Molly – a celebrity dog in the making

The Christmas calendar, a feature film, a global campaign for Ikea and several commercials. This is what the CV looks like for Molly – the dog who wants to invest in the west and be seen on the big screens. Animal Probiotics has met Molly's mother Emma Thorsell, who talks about the training, what it's like to live in Stockholm's inner city and the road to becoming Sweden's next little celebrity dog.

Molly is four years old and a mix between Maltese and Bichon Havanese. But to begin with, it was far from obvious that she would end up with mother Emma Thorsell and her partner. For several years, Emma had been nagging her partner to get a dog, who was actually more of a cat person and was afraid that they would feel stuck with a dog. After three years of nagging, she finally got to go and see a dog, and then she was hooked. At the breeder, she fell head over heels for a black and white, small, crazy puppy who was fooling around with his siblings. The only problem was that it was tinged by someone else. Emma tuned in to one of the other puppies.

- But then the breeder told me that she had received a rejection and that she was available! Two weeks later I went and picked up Molly, Emma says.

 

The puppy course changed everything

Emma believes that maybe she was a little naive when she got Molly. She had only had a dog when she was little and she mainly wanted a companion dog to cuddle and go for walks with.

- Everything changed at the puppy course. We had a hugely committed instructor who made me realize that it is at least as important to keep a small dog, like Molly, activated with both mental and physical training, as larger dogs. When she then introduced us to agility, obedience training and freestyle, the competitive person in me was awakened.

Emma has previously competed at elite level in horse jumping and currently works as a PT. So training, and competing, is naturally close to her. Now new doors were opened with Molly.

- We train five days a week and compete in agility, rally obedience and freestyle. In addition to that, nosework and game tracks are also included in the training.

 

The acting career takes off

Last year, Emma saw a post in one of the dog groups on Facebook that she is a part of. They were looking for a dog that could be included in the 2020 Christmas calendar. She sent in an application and was allowed to attend the casting. Molly got the part. Then everything went at a rapid pace; in just under two months, they would rehearse scripts and new tricks.

- It is very different to train before a film shoot. There are cameras and sound booms everywhere that Molly shouldn't react to. I also have to instruct and give commands to Molly from a long distance. In some scenes it would also look like Molly is talking, without her barking. It was a challenge to practice! says Emma.

The Christmas calendar is called Mirakel and among Molly's acting colleagues you can find, among others, the comedians Johan Glans and Babben Larsson. After the Christmas calendar, Molly got her own agent and the bookings rolled in. Among other things, she will appear in a feature film and a global campaign for Ikea.

- We are betting that she will become Sweden's next little celebrity dog!, says Emma and laughs. The dream right now is to go to the USA and show her off. The competition there is fierce, both for Molly and for me as a trainer – there are professional dog trainers who work full-time with this. But I think that you have to bet high to get a bit on the road. And if nothing else, we'll have a wonderful holiday together!

 

A fast-paced life in the city

Just over a year ago, the family was expanded with the miniature poodle Bubbel. She still has a little puppy in her and likes to romp and play with big sister Molly. But Molly is more of a lady, says Emma, who prefers to sit on her lap and, a bit like Ferdinand the bull, prefers to "smell the flowers". They live in an apartment in the middle of one of Stockholm's most central districts, but Emma makes sure that Molly and Bubbel get grass under their paws every day.

- We live by Odenplan and are close to several different parks. There, Bubbel can play on our walks with the other dogs. I see several advantages to having a dog in town. They are practiced in different situations and social adaptation every day. It comes naturally with other dogs, cars, children and not pulling on the leash. And there's plenty to sniff, like birds and hares that smell.

Bubbel and Molly can also accompany you to restaurants and cafes. Yes, it's even the case that Emma chooses the restaurant visits according to where dogs are allowed.

- We have our favorite restaurants in the area where Bubbel and Molly are welcome. It's really easy to take your dog everywhere in Stockholm! And when we go to competitions, we always stay in hotels without any worries. We have also traveled with them to Riga, and there it was, if possible, almost even more dog-friendly. The waiter set out bowls of water and food for them. Without us asking about it!

Keywords:

Famous dogs

, Read more

Probiotic school part 1: Where do good bacteria live in you – and your dog?

In the last decade, research and interest in good and bad bacteria in the body has exploded. Since bacteria have long been more or less associated with something bad, more and more people are beginning to understand that both we and our best friend, the dog, need good bacteria in our bodies to feel good.

Huge numbers of bacteria live in and on every human and dog, in fact significantly more than we have cells in our body. Of these, an estimated 95 percent live in what is called the gastrointestinal tract, that is, from our lips down to the rectum. Most of the bacteria live in one of our largest organs: the gut.

