Walking The Dog with Emily Dean - Dr Alex George

Episode Date: August 6, 2025

Today, we’re bringing you a very special episode of Walking The Dog! We’ve teamed up with Dr Alex George and his brilliant podcast Stompcast to take a special walk, thanks to ManyPets pet insurance.We met Alex and his adorable dog Rolo on London’s Clapham Common. Ray didn’t join us on this one - we promise he wasn’t being lazy - but it was a hot day when we met Alex and because Raymond is elderly and his breed is particularly sensitive to heat, we decided to let him sit this one out.Dr Alex is a presenter, bestselling author and podcaster. As a former A&E doctor - Alex has used his platform to become a leading advocate for making mental health support more accessible for everyone.We chatted to Alex about how dogs can help connect you to people and how our pets can be a real support during tough times. We also spoke about the deep emotional bonds we can have with our pets and how it’s important to be there for them when they need us the most.Follow @dralexgeorge on InstagramFollow @thestompcast on InstagramAlex’s fantastic podcast Stompcast is available on all podcast platforms!https://manypets.com/uk/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=walking-the-dog&utm_campaign=branded-episodeFollow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadeanX - @divine_miss_emWalking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence - with thanks to the Stompcast team for editing and production on this episodeMusic: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice LudlamPhotography: Karla Gowlett  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi everyone, it's Emily here with a very special episode for you with something a little bit different. I've teamed up with Dr Alex George and his brilliant show Stompcast for this one, to go on a special walk with him and his lovely dog Rolo, and it's all thanks to many pets, pet insurance, who've won Pet Insurance provider of the year four times at the Money Fax Consumer Awards. Now, you may notice Ray didn't join us on this one. I promise he wasn't being lazy. It's actually because it was a pretty hot day

and pet safety in high temperatures is so important. Rolo, I should say, was actually fine to walk in the shade with us and there were some other dogs out too. But Asre's elderly with a very thick coat and his breed is especially at risk of heat stroke, I've been restricting his walks to super early or late evening when it's cooler just to make sure he's safe and comfortable. It's a small but really important step in being a responsible pet owner,

something many pets really champion. and it was great to work with a brand that truly puts pet well-being first. So today it's me, the fabulous Dr Alex and the adorable Rolo, having a good old stroll and a lovely chat about the world of pets, what they mean to us, and how having the right pet insurance can really give you peace of mind. Let's get right into it. Emily, welcome to the Stompcast. How are you? I'm so thrilled to be here with you and your fabulous dog, who I've just met,

And this is Rollo. Rolo, yeah. Oh, Rolo. Rolo, so named after the chocolate, which is my favourite chocolate. And he did used to be a lot darker, actually. But he has, he's three in a bit now, and he's got a bit lighter.

But he was really chocolatey when we started, you see. But he's got it, but the caramel centre is reflected in Rolo's coat. I think so. I think it has now. He's become more caramel over time. But yeah, he's a beautiful little dog. And of course, we are connected through many things,

a love of nature, but also, of course, your dog Raymond as well, isn't it? your love of dogs. Wow, I'm glad you brought up Raymond because I was so desperate for you to meet Raymond when I heard we were doing this. But we should say full disclosure, we're in London's beautiful Clapham Common. It is very, very hot today, isn't it? And we've met early so that Rollo can have a little stroll before it gets too hot. But my dog Raymond is a Shih Tzu and he's just really at risk from heat exposure. So, and heat stroke. So I'm just, I'm a bit of a neurotic. mother with him Alex but I think as a medic I felt instinctively you'd understand that well it is important

isn't it and you've got it's nothing worse when you see you know you see people kind of with the dogs it's just really important like when it's when it's really hot like if you put your hand on the tarmac it's too hot for your hands it's too hot for their paws and that kind of stuff but yeah roler's had a haircuts we're walking early in the morning and we are sticking to the shaded patches for a little bit I think what it comes down to is you know your dog and I think when ray was younger I could brought him out for maybe 20 minutes but you know what he's very hairy he's very small and he's getting on a bit he's a bit like me in those three respects um so as a result i just have to be a bit more mindful of it but you know what i may not be walking ray that is not

going to stop me talking about him because i'm obsessed with him and i know you are a bit obsessed with dogs well i think in a way um i think our story is obviously very different but we got our pets are lovely children because in a way we wanted to I guess heal and have company from difficult times and I had rollo about a year and a bit after or slightly longer after my brother died and I kind of was like I want something can get me you know out in the morning for walks outside have a companion and you know for grief it's been incredible for me and many people say that it's it's really helpful and I think your story's not too dissimilar right is that is that

