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Channel 4 looking for nation’s naughtiest pets for new series of Dog Academy
Hear one couple’s story of how they overcame their struggles with their anxious pet dog
Owners and their naughty dogs can now apply to join the second series of Channel 4’s Dog Academy to help them overcome their struggles.
The hit new show, which features struggling humans with misbehaving pooches, is on the hunt for potential new participants to apply for its second series, for which filming will start later this year.
The company behind the programme, Five Mile Films, are now taking applications for people and say they have compiled a list of trainers to help transform the behaviour of their dogs.
The show wants to hear from owners who are really struggling with their pet’s behaviour and how to train them, and they want people to express their interest now in preparation for filming.
The series will see a team of Britain’s top specialist trainers instruct beleaguered owners in dog management skills and dog psychology.
A flyer for the show reads: “Are you struggling with your dog’s behaviour? Would you like to overcome your dog’s issues?
“Our prime time Channel 4 series is back and looking for misbehaving dogs and their owners.”
From The Dog Academy series one, episode two, Kelly Lee, a nurse, and her partner Emilien Borne, a personal trainer, from Tyldesley in Greater Manchester, were struggling with the behaviour of their dalmatian, two-year-old Lupin.
Suffering from anxiety due to a traumatic start in life, Lupin was tearing up their home, chewing through sofas, cushions, floors, walls and even their washing machine. He’d drag the couple on walks, causing Kelly to fall out of the house and pull her arm out of its socket.
Their dog walker even refused to walk the young pet because of the dragging, and the last straw came when Kelly’s friend was also dragged to the floor while walking him.
It was Kelly’s friend who tagged her in an advertisement for Channel 4’s The Dog Academy, and the couple applied believing this was their last hope to help their beloved pet.
About Lupin’s behaviour, Kelly explained: “He shredded the couch to pieces. If we took him out for a walk, his anxiousness was just so apparent with him pulling at his lead.
“And obviously, the bigger that he got, the stronger he got. It got to a point where I couldn’t actually physically walk him because he was just dragging me over. He’d drag you into the road and leaving the house, he’d drag me out.
“On three occasions I actually fell out of the house and hurt my knee, and he yanked me so hard once that my shoulder popped out the socket.
“One of my friends lives around the corner and if me or Emilien were on shift, she’d pop by and walk him. She phoned me one day crying to say she can’t walk him anymore because he’d just pulled her ‘clean out of the house’.”
She continued: “We were like, ‘enough is enough’. It’s one thing it happening to us but when other people are getting injured, we knew we had to do something about it. And it turns out, it was all because he was traumatised.”
Kelly and Emilien saved Lupin, from potentially being euthanised because he is deaf and was struggling as the runt of the litter. The mum-of two drove four hours to urgently collect him.
They already had one dalmatian Ralph and now the two brothers live together with the couple at their home. However, while Lupin was still a puppy he contracted Parvovirus, which can be fatal in puppies, and spent a number of weeks in veterinary care ICU, where he almost died.
Not wanting to have him put down, the couple brought him back home so he could spend his last days with his family and brother Ralph.
Kelly and Emilien took it in turns being by his side around their work shifts and even slept on the sofa.
But with Kelly putting her nursing skills to good use, she fed him back to strength with egg yolks, liver and pureed chicken, and administered IV fluids, pain relief and penicillin suitable for dogs, following the advice of her veterinarian friend.
Surrounded by a loving family and given around the clock care, Lupin turned a corner and was nursed back to health.
But the traumatic experience left the friendly and lovable pet with anxiety and this is where his behaviour issues began.
About being on the show, Kelly said: “The day was broke down where we’d do some learning, and while we were learning without Lupin, Lupin would be with the other trainer learning stuff, and then we kept coming together.
“Then we’d put it together basically as a team and try and work together to do it. Honestly, I had no hope I was resigned to thinking, ‘yeah, right,’ I was really sceptical.
“But then the trainer brought him back into the courtyard and he just walked next to them on a lead and we were like, ‘oh my god’.”
