The brief clip of the dogs with Anton that was shown during the results show was from BEFORE the live performance; it was part of the "preparing for the show" segment they show every week. So we don't know for certain how long they were unsettled / stressed for.

It was always asking for trouble using dogs in a dance, then again anything to distract from Judy's "dancing." Look like it worked!

I'm so glad you started this thread. I was upset to see them in the middle of those dreadful shrieking females, the noise of the music, and the lights. I rang the beeb and will follow it with a letter today. The duty officer told me I wasn't the first to ring last night so maybe they will think again about using animals. Shame too, on the animal trainer who made them go through it.

Would have loved one of them to bite Anton, would have served him right. Totally pointless having them and cruel.

I can't believe this thread is still running! The dogs resisted going out onto the floor and went into anxious / appeasing behaviour. Anton went down onto his knees to try to change their minds, like people will do with dogs, and then gave up, handing them over to go backstage.

Total experience lasted ten seconds. Dialogue went like this:

Dogs 'uh uh, I don't like this'
Anton 'Go onnnn... You'll like it!... Oh, OK'

Effectively the dogs spoke and were listened to. That's respectful of their feelings and it was right to give them back the safety distance they needed. What Anton did that was good was not to attempt to fuss them. He's a confident guy. I bet the dogs would get on with him, though they probably prefer Anya

https://mobile.twitter.com/AnyaGarni...38609314693120

I guess with performing dogs you have to expect a few diva moments.

Never use live animals as props! The poor things were both terrified!

I hope the BBC has learned from this

Well that's the Horse of the Year show out of the window.

I've met Pudsey, he's a proper little show-off

I missed this post earlier but I just wanted to pick up on it. It's not cruel for a dog to do a job, but the key is in training it to feel comfortable while doing that job and not asking it to do something it doesn't understand or that it finds stressful. That means training it in all the environments it is likely to encounter while doing that job. Those dalmations may well be very professional on a film set, or on a TV set without a live audience + live music + weird lighting but they clearly weren't happy on Saturday night, which suggests they were being asked to do something they weren't comfortable/familiar with or in an environment they hadn't been trained in.

You can't generalise on the basis of breed either - e.g. for every Labrador puppy that makes a good guide dog, there are five more who fail the training. Breeding makes it likely that a dog may have a predisposition to be good at X or Y, but within that you still have to deal with the individual dog, and they have distinct personalities just as people do. Meet any litter of puppies and you're likely to find the bold one, the nervous one, the mischievous one, the bright one, the easily-distracted one...some will make the grade at the job their breed is designed to do and some won't. I have a dog of a gundog breed who is terrified of loud noises!

Sounds like the typical annual line up of SCD Celebs!

Though I would be glad if they'd level the Grand National fences.

I'd be glad if badgers weren't being shot/gassed/baited.

Great if we stopped using pesticides that kill bees.

Fabulous if the fishing industry kept to its promises with regard to dolphins and sharks.

Where have all the hedgehogs gone?

Etc

The Judy dalmatians on the other hand are happy, well-cared for, waggy dogs. They were underprepared for that one moment.

Amateurs. Pah!

I'm astonished that gundogs ever do cope with loud noises. But lots do. Fireworks must be a doddle for them.

I have border collies. They like and respond to quiet handling. My one dog hardly needs a word. She's brilliant at following signals though ridiculously hypersensitive to new experiences. I wouldn't put her in any stressful situation; what she needs is the open fields. They're all individuals, of course. You have to respect each one on that basis.

I expect that those two dalmatians were specifically selected for being confident, outgoing, high-energy, robust characters. They probably are the one out of six dogs.

I take everything you are saying on board, but you are missing the most important point.
It wasn't necessary to have the dogs at all

I was a little put out by the dogs' obvious distress - but I just assumed that as soon as they were off the stage and back with their handler, getting lots of fuss and treats they would have been fine.

Yes, it was unnecessary, but I doubt there was any lasting damage.

True. Lightshow puppies could have filled the stage, and I'd have loved some lightshow puppy poo for Anton to step in

No wonder those dogs didn't want to go on have you seen Judy dancing

Don't be so sentimental!! Those two Dalmatians were trained dogs that had not had enough time to get used to the lights and noise and the noisy studio audience! Anton said it had been fine in rehearsal. The problem was the studio audience.

The handlers/owners of the dogs would have been just out of camera shot.

All dogs skitter on laminated and polished floors - have you never noticed?

Or the panel of judges?

At least they aren't being accused of being ringers ....... yet!

Well, I voted for them.

Wouldn't have been Anton's idea so why would you want him to come to harm? You have a strange idea of cruelty.

I saw a dog acting just like that today when out walking .. cos he didn't like the look of the dog walking past him. These dogs would be trained especially for TV and film .. something spooked them but it was no more cruel than walking a dog past a noisy car or person. Get a grip people.

On the plus side, dalmatians often go deaf, so these might not have suffered Annie Lennox.

Dogs are frightened of ghosts. Especially large white gurning ones