Why you got Rolo then, really? Because your brother, you know, you lost your brother. Yeah, so he died in 2020 and it would be five years actually this summer. And so, yeah, I think I realised I just needed some. Thank you. Yeah, it's always difficult. And I know that you lost your parents and your sister at very kind of close period of time, right? And it's just, it's so hard, I think, when you lose someone that you love, especially

when you lose someone so young. We've got another dog joining it. And this is the beauty as well when you go. walking in the park with the dogs you see a million other dogs running around. This sums up what I love about dogs is that we were just now talking about something that was a bit challenging for both of us, you know the loss of both of our siblings and then these two dogs just came bounding over and it just kind of pierced that that moment that's where I think the power of dogs lie is that dogs just

live in the eternal present. Do you know what I mean? They do and they they they of course they're so emotionally intelligent. and they can feel and sense how you're feeling it. Rolo is very intelligent, like, most intelligent in that sense. But also, as you say, they are... Look at you boasting about your dog, I definitely saw surprise. I mean, of course... There's definitely memes about this.

My dog is so intelligent. Rolo is very intelligent. My child is the most intelligent child, sporting child, tallest child in the whole world. Well, do you know what? I can't join that party because Ray, a little bit dumb. I mean, I love him. Don't get me wrong.

I'm like Paddington, my parents' dog. He's like big heart. Brain's not so big. But yeah, Paddington, I did name him as well. He's a very blonde cock of spaniel. Paddington is a great name. What do you think of Raymond as a name? We were actually saying this walking over

that Raymond is such like a kind name. I think it's a distinguished gentleman's name, I think. Raymond. You just know that Raymond's going to be lovely. Do you know, Alex? Is he as lovely as it sounds? I'm already working out that you've obviously, you're a doctor, you're very diplomatic.

aren't you? I genuinely like the name Raymond. I like it. Do you not? Well can I tell you the story behind this? Tell me. Because you were mentioning earlier that we brought dogs into our lives for quite similar reasons and I'd gone through. I'd lost my sister, but you'd lost your brother and my parents. And I just felt and I don't know if this was similar to you, but I just thought I need to bring some joy into my house. This is a sad house and I want it to be happy. again and I brought I'd always wanted a dog we'd never had dogs when I was growing up and I thought okay and then I met Raymond and I don't know if you had a similar experience but I just thought oh you're coming home with me there's no way you're so ridiculous and I think it changed my life in ways I couldn't possibly imagine just the structure that he provided suddenly you know Ricky Jervais touches on this in afterlife doesn't he that he

no matter how sad you're feeling. And I felt terrible, Alex, some days. Like, I know you did really low. I think, I've got to get up for him. I've got to take him for a walk. I've got to hit these beats throughout the day. And sometimes hitting the beats in terms of, you know, mental health, which I know you know a ton more about than me.

But instinctively, I said that felt helpful to be following a structure dictated by the dog. It gives you something like when you've lost, when you feel that everything else has lost, It gives you framework or something to your life to cling on to, doesn't it. It kind of gives you something that is going to, like, you've got to get, like, it doesn't matter if it's raining or sunny or that the dog needs to go outside, right? You've got to get up and go, and it gives you, and in doing that and following those things, it gives you the benefits of everything that comes with it. You don't want to go outside for a walk, but going out for a walk often when you don't feel good is what you need, isn't it?

And so it gets you outside. And I was going to tell you why I called him Raymond. So it's two reasons. I'm an Arsenal fan, and I love Ray Parley. and I love the idea of calling a dog after him because it seems so random. Also, my sister was called Rachel and whilst it felt, I suppose, slightly odd to call a dog literally after my dead sister, I felt calling a little tribute like Raymond. I like that.

It's a really clever way of doing it. Yeah. That's a really sweet way of doing it. I had to see a lovely name. What if I'd have said it was a terrible name and then you tell me that story? What a horrible name Raymond is? And then you go, by the way, I named right after my sister. After my late sister.

