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It’s no secret that James Middleton is a huge dog lover and has previously shown his support for Pets as Therapy dogs. Now, the brother of the Duchess of Cambridge is going public with a more personal side of his life for a new documentary.
James’ new documentary will see the son of Carole Middleton talk openly about how his pet dogs saved him from depression, with mental health a topic very close to his heart.
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James currently has nine dogs - a Golden Retriever Mabel, a black Labrador, two Cocker Spaniels, and five black Spaniels called Rafa, Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna - and previously opened up about how they played a "vital role" in his recovery from clinical depression.
Here’s what James had to say when chatting to Yours Magazine at Crufts 2019
At Crufts in 2019, James Middleton attended with some of his adorable four-legged-friends including Mabel, James’ golden retriever and faithful shadow.
Mabel is just one of the dogs owned by James, entrepreneur and the younger brother of Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and he is especially proud of two of his precious pooches – as both Mabel and his black cocker spaniel Ella are now fully registered Pets As Therapy dogs.
That means they’re now using their canine charms to bring comfort and joy to some of the most vulnerable people in the country. James first became interested in the idea of therapy dogs when he took time to think about what his own pooches had done for him.
“From my own experiences I know what they can bring to your life,” he says. “They give me so much pleasure, I just thought if they could give someone else even one per cent of what they’ve given me, that will be a huge amount.”
James has spoken openly in the past about dealing with his own mental health challenges, recently revealing a long battle with clinical depression as well as being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Throughout it all, though, he says his dogs have played a huge role in his recovery. “I’ve been in that angst of loneliness, where you’re really alone in the universe. Luckily for me I had my dogs,” he revealed on social media earlier in the year. “Ella, particularly, has been my constant companion for ten years and she’s been with me to all my therapy sessions. In her own particular way, she has kept me going,” he says, adding that “I find it easier talking to dogs than I sometimes do humans.”
And that’s the trigger that made James go onto the website of the charity Pets As Therapy and enquire first of all about Ella becoming a PAT Dog. “I saw how easy it was to get registered, so I got Ella assessed,” he says. “When she passed and we started going on visits, I saw how rewarding it was to take her to places and people who wouldn’t normally have access to dogs.”
Today, James takes Ella mainly to mental health centres where she interacts with people who’ve been dealing with mental illness. “What’s wonderful is to see how much it gives people to be around a dog who’s not going to judge them,” says James. “With Ella, they can just be themselves, even get on the floor and have a roll around with her. They can just lose themselves for five or ten minutes.”
He adds: “There is something about the simplicity of dogs that just helps break down inhibitions and helps people to relate.” As for Mabel, who is descended from the Middleton’s childhood dog and passed her PAT Dog assessment six months ago (which involves passing a temperament assessment taken by a trained assessor), James hopes she can help people in another way that’s close to his heart. “I have dyslexia so I’m really hoping Mabel will be able to work with schoolchildren who are struggling to read, as it’s been shown that therapy dogs have had a huge impact on children’s reading,” says James.
James’ experience with PAT Dogs has made him evangelical about the charity and he now takes every opportunity he can to talk about the benefits of therapy dogs and to encourage other people to volunteer with their pets for the charity. “If your dog has a relatively gentle temperament and you trust them and they trust you then I’d say definitely register,” he says. “Every time I do a PAT visit I come away with such a smile on my face because it’s a gift you can give other people,” he says, “so I’d only urge more people to give it a go.”
Don’t forget to cast your vote for PAT Dog of the Year 2020
Have you had chance to have your say in which adorable canine is crowned PAT Dog of the Year 2020? Take a look at the six pooches in the running and vote here.