Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has candidly disclosed that his beloved golden retriever, Ned, has been 'in a complete state' recently at their Longmeadow home. The 70-year-old horticulturalist made the revelation while appearing on the Dig It podcast, hosted by Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley, where he fielded listener questions and discussed the intricacies of life with canine companions.
Podcast Insights on Canine Garden Behaviour
During the conversation, co-host Jo Whiley inquired about strategies for making gardens more puppy-friendly in anticipation of a new dog. Monty responded with a dose of realism, admitting that certain aspects of dog ownership in the garden are unavoidable. 'They will pee on the lawn and there will be brown circles and there’s not much you can do about it,' he stated frankly.
He elaborated on the common query he receives: 'How do you make a garden dog-friendly?' Monty humorously noted that he often pontificates on the topic, only for Ned to promptly crash through the garden and knock something over, underscoring the unpredictable nature of dogs.
Adapting Dogs to Garden Routines
Monty emphasized that dogs naturally adapt to garden environments when included in daily routines from the outset. 'I do think actually that if you have them with you in the garden from day one, they will go where you go and do what you do and I think there is something in that,' he explained.
He contrasted this with scenarios where anxiety is present from the beginning, such as owners worrying about potential damage. 'Whereas, if there’s anxiety involved from the beginning and you let them out and it’s all ‘I hope they don’t do this or that’, I think that transmits. But if you potter about with them, they get used to that.'
Ned's Current Distress Explained
Despite this advice, Monty revealed that Ned, a familiar face to Gardeners' World viewers often filmed in the Longmeadow garden, is currently not himself. 'He's in a complete state at the moment,' Monty admitted. 'My son’s dog is in season and he’s not eating, he’s not sleeping, he’s barking - he’s completely sex-starved. And of course, being Ned, he doesn’t know what to do. [It's] not good.'
Monty's Canine Family and Garden Philosophy
Monty currently has two dogs: Ned, who first appeared on Gardeners' World in 2022, and Patti, a Yorkshire terrier. Having owned dogs for most of his life, the presenter rarely ventures into his garden without them. In a post on his website, he wrote: 'I have lived with dogs all my life and so it is absolutely natural to me that wherever I am in the garden I should be accompanied by a dog or two. It is their garden as much as mine or any other members of the family.'
He added that he takes for granted that his dogs generally cause no damage and respect the garden completely, rarely digging holes or crashing through flower beds. 'They do treat the long paths as bowling alleys down which they career in chase of the ball that we are obliged to throw, but it is harmless enough.'
Remembering Past Canine Companions
Earlier this year, Monty shared the sad news of the death of his dog Peggy. In a touching tribute, he revealed she was 'a few weeks short of her 16th birthday' and had 'lived gently and without fuss'. He added that she would be buried in the coppice at his garden, where several of his previous dogs, including Nigel and Nell, are also laid to rest.
Gardeners’ World continues to air on Fridays at 8pm on BBC Two, offering viewers insights into Monty's gardening world, often featuring his furry companions.