He nearly set me up there. But no, luckily, I do think it's a beautiful name. It's a gorgeous idea. I'm getting good vibes from you already. I think you're my kind of person. I don't know what Rolo's personality is like, but I sometimes think of Ray. And I think, what job would he do if he was in the human world?

What do you would do? I've got to be honest. I think he would definitely be a performer of some sort. Would he? Well, he's a combination. He's a bit of a fusty old academic at Oxford University, he might be. Because he's very traditional. He walks on paths.

He doesn't like the grass, does he? No, he's too refined for that. Rolo doesn't like going out in the rain. So if he needs to go out for a whittle and it's raining, you have to really coax him out of the door. He's like, well, why do I want to get my paws wet? He said, I'd rather just hold it and wait for the rain to stop. Isn't it rollo?

You're a bit precious. And also he doesn't like to be on the floor or in the restaurant or in a pub. He's that wants to be on your lap. He's like, I'm not staying on the floor. This is a little bit precious in some senses. Oh, no, Ray. I might have to out precious you here.

Really? He's... What's his most prince acting moments? Well... Where is he a full-on prince? I'll tell you, I'm quite ashamed of it sometimes, how I maintain it. You know, look, I feel like I'm the manager

for like a really difficult pop star. And behind my back, everyone's saying, God, have you seen the way that dog's behaving and that woman's just tolerating it? I feel like that. Come on, darling. Please, darling. Come on, settle down. I feel like people are thinking I've got no backbone.

And I haven't, Alex, because I love, I'm so obsessed with my dog. And to the degree where, for example, when he's, his only, his only floor is greed. I mean, I don't know if Rolo is greedy, but Ray is so. Ray gets ill with greed. Like he starts sort of salivating and jumping. Food driven now here. Oh God. Yeah.

And I don't think Shih Tzu's are normally like that. So Rolo actually isn't, but Paddington and Arspaniel is, it's to, yes, to a ridiculous degree. Like, it's food, if you were there, it's like your life or a chicken sandwich, he's going for the chicken sandwich. Like, no question. We joke about it in the household. It's like, if it was like my mom who loves, or the chicken sandwich, it's like, sorry, see ya. Sorry. But do you spoil?

Because I found myself the other day and I was literally slaving over a hot stove. I was at the oven cooking an organic chicken which I then sprinkled some feta over and some other toppings foray. I mean it was like a restaurant quality meal here. And it was only afterwards I thought

I cooked that for my dog. I didn't even really want chicken. I just had a... I ate a little bit directly and I can't eat with him because I have to hide. sometimes is when I eat. You have to, you're in the cupboard. He's in the, he's in the dining room and you're in the kitchen cupboard having a dinner.

Well, it's because I don't want to upset him, Alex. And I don't want, he'll get, if he sees that I'm eating food, we're a pack. And he'll think, why didn't I get any of that? So you have to, like, so do you have literally, like, your meals? Sometimes I hide. I might go to the bathroom. Just imagine you having your Sunday roast sat, you know, just on the sink, I have to.

I want his life to be completely pain-free emotionally. But yeah, so I do do strange things and I definitely, sometimes when we're walking, he's obviously not here today, but I've noticed your dog, Rolo, has a quirk. All dogs have quirk, and Rolo's quirk. It's very cute. Sort of I want to make sure everyone's kept up.

So, yeah, together, yeah. We tried to start recording guys the first thing, and he just was not happy that basically anyone was behind him. And I was trying to ask a pet, like expert, like a dog training expert. Why is that? And they're saying like, some dogs are like lead as the pack and other ones are like, they want to be

at the back and like they want to make sure they're like the gatherers almost. And that's what he is. He's a gatherer. So he doesn't want to risk that anyone's left behind. Which is kind of sweet. Whereas other dogs are like, right, I'm going, I'm going out front, you know.

Brolow's got, I think the best teeth I've ever seen on any animal or human. I do brush his teeth every day. Do you? Do you? I do, yeah, once a day. I thought maybe you might have taken him to Turkey for something.

I hope you're not offended by that. No, not at all. I do brush your teeth every day because just because actually... I'm going to call them, I know you won't mind this reference, I'm going to call them Love Island. They love Ireland teeth, there you go. Well, he's got good teeth and it's because the vet at the start, you know, when you, like, I think we're both passionate about like our pet health, right, and like making sure things right.

