North East, female-fronted Rock Paper Productions can be found in the doghouse this weekend, when its addition to the long-running CBBC doc strand My Life debuts on the channel.
Top Dog follows Junior Team GB and their four-legged partners to a World Championship in Portugal, where they will represent their country at the World Championship for dog agility.
The documentary is a story of friendship, nerves, and whether the bond between kids and their dogs can handle the biggest test of their lives as they head to the sun to take on the world’s best.
Cat Donohoe, executive producer, Rock Paper Productions, said: “At Rock Paper Productions, we love telling stories about real people doing extraordinary things. This documentary gives us a window into the exciting and fast paced world of dog agility but it’s also about so much more than that. It’s about kids chasing their dreams and learning what it takes to compete at this level. Following them to the World Championships in Portugal was a real privilege, and we hope viewers will be cheering them on as much as we were behind the camera.”
The lowdown
Jess got her dog Micky, a Border Collie, when she was eight years old and they’ve been best friends ever since. Their favourite thing to do together is dog agility: a timed competition where they have to work together to get around an obstacle course.
Jess acts as the guide, telling Micky exactly where to go as he jumps, weaves and races around the course as fast as he can. In just three years, the pair have made it onto Team GB and are travelling to Portugal to take on their biggest challenge yet, competing against other children and their dogs from around the world, at the Junior Open Agility World Championships.
Joining them on their journey are teammates Will and cockapoo Honey. Will is an experienced handler, but it’s Honey’s first time competing at this level – how will she fare? We’ll also follow Isabella and Elsie, alongside their four-legged partners Twiglet and Toastie. Their success will depend on trust, timing and teamwork. With very warm weather forecast in Portugal, how will they all handle the pressure in the heat?
In this fast-paced international competition, every move counts. On a journey following friendship, determination and big dreams, will the special bond forged between the kids and their dogs be enough to get them through their biggest test yet? Or will nerves kick in when it matters most? Will they make it onto the winners’ podium and become world champions?
Commissioned by BBC Children’s & Education, Top Dog will premiere on CBBC on Friday, 24th October 2025 at 6pm, and will be available on iPlayer from 6:30pm.
