Rouse Hill dogs star as Puppy Academy celebrates pets and owners

Rouse Hill and Kellyville puppies and their owners are set to star in new Network Ten TV series Puppy Academy which airs this month and follows the pooches as they get some hands-on training from top experts.

Puppy Academy TV star Jasper the dog. Picture: Thomas McShane

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Rouse Hill and Kellyville puppies and their owners are set to star in new Network Ten TV series Puppy Academy which airs this month and follows the pooches as they get some hands-on training from top experts.

“I was shocked, then surprised, and excited, and a little bit apprehensive when I heard we’d been chosen,” said Alison, from Kellyville.

“But we’re really enjoying it. It was a little bit of a surreal experience when we had the first session but once we got used to it we had a great time.”

Puppy Academy TV star Jasper the dog with his owners Abbey and Alison.

Alison and 12-year-old daughter Abbey take Cavoodle Casper along to the training sessions which are held at PETstock in Rouse Hill.

“We were looking at getting puppy training for Jasper, so this is great for us” Alison said.

“We had the idea last year,” said Peter Jenetsky, managing director of Sydney production company Context Media.

“There have been vet programs with all the drama that often involves and they have proved very popular but we wanted something different, we wanted to celebrate dogs and their owners, and give a positive image of the benefits of training so there’s a true lifetime of companionship being built.

“Our pets are very much a part of the family and we wanted to show that.”

Lessons are spread over eight half-hour programs with top trainer Natasha Beranek taking charge of the puppies and families, and with main filming at PETstock’s Rouse Hill store as well as follow-ups at the dog owners’ homes.

Each episode contains several lessons and there are also segments about welfare, diet and grooming. The TV crew will also follow the puppies home to see how the owners and the puppies react.

There are regulars in this first series of Puppy Academy. As well as Jasper the Cavoodle, viewers will get to meet Tyson the rottweiler, Australian cattle dog Maggie, Prada the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, and Shilah who is a Jug (Jack Russell Pug mix).

“It’s been an absolute delight working with the people and their puppies, it’s been a pleasure. I think there are some romances building — between the dogs,” laughs Mr Jenetsky.

Puppy Academy premieres on Network Ten on July 23 at 3.30pm and will feature encores twice weekly on Channel ONE.