And I was like, I want to make sure that I'm doing everything as I should be. And the vet was like, oh, one of the things, the biggest things that causes problems is that they have poor denticians. Obviously, I was excited on that. I was like, right, Rollo, you're going to have your teeth brushed every day. And you do, don't you? Every night. Sometimes every occasion, every now and then, we might forget.

But mostly we do it. No, I'm a bit. Well, that's why I was really keen to do this with you, because I do, we should say, we're obviously doing this with many pets. Yes. Many pets insurance. Thank you so much to them for making that happen. Bringing us together.

I know. Bringing two podcasts together. It's a start of a beautiful friendship. Do you know, one of the things, which might sound odd, but bear with, because we're obviously working with many pets insurer, today and I'm a little bit obsessed with pet insurance. I always have been because people often call me and say I'm always the person they call when they're going to get a dog. I don't know if you're that person but I'm like oh let's call the

old dog woman she'll have a good advice. I don't know if it's a compliment for us or not really. They could be all caught. It's like, oh he's got nothing better to them after his dog. Well it's because I talk of little else but they always say to me I've got I've got a list of things I've got I've got the pink fluffy basket I've got the bow tie. And I get very hardcore. And I say, never mind that. Have you got insurance?

No, it's absolutely true. Because if you're caught shorts without it, then it can be very, you know, it can be very expensive, can't it? You know, actually, I get obviously, you've probably guessed. I'm also quite banal about it. So I got the, you know, careful with all the dentician stuff. So obviously I got insurance straight away. And it's lucky because he has had a few health issues.

And it just, without that, it's less. it really racks up. Do you know what? You can be really expensive otherwise. I also think and I understand why people sometimes think, oh well you know there's a lot of experience involved with pets and all that. I sort of think if that was a family member you wouldn't think twice ensuring that you could cover all their health needs and any eventuality and I think well Ray is my family.

Yeah. I mean I've got to be honest I won't like Ray isn't the most I wouldn't describe him as the life and soul of the party. He gets a lot of attention because he's... mainly because he's quite odd looking. And he's also very cute, isn't he? He's very cute, but he also doesn't really look like a dog. He looks like a Disney creature.

He looks like something that George Lucas in sort of prototyped and said, that's too weird. We can't put that into this film. Oh, no. But what I like about him is he's an introvert and he's very quiet and he doesn't like loud noises. He's like, you know, I, if you think of the film Greece, Ray is not a teabird dog. Rose, do you remember Eugene who was the...

That's Ray. He's a character then. But that's what's beautiful. Every dog is different. Talking seriously for a moment, what does Ray do in terms of helping you with grief? Because let's be honest, grief is not something that you get over, you learn to live with.

I think any of us that have experienced that, kind of know that. What has he done for that? How has he... What has he done for your kind of mental health, I guess, in that sense? Poor Alex, it's phenomenal. It's phenomenal how Ray has helped me. I think he's was fundamental, quite honestly, to me getting through that experience. And I think I didn't know much about loss. I certainly didn't have any experience of multiple

losses like that. And you know yourself, sibling loss is so complex to navigate. You feel like you're in this weird club and there's not many of you and it feels hard because you feel, I certainly felt, not that my grief was down the pecking order, but just kind of like, well, my parents have lost a child and my brother-in-law has lost a partner, my nieces have lost a mum. And so I didn't really know where to put that grief,

but I certainly felt with Raymond, I can remember one time, I don't know if you had experiences like this, but you know, there was a time when I felt really bad. Yeah. And I remember being at home once, and I just got Ray, and it was one of those days. You know, anyone who's been through this will know what those days are like. And I just thought, I was just crying and I just didn't want to get out of bed.

And I thought, oh my God, I just don't think I can leave now. I can't actually face the day. And I was just sobbing. And then Ray jumped on my face and started licking me so manically like I was a piece of chicken, essentially. And I just started laughing. And I started laughing. It started, and then it became hysterical, this laughter. And do you know, Alex, I laughed for about five minutes,

because he had these wild eyes, and he was licking me raw. And I remember afterwards, I thought, I'm never going to forget this moment. That was because of Ray, that he literally turned my tears into hysterical laughter. And that's the power that it has. And especially when you're in those moments where you just feel so dark, It is odd how they just cut through. I mean, it just makes me think of, so I've got Rolo, and my parents have Paddington and Lolly,

and Lolly's a rescue dog, bless her, and she's gorgeous. But when they had Paddington, it was literally like a year after my brother had died, and my parents were like broken and everything you kind of imagine from that experience. And it's this little puppy came into their life who just came in and said, hey, everyone, and it was just happy and excited and playing.