Many bacteria are common to different species, but of course there are individual variations. Because the intestinal microbiota, which is colloquially known as the intestinal flora, is affected by factors such as genes, our environment, age and the food we eat. When we talk today about the composition of the intestinal flora, the focus is often on the latter - our diet. Which is not so strange because many of the bacteria that are in our body enter precisely through the food. There are, of course, bad bacteria that we don't want in our bodies, neither in our own nor in our dogs'. But the good bacteria are at least as crucial to our health.

The modern human has existed for roughly 200,000 years and only 10,000 years ago did agriculture develop. This means that for about 190,000 years, people ate what they could hunt and gather, such as fish, nuts, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs and lean meat. We didn't eat so much salt, sugar or lactose products, which are staples that we now consume daily, and often several times in the same day.

 

 

Industrialization: a culprit in the drama

But how does an imbalance in the intestinal flora affect our health? Although we are far from knowing everything about how the bacteria in the gut affect humans and dogs, research has come a long way. For example, it has been established that there is a two-way communication between the brain and the gut that extends much further than we could ever believe.

In the past, it was believed that communication only consisted of the brain sending signals to the gut for movement and emptying. But now we know that the gut also communicates with the brain. We know, for example, that the neurotransmitter serotonin, our "feel good" hormone which at low levels can cause depression and anxiety, is produced by the microbes in the gut. And many researchers believe that there may be a connection between disturbances in the intestinal flora and ailments such as asthma, allergies, obesity and diabetes.

For dogs, it is known that most of their immune system is located in the gut. Then it is not so strange that an imbalance in their intestinal flora can have a huge impact on their general well-being - just like for humans. The importance of the intestine for the dog's well-being is therefore not only about the consistency of your four-legged friend's poo, but also everything from behavior to fur quality.

 

---

 

Glossary

 

Probiotics
Live microorganisms, i.e. bacteria, which when ingested in sufficiently high numbers have scientifically proven positive health effects on the intended animal species.

Prebiotics
Carbohydrates that are not broken down and absorbed by the small intestine but reach the large intestine in unchanged form. In the large intestine, they are used as nutrition by the probiotic bacteria and fermented.

Microbiota
The collective name for the microorganisms that live in the gut, such as bacteria and yeasts.

Keywords:

Dog Probiotics

, Read more

My life as an asphalt dog

The asphalt dog, our best friend in town, lives a fast-paced and exciting life. Ride the subway, hang out in a café and hang out with friends in the dog park. But a one-sided diet and an environment far from the dog's natural habitat means that the bacterial flora in the gut is disrupted. This in turn affects the dog's health.

 

The dog has been an obvious part of families and households for thousands of years. It has guarded the farm, hunted rats and been an invaluable companion in our everyday life. No wonder we want to bring our pet to town!

 

At Animal Probiotics we usually talk about "asphalt dogs". These are dogs who live with their families in big cities with all that that entails. Mostly walking on pavements and in parks, taking public transport, being an office dog or going to daycare and hanging out in restaurants. An asphalt dog is simply a beloved friend who gets to accompany its owner on all of their antics in the city.

 

A normal day as an asphalt dog

 

We have talked to dog owners in big cities about what life looks like for their asphalt dogs. Thanks to the proximity to green areas and nature reserves in many  neighborhoods and suburbs, the dogs are often allowed to go out into the woods. If not every day, at least on the weekends.

 

- Our dog takes forest walks at least once a day, says Johanna, who owns the Bichon Havanese Billie. We live in an area close to a lot of forest and nature.

 

Having dogs in daycare or hiring a dog walker to walk the dog while the dog owner is at work is common. But there are also many people who bring their dog to work. Anna says that she has deliberately applied for jobs where she can work from home or bring her Shetland sheepdog Oscar to the office.

 

- His day starts with breakfast and then a walk to the subway, says Anna. Then at lunch we take a walk around a few blocks and in the evening we always go for a longer walk in the forest.

 

What we at Animal Probiotics think distinguishes the asphalt dog from a dog that lives in the countryside, is that it is usually kept on a leash. Although tarmac dogs visit and play with friends in the park or during walks in the woods, their contact areas with other animals are much more limited than those of dogs in the countryside. Sometimes an asphalt dog can also be carried in bags or fit in the stroller next to the family's children, further limiting contacts. In addition, they live in well-kept home environments with little exposure to bacteria - both good and bad. All of these are factors that can have an impact on the dog's health and general well-being.

 

The urban environment affects both dogs and people

Just like for people, it is an adaptation for dogs to live in the city. Living in a big city is actually a very new phenomenon from a historical perspective. Only with industrialization did we move from our farms to seek jobs in factories and offices. The new environment comes with many positive sides, but it also affects our health.

 

New dietary habits and high demands on cleanliness both inside and outside our homes mean that we are not exposed to bacteria in the same way as before. In our intestines live hundreds of different bacteria that we need to feel good. Research shows that disturbances in our intestinal flora are behind many health problems. Modern germ and dirt scares have made our home environments more sterile than ever. This leads to many bacteria that are actually good for us being cleaned away in the same way that we scrub and wash away the bad ones.

