Channel 4's latest reality series The Dog House is an uplifting new show that connects prospective dog owners with their perfect four-legged friend: it's basically The Undateables but for canines.
Over the course of 12 weeks, secret cameras filmed staff at the rehoming centre Wood Green, The Animals Charity in Cambridgeshire, as they worked their magic to find pooches' their forever homes with their most suitable owners.
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With so many unwanted dogs, the staff must be well versed in the language of doggy-dating; as finding the right match requires a proper understanding of not only the pup's breed but its character too.
"Sometimes it does feel like a dating agency here. We don't just take on board a dog's breed, we look at a dog's character and how it fits in with the new family," said one of the helpers, Karen.
"Is the dog introvert? Is it nuts and charges around the house? Or are they a little old dog looking for a retirement home?"
The eight-part series follows the heartwarming stories of dogs and their owner, and the bond that they forge.
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One story that really did pull on all of our heart strings was that of Paul Skinner. Bound to a wheelchair because of a minor tendon injury which left him with an amputated leg, Paul was keen to find a companion to keep him company during his many hours spent at home.
The doggy matchmakers paired him up with Zeus (now renamed as Dug) and the result has been phenomenal.
"I sit there and talk to him all day. It's nice to have the company - like having a best friend," says Paul.
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"He's perfect," he smiles.
Looking at the blossoming (or sometimes, pitfalls) of the relationships built between the dogs and humans unravels much like your average dating show.
And with that come the highs, the lows, the tears and the smiles - a rollercoaster of emotions for sure, but definitely well worth the ride.
The Dog House airs on Channel 4 at 8pm on Thursdays
Topics: TV Entertainment, Dogs