feeling. And these ones are obviously also appear to be the ones that showcase themselves because anyone comes down to the farm and there they are right in front. Like, hey, let's have a look at the best we've got to show here. And what is it? A one horned, half blind, one titted, toothless sheep.

Yeah? I know you said sometimes people will criticise you for the way you bring up. you for the way you bring up your kids just because people will always criticise you yeah regardless of what you're doing yeah or not doing you can criticise for that as well but what i would say is i wonder if what they're actually loving is seeing children it's sort of that a lot of people maybe would like to do that would like to raise their kids in that kind of environment but it kind of takes balls because it's a bit of a we're not doing it your way and I wonder if it sort of makes

it's interesting because I think when you look at the way your kids are being raised kind of the opposite in some ways to a lot of the modern trends around parenting with let me drive you to every playday let me curate all your activities you're going to learn this you're going to do this and I don't want to tell you about death

than I don't want whereas your kids are just getting I suppose much more immersed in life They are. And I mean, you might say it's horses for courses. You know, if one of them said, you know, they wanted to join an after school club and learn another language, it would be now and impossible just because of my location. So they, I'm very aware of the fact that I wouldn't be able to stand here and say, this is how you should do it, because there's nothing worse than sort of that having that parenting thrown at me. like this is how you should do there is no manual you have to fit fit your life in within the parameters of where you are and what you've got and what I've got in front of me is farm space animals all the rest of it but we don't wander around going gosh look how lucky we are because that that doesn't happen you I'm more

of a believer of being brave enough to to stop looking over your shoulder what everybody else is doing and what they're telling you to do and go your own way. Take time for yourself. Give your children independence. Make them do things. Be lazy. You know, what's for tea tonight?

I don't know. What are you making? Yeah, give them, give them, give them, give them, give them, give them. I love chores. I love chores. I don't think people do chores for kids anymore. We had real, we were like, wash the dish. Do you know what I mean?

We had a real, my parents were so strict about chores. Yeah, but the thing is, doesn't that make you feel like you are a part of something in? and yeah you might not like doing it but that's part of part of life as well if you haven't can I just draw your attention I don't I don't even know it's like is that a corgi is it a corgi excuse me oh I think she's they're probably asking what that dog is as well I'm a bit jealous because normally Ray gets the likes hang on let me just say right yeah exactly hang on hang on hang on we've got interaction the corgi we've got interaction is that is that a corgi Do you think they like each other?

Very fluffy dogs. I think they like each other. I've got a cavapoo. You've got a cavapoo. I can't believe how well-groomed dogs are in London. They are literally. They're better groomed than I am at home, honestly. Huh?

You just know. Hello? You just know that this corgi will smell nice. Do you think so? Yes. Does your corgi smell nice? Yes. Yeah.

Come on then. Come on, of Fluffy. We should talk about your book, Christmas Tales from the Fon, which is coming out appropriately at Christmas. Yes. And it's sort of aimed at, what sort of age of kids would you say it was? A seven plus unless of course you're reading to your children.

But yeah, seven plus and me, because I'm seven plus. Do you know, I really loved it? It's such a beautiful book and there's some lovely illustrations. I like the illustrations so very much. I mean that was really difficult to get that sorted out. Becker Hall, who did the illustrations. It was literally like the sort of, I kind of want really, I want really simple illustrations, but simple but actually detailed.

It's kind of like the, I want makeup that looks like I haven't got makeup on. And hair that looks like it isn't done. And actually that is a lot more work than sort of the... I always like the dog. Parson thing oh do you know that I think what does she say Amanda it's like it takes a lot of money to look this cheap yes exactly I love that too right it's it's such a beautiful book and what I love is that it's tales themed around Christmases you've had at Ravency yes this farm that's been such a huge part of your life for so long and it's well everyone likes

Christmas but I feel like again it's that is that looking over your shoulder with the parenting so I've got in the sort of seen the John Lewis advert and getting the catalogues and going, oh my God, I need everything matching. I need everything just so everything perfect. And I feel like maybe, maybe COVID such a horrible and difficult time was a time when for me personally, things changed. I was like, okay, why am I trying to do this to any degree? Why am I sort of stressing about the color, the decorations, all the rest of it? It doesn't matter. We are ourselves and we're happy in ourselves and the overall vibe of Christmas was never about whether you had enough matching glasses and whether you actually had enough seats.