Kelly said the trainers told them part of Lupin’s behaviour was also down to the couple mollycoddling him while he was ill and failing to discipline him where needed. They felt guilty for telling their pet off when he was ill and because he nearly died.
The couple are now following a plan they were given for Lupin, and The Dog House checks in with them regularly to follow up with their progress. Kelly’s told them he’s ‘like a different dog’.
She added: “Lupin is literally by your side on the lead and he’s not pulling. We’ve also not had any chewing episodes at home.”
Lupin now has his own Instagram page where you can follow his progress @lupinandus.
If you’re struggling with the behaviour of your pet dog, you can apply for The Dog Academy HERE. If you have any questions, send an email to dogacademy@fivemilefilms.co.uk.
What's On
Famous faces to come to life in ‘groundbreaking’ new immersive National Portrait Gallery exhibition
And it opens this week
The National Portrait Gallery is working with FRAMELESS Creative, the UK’s leading creator of immersive experiences, to create Stories – Brought to Life, the first immersive art experience of a UK national collection.
Opening at MediaCity this Friday, May 2nd, and running until Sunday August 31st, the groundbreaking new immersive, cinematic show promises to redefine the gallery experience.
Visitors will step into a world where the sitters’ stories come alive. This unique experience explores the lives behind some of the most iconic faces from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection who have shaped the UK’s history and culture.
It will feature people from royalty and cultural icons to fearless leaders and national heroes, including Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth II, Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grayson Perry, Mary Seacole, William Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Malala Yousafzai.
NPG x131784 Emmeline Pankhurst addressing a crowd in Trafalgar Square by Central Press, October 1908 –
© National Portrait Gallery, London
For its premiere in Manchester, Stories – Brought to Life will be presented in a specially designed 10,000 sq ft state of the art, immersive digital gallery in the heart of MediaCity.
Ryan Atwood, Creative Director for FRAMELESS Creative, said: “Working with a cultural institution like the National Portrait Gallery has been a unique experience, especially having the opportunity to draw upon the deep knowledge and passion of the curatorial team.
“But the magic has also come from studying the sitters and working with the families, estates and the sitters themselves to understand more about the individuals behind the portraits.
“Being able to delve deep into the life stories of the individuals and then bring them to life through the power of emotional, immersive storytelling has been a very special experience and we’re excited to share this with the public when we open in Manchester in May.”
NPG 1 William Shakespeare by John Taylor, circa 1610 – © National Portrait Gallery, London
Rab MacGibbon, Cross-Collections Curator at the National Portrait Gallery, added: “The National Portrait Gallery is home to the largest collection of portraits in the world and hanging on our walls are some of the most remarkable people to have ever lived.
“Working with the team from FRAMELESS, and through exploring new technologies and creative approaches, has allowed us to look at the Collection in a completely new light. We are embarking on a journey of discovery, which we hope will inspire and entertain a new audience.”
The experience will open to the public on May 2nd and run until August 31st at MediaCity, before going on a UK tour (dates to be announced). Grab your tickets HERE.
What's On
Ornella’s Kitchen and more coming to Freight Island as part of huge summer programme
There’s something for everyone…
Freight Island has announced its upcoming spring and summer programme for 2025, and there’s something for everyone.
This includes the arrival of one of the most difficult-to-book restaurants in Manchester, coming to the city centre for the first time.
Denton-based Ornella’s Kitchen will be joining three other new food and drink vendors at Freight, alongside their already comprehensive dining offering.
Freight Island
Ornella’s Little Kitchen will be the Italian spot’s second location, and will be music to the ears of fans, as the original venue is often booked up for months in advance.
Other new additions include authentic ‘shaokao’ Chinese barbecue from MOREJOY, delicious bakes from Gooey, and Hello Dezato, a new offering from Hello Oriental dishing up soft serve ice creams and desserts.
They’ll be joining established Freight Island vendors like Patterson’s, Mia’s Arepas, Burgerism and Voodoo Ray’s pizza.