And it just lifted the energy. almost when I went home, before it was like going home and the energy is obviously it's a very low air, but it's very low feeling. This little chap came in and like lifted all of that and it's just, it's almost in tandem. It's really hard to explain what they're able to do. It's almost because they're like, hey, like you're a bit sad, let's have fun. It's that attitude that they have that it's impossible not to respond to in a way. And it's almost something that I don't think, I don't know that humans can do it the same as that. I don't know a human can.

No, I think you're right. to what they have. Yes. And they're like, I'm in the momentness. Well, dogs have, don't you think dogs

have experienced very pure emotional responses? It's true, so we were talking about Raymond being greedy before. I might be hungry. I at least make some effort to disguise that.

Do you know what I mean? So I might be sitting here now and I might be really hungry, but I'm not going to be staring at you manically and salivating. And I think because dogs, dogs are kind of like, childlike in that sense. They experience, you know, happiness. Are they really happy or they're

really excited or they're sad? And there is a kind of purity and honesty to the emotions. And I also feel, I don't know about you, but I would feel sometimes with Ray. When you're going through grief or even when you're just, you know, not going through something like that, all of us present a version of ourselves to the world. There's Alex in his romantic life. There's Alex in his professional life there's you know Alex in his work life and with your dog you're 100% yourself the dog only sees you in your most raw kind of emotional state really I mean I I talked to myself in front of Ray I wouldn't do that in front of anyone else but you know I do things with Ray I I kind of I think they're like the little witnesses to your life and I love that

and I certainly think from the grief point of view what you were saying earlier I I I think that ability they have to live in the present. Like I'm looking at your dog now. And rollo is just adorable. Nose into the wind. But when you think about how this walk is being experienced with every sight, every smell, appreciating the world, do you think maybe that's what dogs,

that you get a bit inspired by that? It's kind of infectious or something. When you look at techniques for grounding, it's like the five senses technique, I mean, it's what they do all the time, right? They're walking and they're smelling everything. They're looking at everything. Is that the technique?

Tos then? You know, there's a few different ways to ground. But grounding is all about getting into presence. You know, most of suffering is experienced in the future or the past. Or our brain's perception of future and past, right? It's like kind of Eckhart's whole view of it. Like, in the moment, what is it the trouble that you face? Like in your moment now?

Yeah, we're comfortable and safe. We're comfortable, you know, in the sunshine, it's lovely. but our brain can be worrying about the future and oh my God, this might happen and how something terrible happened in the past. The antidote to that is being here because there's no suffering in this moment right now. Unless there is, if there's a danger in the moment,

we'll deal with it. But most of our times, most of our day, most of the time, there's not an actual danger. And we're trying to get back to that moment. How do we do that? Well, breathwork is one great way. Why is breath work?

Because breathing can only ever be in the moment. You don't breathe in the future of the past. The breath is in the moment. The lungs focus on its breath in the exact moment you're in. So when you connect the breath, you're bringing stuff to that exact moment of awareness. Breathwork is also incredible because

breathwork is experienced in the subconscious and the conscious mind. Because obviously if we bring attention to our breath, we're becoming conscious of it, but it always happens even if you forget about it, you're not thinking. It's just a great way to connect those two parts of the brain in the moment. And then the grounding techniques is just, yeah, the senses. You don't smell

in the future of the past, too, it's only in the now. So how do we connect the senses that are in the present? I think that really helped me at last. Do you know, I think that's one thing that I do find about having a dog present is that it's a lovely way, it gives you access to people that you would not normally possibly speak to. I was walking Ray not long ago and I struck up a conversation with a woman and she was a bee, I said, what do you do? She said, I'm a beekeeper.

I thought, this is great. I've never met a beekeeper. and I really want to know more about your job. And there was something about that that felt very special and very much to do with Ray that actually it can be easy to kind of just slightly exist in your own little social world. We can all do that, you know. And what I love about having the dog

is that sometimes it allows you, with dog walks, it allows you to engage with the world. Sometimes you feel, I need to feel like I'm of the world, but I don't feel like over-socialising. And those dog walk interactions, some people don't like them. I've had people on my podcast. He won't mind me mentioning this. Lee Max, like, oh, I don't mind the dog, but I hate all the talking you have to do.