It was all about it was all about just the conviviality, the people, etc., etc. And therefore, I'm going to be confident enough to not go to the supermarket and buy all the silly things that nobody really likes just because it's Christmas. No more Camembert, thank you very much. you've written what's lovely is their stories you know capturing reality yeah the reality of what happens so like you suddenly realise you know the oven's not working and you've got this giant turkey to cook the next day yeah but then you touch on something which I think is really great that you're covering this and it's very moving which is about this little Shetland pony you'd had for a little Joe

little Joe and his demise you lost Joe and I feel it's so great you know it shows you the kids sort of honouring that and having and the practicalities of also having Clive and Reuben. Ruben absolutely desperate to dig the hole with a digger. Yeah. And Clive getting very stressed about the fact that if we don't get him out of the stable soon, Riga Martyrs he's going to set in and he's going to have to take out the door for him. So it's kind of like, it's almost like, I mean, you might say black humour, I suppose a little bit, but in a way it isn't because it's the practicalities, the things that people don't talk about. It's, again, it's the same.

Is it with the children and babies? You know, I guess it's lifting the lid on the other side of it. And I don't know. A conversation starter maybe, you know, the book also has a glossary in the back, which made me smile. I love the glossary. I found the glossary very useful, can I say. Because sometimes also, some of it is sort of like,

like technical farming staff, which I find very interesting, because it's obviously, to you, you're fluent in this language. Yes, it is a different lingo. But there's a lot of things that I'm like, oh yeah, what's tough again? What's this? Okay, this here. Does Raymond ever go round and round and round? Does it?

What are they? Some sort of duck, isn't it? I don't know what sort of duck. I'm not up on my ducks. There's a peddlo coming past. You must be able to hire a peddler as well. I love one of those in a ton. Why do they make those noise, Amanda?

I don't know quite what that's about. I don't know whether it's saying look at me look at me is it maybe maybe or maybe it you do get to translate animal noises don't you and it doesn't sound like a panicky one does it there's also a big sign that says do not feed the ducks so therefore it just sounds oh look raised makes and friends you must have this all the time well you must have this all the time because people really warm to you so you must have yeah they we do gypsy goose Our producer has just looked up and it's an Egyptian goose. An Egyptian goose, well, who knew? I didn't even, I'd never even heard of an Egyptian goose. Ray, don't get too close to the Egyptian goose. How do you feel getting recognised?

Do you like it? Sometimes, if my hair's looking good and I'm feeling confident, yeah, if I'm literally knocking around the supermarket in a pair of ill-fitting, ill-fitting leggings and wellies, And literally I've got hat hair, no. You know, it's it. You're very honest person though. You know, I think that's very, that's something that's very clear.

Listen, I've got such a lot going on that I never read the memo. People, you know, because I've got two wellyclad feet in different worlds, you know, I've gone from yesterday dealing with getting 100 tons of aggregate of a certain size delivered to start out, to sort out a roadman to sorting out the paperwork regarding cows to sorting out who left the gate open and chasing the sheep about

to hang on a minute what the heck has been living in that stiletto shoe once they haven't been wearing it and can I possibly get it out with a hoover? It was like... Because you're going on Lorraine this morning to promote your Christmas book. So I was there with a hoover

and I couldn't decide whether it was actually like a fossilised cat poo in the bottom of it whether it was actually some sort of accumulation of dust apparently dust accumulates for eight years and then it just stopped but I think maybe everyone who's in the public eye

should be forced to also run a farm I'll tell you something it would be it would be because I think that honestly would be the most grounding it would I think everyone it has to be a real farmland oh god yeah none of none of these Soho farmhouse

