Clare Balding has launched an inspirational podcast about canine companionship

From Town & Country

Clare Balding has launched a new podcast dedicated to the moving tales of man’s best friend. Each episode will see her and her Tibetan terrier Archie travelling across the UK to hear the stories of other dog owners whose lives have been transformed by their furry companions.

“I think people reveal a lot about themselves when they talk about dogs,” says Balding. “They are more inclined to open up about grief or joy.” Dog lovers will speak passionately about the breed or crossbreed they know familiarly, be it a Newfoundland, a cockerpoo, a dachshund or a dalmatian.

In the first episode of Dogcast, Balding speaks to a young artist with a disability about the ways in which her dog Ted has improved her confidence and quality of life; and is in conversation with the breeding expert Jessica Holmhow about how to select the right type of dog for you and your lifestyle.

Dogcast also explores the process of rehoming a dog: Balding spent a day at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to discover more about rescue centres from the ground, where she was “really impressed by the set-up and the dedication of their staff”.

In hosting the podcast, Balding has learnt about the best ways to care for an ageing dog such as her own, Archie, who is 15 years old. “Shorter, more frequent walks and smaller, more frequent meals” are advisable, as are “supplements to help his joints and lots of opportunity to sleep”.

Listeners will gain training tips that are useful for novice and lifelong owners alike. “As a child, dogs are very much your first love and your first understanding of responsibility – taking them for a walk, feeding them, grooming them, noticing if they’re off-colour,” explains Balding. “Given that dogs are such a huge part of so many lives in Britain, there was very little podcasting out there offering good advice. So, I thought I’d better try to help fill that void.”

Above all else, the podcast is a wonderful reason to put on your headphones and take your beloved pooch for a long, leisurely walk.

Clare Balding's ‘Dogcast’ was recently launched with support from Bought By Many pet insurance. It is available fortnightly through all major podcast platforms, and can be found on Spotify here.