I'm the opposite. And maybe that's because he's so well known and, you know, he might get more people coming up to him. But I absolutely live for those encounters. How old's yours? What's yours called, you know? And then you get, I mean, I had one about, about six months ago, maybe he was a year. about a year ago now and bumped into this guy and he walked with quite a limp, his young chap, he was walking with quite a limp and he said hello because he had a dog, I had a dog and he got

chatting and he said, oh yeah, I walk in the park here quite often and we got, we just got talking and in the end we went for like a 40 minute walk together around the park and it turns out that he'd had an incredible story actually he had a really bad accident on a bicycle, yes it was a bicycle and really bad injuries. It took a long time to recover from. And similarly to what we're talking about, I guess, is that having the dog was a huge support to him in his recovery, but also helped him get outside and start in order to rehabilitate and stuff.

And we just connect it. Now there's amazing, quite deep conversation really, like all kind of different depths of life and things that happen and how things just happened, you know, they went out for a cycle that day and the next thing something happens. It's incredible. And all of that is just because the dog said hello. And that is, that's just something amazing.

I think for people that feel, there's a lot of challenges these days are people feeling lonely. It's one of the best things you can do is have a dog is you're just guaranteed to talk to people, meet people, make friends. Absolutely. And I also, I don't know, I think there's something, I definitely think it, I think having a dog has made me a nicer person. Because it's made me more patient and more tolerant.

I have to be the pace he walks. But also... Not eating in the bathroom is the pace you're worried about. Eating in the bathroom is not the bit you have to eat. I'm never going to live that down. It is quite embarrassing. Listen, everyone, I'm frightened of a Shih Tzu. Who I should say, Alex has seen him.

He's the size of the palm of my hand, actually. He's like half a size of roller, and roller's hardly imposing. I just don't want his life to ever be... I wanted him to have a trouble-free existence. Well, Raymond, my dog, has healed my road rage a bit because I was in the car and I just got a bit annoyed by some man who'd come out a bit sharply and I might have said, when's your test, etc., etc., a bit aggressively.

And it was really weird, Alex. Raymond sort of looked at me. You know, when they cocked their head in this very pure way, he sort of cocked his head as if to say, what's that tone change about? That sounds horrible. And I almost burst into tears. I thought, oh, I don't want him to see me being horrible. And I never want to shout in front of him or be mean. So I think he inspires me to be a slightly nicer person. It's like a, yeah, it's just a little, like their purity in some sense does make you go,

actually, I'm probably going off a bit pieced here. Let's get back on peace. Let's get back on peace here. It does, they do make an incredible difference. Do you think you get the dog that suits your personality or suits that, so for example, I believe with Ray, Ray's quite... Are you saying that you're a princess if he's a prince? Alex.

For goodness sake. You walked into that one. I really did. But you know what I mean? I feel that Ray is... He came into my life at a time when I needed him to be, I guess, quite quiet and thoughtful

and on the same emotional level as me. So what I didn't need at that point was a noisy, boisterous look at me dog. Yeah. And so I ended up with Ray. And do you feel the same with your dog bit? Because I can see that your dog is very, it's quite sensitive and empathetic. He is. And in some ways, actually, he's a little bit needy.

Maybe he's a little bit needy. Yeah, so is Ray? He's quite needy. And he just wants to be with people. And he's definitely very responsive to who's around him. And I think, yeah, probably maybe that's kind of. Is it because they were like that? They mould to you in some sense?

I guess it must have been some of their character, but is that their response to what you needed that time? I think dogs are that smart. They know when they need to be. I think dogs really pick up on emotional temperatures in houses and with human beings. You know, I really believe I've met a lot of dogs doing my podcast and I'm absolutely convinced every dog reflects their owner.

100%. Let's not go on to say what that says about me and Ray. I'm joking. But you know what I mean? No, I think every dog does reflect their owner. Yeah. I think the owner is 100%. I think dogs absorb your emotional temperature.

