Andrew and Betty, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

• Andrew Paterson - Managing Director for a manufacturing & software company
• Betty (2) - Border Terrier

What makes your bond so special?
I used to be a keen archer representing Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, and competed in tournaments nationally. However, in 2009 I contracted a serious bout of Swine Flu which affected my shooting ability. To help myself recover I joined a running club and realised I loved it, but missed the camaraderie of having team mates. While on holiday in the Lake District I saw people running with Border Terriers and fell in love with them. I came home and found Betty, forming an instant bond, and today even my wife believes I love Betty more than her.

On our first run together Betty suffered a serious injury. Only 13 weeks old, she broke her leg going through a gate. Luckily she made a full recovery and we resumed running together, running a park run every week. Although she’s small she is such a hard worker and a real trier. Each day we walk three miles to work and then spend the day in the office in each other’s company and in the evenings we run and sometimes stop for a cheeky half on the way home to the wife.

Why did you both want to enter?
We both absolutely love running and doing exercise together. I recently did a 44 mile ultra-marathon and was gutted I couldn’t do it with Betty. I thought taking part in the contest would strengthen our bond even more. I also wanted to introduce Betty to the landscape of the Lake District as it inspired me to get her in the first place. Betty’s a stoic character and I knew she’d give all the challenges a go. I also wanted to show just how hardy Border Terriers are.

What was your favourite exercise/challenge?
My favourite challenge by a long way was the swim. After the paddle boarding I really was worried about the swim, but she showed the bigger dogs how to do it. I was so pleased with how she just got in and went for it. Plus being the cheeky madam that she is, she didn't necessarily go about it the 'right way' - but that independent thinking is what I admire in terriers.

What did you get out of the contest?
I got a much greater understanding of how to understand Betty's needs. Sometimes we get too caught up in telling our dogs what to do with training instead of what actually motivates them and what they enjoy. I now embrace her differences to what a 'good dog' should be, and we have a great time out there exploring. Since the show I have taken up agility classes, and we had our first competition at the weekend - she got eliminated for missing out obstacles in both rounds, but we both loved it. We’ve just completed a coastal marathon of over 27 miles (with breaks!) in Devon, and without the confidence of the show I don't think I would have attempted it. We have also started back at dog training lessons as well, because I also realised that dogs are learning all the time, and so are the owners.

Have you stayed in contact with anyone since filming?
Since the show Betty and myself have met up with Ellie and Benny a couple of times when I have been nearby doing a running race. Betty and Benny really got on well on the show, I think because they were the two smallest dogs, and they have a great time when they meet up. I think Betty's cheeky character rubs off on Benny and they just run around together which is brilliant. Although I did leave Betty with Ellie while I raced, and she turned up with Betty dressed in a pink dress walking through the town centre - bang went Betty's roughty toughty image!

Biography

Naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham has had a long and successful career on TV, beginning with The Really Wild Show in 1986 and more recently Springwatch, Autumnwatch, and Winterwatch, Nature’s Weirdest Events, World’s Weirdest Events, Inside the Animal Mind, Operation Iceberg and Secrets Of Our Living Planet.

In 2010 Chris was awarded the Dilys Breese BTO Medal for his outstanding work in promoting science to new audiences. He was voted Conservation Hero Of The Year (2014) in the Birders’ Choice Awards (Birdwatch magazine). In 2015 he reached second place in The Wildlife Power List featured in the BBC Wildlife Magazine. In October 2016 Chris earned the top honour at the Wildscreen Panda Awards - The Christopher Parsons Award for Outstanding Achievement - in recognition of his significant contribution to wildlife filmmaking, conservation and the public’s understanding of the environment.

Earlier in 2016 he was made honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Southampton, where he had graduated 30 years before.

Programme Information

• Episode one
• Episode two