Badger (aka Jennie) and Bodger - Skipton, North Yorkshire

• Jennie ‘Badger’- Web designer
• Bodger - Collie X Cocker Spaniel

Why is the bond so special?
We are known as Bodger and Badger because Bodger looks like a Badger and my blogging name was Badger which just comes from a lifelong obsession with badgers. Many people in my village don’t even know my real name!

I was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome in my 20s, but I have suffered from it all my life. I’d always wanted a dog as a companion and she has helped with my confidence as people don’t dwell on my condition when I’m with Bodger - they are much more interested in stroking and fussing over the dog.

Why did you both want to enter?
Bodger has given me the confidence to try new things, and I wanted to give something back to my best friend. Bodger is a cross breed and I wanted to find out what is going on inside his head. Keeping busy and active helps me, and so I wanted to learn new skills and activities that I can do with Bodger.

What was your favourite exercise/challenge?
That’s a hard one as there were three we loved, but I think though it would have to be swimming with Bodger. She was so amazing and SO happy that I was in with her. Just seeing how much she trusted me and wanted to swim with me was a really amazing moment. Although I loved the Ghyll Scramble too, just because it was ace fun, and also the cani-orienteering was super fun as it mixed a combo of my mapping skills from being a Yorkshire Dales romper and Bodger’s amazing nose and CHEESE…and running - great fun all round.

What did you get out of the contest?
The main thing I got from the whole experience was the friendships I made, I felt totally accepted and it didn’t matter that I ticked often, saying rude and totally random things. I felt accepted and liked in the group and loved every single one of my fellow contestants. I was extremely anxious beforehand about meeting new people, but did it because it was a challenge and I had Bodger with me and knew we were going to have fun.

I just had to ride any anxiety because I thought it would all be ok and it was. I loved it. I would never have considered it without Bodger though. She gives me so much confidence. I also loved getting to do new activities with Bodger. Especially swimming - that's something I can’t wait to do again when it gets warmer. We are heading for the rivers asap!

Do you have any funny stories from filming?
During the paddle board challenge and Flapjack tried to drown Toni - that was pretty funny.

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