 

It is only in the last decade that research into the impact of gut flora on human health has really taken off. But so far, the discussion has barely included our four-legged friends. Although the bacterial flora in their intestines is also assumed to be affected by the changed lifestyle. Good bacteria that the dog previously got when it slept in a barn, rolled in a dung heap or played with the dogs next door do not find the asphalt dog's intestines as easily. In addition, many dogs receive a one-sided diet consisting of one and the same dry food. Therefore, dogs, just like humans, may need probiotics as a supplement to their regular diet to improve the bacterial flora. Because when the gut feels good, then the dog is happy.

Keywords:

Famous dogs

, Read more

Dr. Lönner, animal probiotics and the desire to help

Clas Lönner, founder of Animal Probiotics, is one of the country's leading probiotics researchers. We sat down with him to talk about gut health, country life and how he came to dedicate his life to helping animals and people feel good.

 

Already in 1988, Clas did his doctorate in the "Technical Microbiology" department at Lund University of Technology. Clas commitment to probiotics, the good bacteria that balance the intestinal flora, has been part of his everyday life and research efforts ever since. Not only is he one of the researchers behind ProViva, he has helped cancer patients improve their intestinal health and produced lactic acid bacteria, so-called starter cultures, for sourdough bread.

 

- It is only recently that public interest in probiotics has grown. It makes me happy that so many people see the value in maintaining good intestinal health – the benefits are so many, Clas begins enthusiastically. I will never forget when the very first people who started drinking ProViva called and thanked our probiotics for making them feel so good. A wonderful feeling.

 

Helping and benefiting is what drives Clas forward. That is the reason why he decided early on not to dedicate his life solely to research.

 

- Basic research is extremely important, but it is so often that something absolutely fantastic ends up in a book and then stays there. It will never benefit anyone. I want there to be an application, and in my case to animals and people's everyday life.

 

 

A golden hamster and fifteen horses later.

Clas and his family – wife Maria and the three daughters – today have several horses, two dogs and a stable cat. Animals are part of the family and the lifestyle, but it hasn't always been that way.

 

- I didn't grow up with animals. Or, well, my sister had a golden hamster. But one evening when I was studying for a master's degree in chemistry, a group of guys sat and talked. I heard myself say that it is a dream for me to start a family in the future, live in the country with a cow, some chickens and a lot of other animals. My friends laughed and of course I've been told this ever since, but today that's exactly how my life looks like. Although the cow did not become a reality, if you are to be careful.

 

It was when he met Maria, who for her part grew up on a traditional farm, that the vision of the future from that late evening hit home.

 

- She is incredibly good at seeing how the animals are doing, just by looking at them. And my daughters have also largely inherited this trait, it's cool to see. Especially for me as a researcher, who otherwise always looks for answers in science. Life together with Maria and the daughters has meant that a very strong feeling has been built up for the animals and their well-being.

 

 

The dog's immune system is located in the gut.

The family shares responsibility for the animals on the farm, Clas proudly talks about the responsibility the daughters and wife take. On the weekends, they often go away together and compete with the horses. Working so committed to the well-being of animals is rooted in a deep and genuine commitment.

 

- As an owner or a mother, it feels in the heart when one's animal is not well. I think a lot of people can relate to that. What not everyone knows is that many dogs, horses and cats feel unwell due to an imbalance in the intestinal flora. To a large extent, it has to do with how much we humans have changed our way of life and urbanized. We live in a fairly sterile environment and feed our pets commercially sterile feed. There are many dogs who have probably never sniffed a dead bird, for example. Maybe it sounds like something good, but for the dog's intestinal flora it is so important to come into contact with bacteria of various kinds, in order to stimulate the immune system, among other things.

 

Not "feeding" the gut with good bacteria leaves room for bad, disease-causing bacteria to move in.

 

How can an unbalanced dog gut express itself?

 

- The imbalance causes it for the dogs. The largest part of the dog's immune system is located in the intestine. With a well-balanced intestinal flora, the dog is healthier and feels better. This applies in general, in today's society, but it can be extra important to think about, for example, if the dog has stomach and intestinal disorders, problems with skin and fur or undergoes a change of environment, says Clas. But very many dogs today, and people for that matter, need to actively add probiotics to have a healthy gut.

 

The desire to help, mixed with an enormous stubbornness, was the background to his starting Animal Probiotics, then ProEquo, in 2004. The company took over a collection of probiotic bacteria intended for animals from the actor Probi, the company behind, for example, ProViva and Probi mage and also the company which Clas once upon a time helped start. Now Clas and his colleagues are investing in reaching more people with their animal probiotics.

 

- Our goal is to become one of the world leaders in animal probiotics. I am passionate about helping animals feel better, and about science. The most rewarding thing is to hear from pet owners that their dog, horse or cat feels better from eating our probiotics. And to see for yourself how well-being our own animals are; I am convinced that probiotics are an important part of them being so healthy.

Keywords:

Dog Probiotics

, Read more