Cotswell's rubbish No. That's what I love when it would. When we're doing this renovation for the program, of course, you know, I will, I will go, if you go to the doctors or something, there will be like period house or country house magazine and you're like, no, just no. Because you know the practicalities and the reality of it that, you know, that the house will definitely smell of catweed from drying waterproofs. there will definitely be a thousand upturned well it's here there and everywhere and if you decide to sit at a different place in the living room you will see all the accumulation of sutt and dust and finger marks that you never actually knew existed. I get a letter sometimes

from people who will say, well one of them that made me smile was do you know that that same piece of wallpaper is falling off that was falling off at the beginning of when you've been began filming which about a decade ago and I'm like yeah because they'd seen it on the yeah I don't care I don't care this Egyptian goose Amanda they're very tame I thought it was a duck so did I so I don't know I'm I'm not a big I don't know what a birds we don't really have much in the way with those on the fan we have chickens and even when it comes to chickens it's kind of like a door policy in other words if you're one of the breeds of chickens that has feathery feet, I'm afraid you're banned.

You're not coming to the farm because you will basically end up all muddy. So I don't know where Raymond's sent with that one. Oh, I wish he'd be allowed in. Could you have a... Could we make him some sort of... What do you call them? Moth suits, like a Lycra thing. Yes, yes.

Then he can come. Ray, you're welcoming the farm. I think he'd love the farm and he'd love your kids. I think I'd like to see him in a morph suit, like all in one lycra. He'd be gracing that. And I think he would like... Do you know what Raymond liked? Raymond liked people, authentic people.

And I think you're a very authentic person, Amanda. Thank you very much. I'm going to take that as a huge compliment because that's what I like. I like the idea that what you see is what you get. You know, as long as people come and visitors and fall over abandoned scooters and sort of look across and say,

it's real, that is the best comment. compliment that you can get because of course it we did have somebody once turned up who said oh we can't believe it's real because we went to the darling buds of May and it's not and I was like if you really think that Catherine Zeta Jones and like whatever the other guy's called are actually living in a earth house in Kent you know do you seem a very strong solid person and I wonder I have my moments do you oh god like everybody yeah do you cry yeah when did I last cry I can't probably cry with

laughter actually probably it was probably sometime when I it's probably sometime roundabout Violet's birthday when I got her a birthday card that said happy birth no you're a teenager and she said that was last year so you know taking yourself not too seriously yeah and we all go through stages And we all go through difficult things. I know you lost your dad, by the way, when you were quite young. Yes. That's really tough. I've lost my parents.

And losing your dad at 18 is, that's too young. It is. It is. I tell you what, though, it does, looking back on it, though, it does, it does make you appreciate how you should live. Yeah. I think, I think experience in a loss, like that particular, a young, age, you think back and you think, oh, you know, I wish I'd listened more to what people had to say. I wish I'd written names on the back of photographs. I wish I'd realized, I mean,

I suppose, you know, it's that, it's the idea of wisdom coming with age. It doesn't, definitely, but, but, but, you know what I say? It's certainly, it certainly, it, I don't know. It's, it's, it, I don't know. life comes with its ups and downs and it's positives and it's it's negatives and I always think to myself when it when it comes to my children the things that I take as compliments well for instance the relationship that I have with the children is very open because it has to be because of the media and because of the books and because of the television there is literally no holds by when it comes to subjects and I actually believe that that is very liberating I feel like

it keeps me young it makes me feel like I'm relevant and I believe it's good good for the children too and fashion-wise I think that as long as Raven is stealing my clothes and wearing them at Glastonbury I must be doing something right it's a bit of a downer when I only get to go to the co-op and I get a video call from her wearing my stuff at Glastonbury but but but isn't it amazing to think you've brought those nine extraordinary different individuals into the world yeah I still I still marvel at that I mean I don't worship the ground the walk I that wouldn't set them there you know every day there's altercations because someone's done something stupid or I don't know who that is asleep on my sofa or one of them dumped a