And they think, because dogs are people pleases fundamentally, aren't there? And they're like, who do I need to be to make this work? So they'll keep feeding me. Yeah, yeah. And in your case and in my case, our dogs came in and thought, oh, okay, this isn't time for me to be the 24-hour party people. I have to be chilled out and sensitive. It's interesting because if you look at like dogs with,

elderly people like well rollo when he's around someone that's like older and frail he becomes more gently moves very slowly i noticed he was very gentle with me he's very no no you're very much you're very much not what i'm talking about no but i've no i can see that he just he just you know if you see him with you know what i'm talking about like you know one of your granny is like yeah yeah you know an elderly lady who's very frail or an elderly man but he's very he becomes slow he's gentle he doesn't jump up and it's like i haven't trained him to do that he obviously must sense that I need to be gentle this person. Same as like a child.

It's like a little person or a baby. When he's around, obviously, you've got to be careful with dogs. Babies, I know. But, you know, when I'm with him and when my god daughter, Kara was very small, she's still quite small now. But when she was a baby, he just was like, even though he wouldn't go so too nearer, but it was just very slow and very, like, calm. And I was like, you just sense it.

But how do they sense it? They just know. I think dogs, like I say, I think in order to survive and to make their relationship with us, been probably one of the most successful, hasn't it, in terms of evolutionary terms. We've chosen them to be our animal companions. Sorry cats, we love you, but this isn't your party today. It's a different party. I think also cats are great, but cats don't put a ring on it in quite the same way as a dog. I love that. I don't put a ring on it. They don't know,

do they? Cats are lovely, but cats are friends with benefits. Yeah, that's hilarious. That is hilarious. That's a really good one. Because they do, my friend had a cat. And the, the, It was called Sutty and bless it. It was a lovely cat. But she would literally, she had like eight, eight of the neighbours. She'd go around and she'd eat, everyone was, we worked out. She'd actually, everyone was feeding her at different times. So she's going around, having a bit of a bite. So why is this cat getting so, you know, quite chunky?

Reminds me of all. I've been in a lot of situationships with cats and they're lovely, but you will be in a situation ship. Whereas with a dog. Once they, yeah, they commit hard. And I kind of love that. They're not commitment phoves. Right.

As we come to the end of this episode, We should have some takeaway tips, shouldn't we? I feel like, what would you say your top, let's give some top, top three tips you'd say to the best pet ownership, dog ownership that you can give. I feel that you're gonna, you said one, which is clearly the insurance, very important. The dog both fine, but pet insurance is very important.

Please do get insurance. I know this, I don't wanna be an old nag, but I am when it comes to this, because I just feel it's something, you hear so many stories about people, oh I'll get round to it or they won't need it. Just do it. For the peace of mind, it's so worth it.

It honestly is one of the most important decisions, if not the most important decision you'll make. I think in terms of what I would say to people, people often say to me, I don't know if I'm ready to bring a dog into my life. I don't know. How do you deal with it? There's so much responsibility, said someone to me

who had four children. And I say, there's no such thing is ready there's only now. Because if maybe loss has taught me anything, it's that. It's so true. It's so true. And I mean, the same with my parents. I was like, oh, we don't know if we're ready yet because, you know, it's hard.

It's difficult at the moment. I think you need this more than you think. And now they, I mean, they always say, they're like, thank goodness, we did it. And we, you know, got Paddington because it just changes your life. Yeah, I think it's exactly that. It's now. And just give them the love and care that's, you know, they deserve really, isn't it?

Other little basics, I guess, yeah, the benchers we've mentioned clearly. But also, I've got to say, the dental hygiene, brush the teeth if you can every day. Very important, and it does, you seem, with Rollo's teeth, it means that breath doesn't smell, which is good. I know, which is breast doesn't smell, which is great.

And yeah, I think otherwise, like, what you feed them, it's actually really interesting. I've had a few, I've done some content actually with, which is not released yet, but I've done some content with someone who's a pet's nutritionist, which is really interesting. And I don't think we realise how much pet food makes a difference.

It's really important for their health. You know, all the ultra-processed food stuff we're learning about humans. Oh my God. Dogs are no different. Like, they need whole foods. They need the vegetables. They need fresh food, fresh meat.

