Monty Don reassures fans over fears for skinny pet dog

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Monty Don, 67, assured fans that his dog Ned’s slender appearance was no indicator of a problem with health. The Gardeners’ World star, who says he finds animals just as therapeutic as planting seeds in the great outdoors, promised that his Golden Retriever was in excellent spirits and would “fill out soon”.

“Ned ribby but fine and very fit and well,” he told his 1.1 million followers in his latest garden update.

He also added: “Changes to the Herb garden- rosemary hedge out (too much winter damage), yew pebbles in.”

@ohmydarlingclementine related to his insight about the dog, exclaiming: “[Mine] looked like that in the beginning too, they fill out well, he’s going to be a strong boy.”

@penny_allan echoed: “My kitten was the same, they stretch before they fill out! Handsome!”

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@tracy2945 chimed in: “He’s a lanky teenager but will be a big bruiser very soon! Your dogs bring such joy.”

That’s a sentiment that Monty has made no secret about sharing, with the TV host even revealing that having pets had helped him heal from bouts of winter depression.

He suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and has had episodes of poor mental health dating back to when his jewellery business failed decades ago.

“It’s no secret that for many years I’ve suffered from depression,” he explained at the Cheltenham Literature Festival back in 2019, where he was a speaker.

“If you are unwell, physically or mentally, a dog is a huge comfort,” he continued.

“Dogs heal, there is plenty of evidence to show that.”

Fans had also become accustomed to seeing another of his dogs, Nigel, during episodes of Gardeners’ World – so much so that Monty playfully made him his own Twitter account.

It jokingly described the loveable canine as a “lead presenter” on the show, as well as a “faithful assistant”.

Sadly, Nigel has now died after suffering fits during the night which Monty attributed to a possible brain tumour.

However, his other Golden Retrievers, Nellie and Ned, are helping to mend his broken heart, alongside a Yorkshire Terrier called Patti.

Continuing his affectionate tribute at the Cheltenham Festival, he’d exclaimed: “A dog is an incredibly good way of getting you through the black periods because they love you all the same when you are feeling very unlovable.

“This is partly because they have to go for a walk and they have to be fed.”

He added of his self-worth struggles: “Having a dog stops you thinking about this person you don’t like very much!”

Monty shared another amusing anecdote about the late Nigel, when a policeman at Buckingham Palace showed more interest in the dog.

He had been on his way to the palace to collect an MBE at the time.

“This policeman with a machine gun asked, ‘Have you brought your dog, sir?’” he recalled to Country Living, adding: “They weren’t interested in me. Nigel was a mega international superstar!”

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