girlfriend or like the other day I mean Nancy she's had she's certainly grown up a lot quicker because she was as she was pointing out mouse has got a love bite you know it's makes me smile yeah it makes me smile so much and I I just enjoy I think I maybe enjoyed this period of my life more than when they were little really and yet people would be like oh teenagers oh my god I love it I absolutely love it well you're finding out who they are and you know makes them tick and you've got friends you've got nine great friends I have I mean you've got more than that no you're probably right nine nine nine nine great look at

lady she's so she's so her looking isn't she or do you know what so are you we need to let you go because you've got you're a busy woman do you know Amanda what a thorough delight it's been it's been absolutely brilliant have you liked it do you know actually taking a what with you and Raymond is like a breath of fresh air Because when I take a walk out with my dog, the dog is going, what we're doing, it's literally set. It's ready to, it's ready, it's on high alert, something needs doing, it's in high alert, I'm on high alert, it's kind of the opposite. It's like when people go for a walk in the countryside to relax, I have come to London to take a walk and relax. Everything is the opposite.

I'm so glad. Well, do you know what? I just, and I loved your book and I really recommend, it's one of those books that I think is so, I think kids are love, I actually loved it as well. Good. So I think it's just the ideal kind of Christmas book. I love it. Thank you so much.

I honestly, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this. I'm so good. I did not know what to expect, but you've got to embrace it unexpected, aren't you? Well, you do. And we'll continue to watch you all the time. The Park Warden's coming now. So let's hide Raymond. Hello, Park Warden.

This is what I do, Amanda. Yeah. Hello. Hello. I think we can safely say you were blank there. Yes. I was so blank, wasn't you? You definitely, definitely were.

And I feel like Raymond is just so nonchalant. He just, he just doesn't care. Does he just let him all wash over him? I actually think he'd be great on the farm because I think the other animals, his sort of Zen energy. is very infectious. I think it would be absolutely brilliant. Do you know what? I do worry about that. I think you might have to

grease him up if he comes during the winter when it's snowy because he will turn into a snowball and that's why I was shearing sheep just a few days ago because if you leave them woolly although that might sound like the smart thing to do like oh you're going to be so nice and warm in the winter actually you literally

snow sticks to every hair and then you get stuck in the snow so I could see that being a problem. We'll have to give you a haircut right No, grease him. Greasing, oil him. Yeah? Turtling, utterly, oil him. I can't believe.

I didn't think this morning that I was going to have, the Yorkshire Shepherd is saying to me, Greasing. Grease your dog up. Can you imagine? It's a bit like, you know, when you've had a hair treatment, and you've got all the coconut oil, and you think, oh my God, this is never going to come out.

Raymond would be like, you wouldn't be able to get older than, would you? It'd be just, like, so slippery. I've loved our walk. Have you loved it? Amanda I have beyond enjoyed this walk it has been so relaxing enlightening and I think Raymond is marvellous oh he loves you he is absolutely what a wonderful what a wonderful little dog will you say goodbye to Amanda bye bye Amanda again I'm not getting much reaction there I'm just thinking I have no idea what is going to

do that little dog's brain I do want to Does Raymond dream? Do you ever see Raymond running in his sleep? Yes and you know what he says? Take me to the Yorkshire Shepherdess. Wow. We can do it. We must make this happen. Do you ever come up my way? We are now. Yeah, good. We're gonna see you soon. Good. Well I will I will start crafting the morph suit for Raymond to wear. Love you. Because we don't want, we don't want him to be exposed. too much to the elements do you? I don't even know what it'll make of goat. I mean, he's going to be overstimulated.

Peacocks. He'll be fine. All the rest of it. Bye, Amanda. We love you, Amanda. Bye-bye, Raymond. It has been fantastic. Thank you so much.

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