Canine contenders from the Highlands in the spotlight on BBC Scotland TV series, Scotland's Best Dog
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Dog owner Emilie Roy raised smiles on social media during the coronavirus lockdown when she was captured on film walking her canine companion along the streets of Inverness dressed in a dinosaur costume.
But now it is now her pooch, Nodens, who will be in the spotlight when he appears as a contender in the BBC Scotland series, Scotland’s Best Dog.
Nodens, a deerhound, Staffie and American bulldog mix, is one of two dogs from the Inverness area selected to take part in the programme which sees the contenders tested alongside their human companions on three key challenges – recall, agility and bond.
Buddy, a French bulldog who moved to Muir of Ord from Nigeria and lost an eye after developing an ulcer, will also appear in the series with his owner, Sarah Perrins.
Like all dogs featured in the series, they are everyday family pets with no professional training and it is up to the judges – dog lover Kaye Adams, animal behaviourist River McDonald and Scottish SPCA veteran Alan Grant – to decide who will be top dog each week and make it to the grand final.
Nodens was eight weeks old when he was acquired by Canadian-born Emilie and husband, Paul Tonkin, in October 2018 after she moved to Inverness from Quebec.
“I had always dreamed of having a dog,” Emilie said.
“He was so cute and adorable. I fell in love with him.
“He was a very reassuring presence when I was new here.
“I was a bit afraid of getting to know new people and starting over and making friends.
“He was my reason to go out every day and he helped me to meet people and make new friends.”
Since then, she has done training with him and online canine behavioural classes as well as taking him to a dog day care centre but admitted: “I had no intention of letting him on the furniture or bed. That went out of the window quite quickly!
“He loves to nestle up against me with his head on my lap.”
His name was inspired by the mythical dinosaur writings of American writer HP Lovecraft and Emilie was spotted on occasions during lockdown walking him near her home in South Kessock while wearing a giant stegosaurus costume.
“I adored these costumes for a long time and thought if not now, when?” she said. “I thought I had to do something which was fun.”
She described Nodens as a really happy and affectionate dog.
“He is my best friend,” she said. “He is such a wonderful dog to me.
“He has been great for my own anxiety. He is such a calming presence to me.
“He gives me all the attention.
“I just want everyone to see what an amazing dog he is.”
French bulldog Buddy – along with three-year-old Old English bulldog, Frankie – is very much part of the family for Sarah Perrins, who works for a software company, and her Nigerian husband, George Onoktite, who works for Highland Hospice, and their twins Alexander and Duncan (7) and Lois (3).
The couple got him soon after Highland-born Sarah moved to Nigeria and he has been a constant presence ever since.
When they decided to move to the UK in 2014 after she became pregnant, Buddy relocated too – a move he took in his stride, adapting to his new surroundings and change in temperature.
But life has not always been plain sailing for Buddy, who lost an eye after developing an ulcer – a condition which can affect his breed.
“I noticed one day that he looked like he was blinking in a strange way,” said Sarah who took him to the vet and he was referred to specialists at Scottish Vet Referrals at Inverness Campus.
Despite treatment, Buddy lost the eye. Unfortunately, during lockdown, his other eye developed the same issue but vets were able to save it.
“He has coped really well with one eye,” Sarah said. “Our main concern was that we save the other eye.” Sarah says Buddy brings the family real joy. “I think he has a lot of character,” she said. “He has been through a lot in life.”
Nodens will appear in the third episode of Scotland’s Best Dog on December 2 while Buddy will appear on the December 9 edition with the programmes broadcast between 8pm and 8.30pm.
Watch: Dinosaur walks dog in Inverness