And it's actually really important. So I think, think about their food. Look at your food pack. Look at your food pack. I can't not think about my food. Look at the food. You're literally cooking over the dog. But if you're not good, please, if you're using,

like I use the dog food, really look at what's in there. Because actually, the stuff I'm not going to name, obviously, but the stuff I was using first of all, the pet food I was giving No, there's filler in it and things like. I looked at the back of it and it was like I thought it was chicken it was like 3% chicken

I was like right okay this is not this is not happening anymore so just check your label diet is crucial and I'm going to be a bore as well I know we mentioned the heat stroke thing at the beginning but I do think with the hot weather just really be careful like today Alex is an example of someone

who's been incredibly responsible we came out super early in the morning your dog has been freshly groomed you know your dog and you know your dog can cope with this level he sat in the shade, with water, etc. My dog, I just made the call and I thought, oh, I'd rather Alex.

Alex isn't going to mind. He's going to understand. No, of course. And it's that thing of you think... Dog health first. Yeah, I think put your dogs first. But you know what? Get the dog.

If you're in any doubt, I don't know anyone that said, oh, I wish we hadn't got that dog. And if they do say that, I don't want them in my life anyway. I sort of think it's something that will change your life. So for the better.

Just the one thing is just make sure you've got the capacity for it. If you're working on a job where you cannot, like, I just don't think having a dog at home for like 10 hours a day is, you know, it's got to have the capacity. I agree. I mean, you know, that's the one thing I would say is just to make sure you got the capacity to spend time. If you got a job, like when I was in a full-time, I need a doctor. You couldn't have had one. Well, I had to wait. You're right.

I had to wait until I was in a position where I was freelance. I wasn't in an office all day. So, you know, when I say get the dog as well, it's like, no, absolutely. It's a bit like having kids. It's a cab, yeah. It's not. can actually do it. You've got to bear in mind the quality of that animal's life.

If you're in a position where you're able to look after a dog adequately, and you can give it the time it needs, stop waiting, get the dog. Go for it. I think that's brilliant advice to end up. It's been really cool, actually, to come together. And actually, thanks to many pets, because I hadn't even thought of combining a podcast because this is obviously sitting out on your feed, as well as my feed. And by feed, I'm not about the dog food.

I mean, the podcasting feed. I'm obsessed with feeding. God, I'm just, is it lunchtime? I shouldn't know it's an hour to go. Yeah, we love you, many minutes. Thank you. You brought us together. It's been great.

It's just so great that we... What did you? Do you think we... I think we got on quite well? I think it's got on very well. You're very funny. Am I? You're very funny, yeah.

Well, I can see that why you've been, you know, doing this radio and podcasting for a good while because you're very funny. You're very good at it. Natural, I'd say. Can I tell you what I like about you? Go on then. Everything.

Oh. I got very good energy when I met you. Thank you. Really kind of you. Thank you. I need to go for more walks, clearly. But give me all the positive energy. Thank you so much.

If I get free medical advice, you're on. Oh, there we go. That's the free medical advice. Okay, that's a good deal. Well, Alex, I'd love meeting you. I think we should hug. Are you comfortable with the hugs? I think we should have a three-way hug with Rolo.

Get him in here as well. Rolo. Rolo, but we can't do you. He's saying, right, it's time to go now. What time's it now? He's probably upset that I haven't brought his ball, but it's, we can't play fetch today, my best. It's not a Fetch day today.

Cooler day you can play Fetch. It was lovely to meet you. Goodbye. Say thank you so much for coming. Thank you so much. He said bring along Raymond next time please. He didn't say that but I like pretending that. I really hope you enjoyed my walk and chat with Alex

and of course the adorable rollo. It was actually the first time Alex and I had ever met and it's really fascinating how dogs just instantly connect you. with people and somehow even just their presence encourages you to open up. It was so interesting to discover that we'd actually both brought dogs into our lives during difficult times and we both formed very deep emotional bonds with our dogs. As you've heard from two real dog lovers like us, our pets really are so special in our lives and we couldn't really live without them. And like so many pet owners, we want to make sure we're here for when they need us most, just like they're here for

us. Many pets believe life with pets should be easier, clearer and fuller. Many pets offers lifetime insurance, which means a nifty annual treatment limit that resets each year. And their complete care plan offers one of the highest vet fee limits in the country at £20,000 a year, as well as being five-star de facto rated. Many pets also has cover to suit most pockets, with a wide range of cover levels from £1,000 to £20,000 plus unlimited 24-7 video vet calls. And beyond the quality insurance, customers also get access to year-round pet care tips plus up to £500 in perks. But don't just take it from us.

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