Freight Island
And if that’s not enough, the ever-popular Kantina supper club series will be returning soon with yet-to-be-announced guest chefs and traders.
Jamie from Ornella’s Kitchen said of the move: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Ornella’s Little Kitchen to Freight Island and be part of such a dynamic food and entertainment space.
“Our pasta-deli specials have found a loyal following in Manchester, and we can’t wait to share our authentic Italian flavours in this new setting.”
Freight Island
You’ll also find a wealth of world-class DJs over spring and summer, including the likes of David Rodigan, DJ Paulette, Congo Natty, A Love From Outer Space, UK garage icon Wookie, Luke Una’s É Soul Cultura, Rich Reason’s Ghosts of Garage, and Huey Morgan.
The Sports Bar will host official takeovers and celebrations across major tournaments, including the UEFA Women’s Euros 2025 and the Woman’s Rugby World Cup, as well as Premier League fixtures, Champions League, Formula 1 and more.
Freight Island
Dan Morris, managing director at Freight Island, said: “Freight Island was always imagined as a place for innovation and pushing boundaries and this year’s update is about taking us closer to that original vision.
“With the incredible new food, a refreshed dining experience and our biggest Spring/Summer festival line-up yet, we’re set for an unforgettable season.”
Freight Island is re-opening on Thursday April 3rd. Get yourself booked in HERE.
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Manchester to transform into HUGE interactive playzone for free family festival this February half term
Manchester will be transformed this half term
Manchester is launching The Super Duper Family Festival in February, a new free un-ticketed family event spread over four days.
There’ll be various activities that will transform the city into a giant, interactive playground from Saturday February 15th to Tuesday February 18th 2025.
Families can explore unique play zones scattered across Manchester, with everything from giant mazes and steam-powered carousels to retro video games and family raves.
The family festival will feature six key zones across the city, including The Garden in Exchange Square, featuring an 18m x 18m real hedge maze reaching two metres high.
Then there’s The Carnival in St Ann’s Square, a steampunk spectacle of old-school carnival games, including a traditional Victorian Carousel, a mind-bending Hall of Mirrors, and Test of Strength stand.
Other zones include The Playground with Waterloo Road, where popular schoolyard games come to life on New Cathedral Street in collaboration with BBC’s Waterloo Road, gaming at The Arcade in the Printworks, The Sports Hall at Great Northern Warehouse, and The Party at Aviva Studios.
Then there’s The Rave, bringing family raves and parties featuring a world-class sound system and dazzling lighting displays to the Great Northern Warehouse.
Venues like the National Football Museum, Stoller Hall, People’s History Museum and Castlefield Viaduct are also set to host their own exciting activities.
And families can experience the launch of CBBC’s Operation Ouch: Brains, Bogeys and You at the Science and Industry Museum.
Supported by the city’s hoteliers, Manchester Accommodation BID, the festival has been created in partnership with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District, Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, Aviva Studio, Great Northern Warehouse and Printworks.
Manchester Accommodation BID Chairman, Kumar Mishra said, “This festival is a fantastic opportunity to draw families into the heart of Manchester, showcasing the city’s vibrant culture, creativity, and its status as a world-class destination.
“With iconic attractions like the National Football Museum, the Science and Industry Museum, and the breathtaking Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester offers an unparalleled mix of history, innovation, and entertainment.
“By transforming the city into a playground of creative experiences and offering free fun for children of all ages, we’re not only celebrating the best of Manchester, but also inspiring families to explore, stay, and create lasting memories in one of the UK’s most dynamic and exciting cities.”
The festival is a free un-ticketed event, find out more HERE.
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Famous faces to come to life in ‘groundbreaking’ new immersive National Portrait Gallery exhibition
Pub dementia group struggling to run free regular afternoon meet ups with rising costs
Ornella’s Kitchen and more coming to Freight Island as part of huge summer programme
Manchester to transform into HUGE interactive playzone for free family festival this February half term
The VR gaming experience at airport where you can escape reality
