My Digital Dog Hero is a brand-new series from New Digital Age, created in partnership with Tripadvisor. Inspired by NDA’s most popular editorial feature, My Digital Hero, this new series celebrates the dogs that keep some of our industry’s most senior figures inspired.
The series follows the recent launch of a Pet Travel Hub from Mars Incorporated and Tripadvisor, designed to help pet owners find local adventures and businesses that welcome four-legged companions.
To kick off the series, we spoke to Philip O’Ferrall, CEO, Outernet, about his canine companion, Huggy Bear, best friends with Alan Carr and Adele’s dogs and a regular passenger in limos and private jets.
Who is your dog hero?
Huggy Bear. He’s a Patterdale cross, 16 years old, and nearing the end of his engagement on Earth.
What has he done to win hero status in your eyes?
Any dog being part of the family is a grounding commitment. Bringing dogs into the office is a real asset to any business, especially on stressful days. When people are having a tough time and the dog brings over a toy, it suddenly doesn’t feel so bad.
We’ve got a pro-dog policy here at Outernet, which works really well, as does the wider district around us. Huggy’s very much part of the family and part of the business.
Our head of security even created him an access-all-areas pass. It’s a proper, working pass, and only he and I have one.
Has Huggy Bear had any particularly glamorous experiences?
Yes, quite a few. He’s definitely flown better than I have. He’s been on private jets, chauffeured in limousines, and even turned up at celebrity events where dogs weren’t technically allowed—but when you’re with talent, dogs tend to get a pass.
Has he had any famous canine friends?
He has, actually. The other hero dog in my life was Joyce, one of Alan Carr’s dogs. Joyce was always Huggy’s protector. Huggy also used to hang out with Louis, Adele’s dachshund, who sadly isn’t with us anymore.
We’d often be at events and say, “Right, we’ve got to get back to the dog,” and someone would have already arranged a limo and keys to the house. It was all very rock and roll, just for the dogs.
He’s lived a pretty extraordinary life for a dog, and he’s been right there with me through it all.
How has his heroism helped support your career?
Calm, stable consistency is always a great reminder of how to behave in business. Huggy brings that, without question.
He also has great emotional intuition, which is really helpful in difficult situations. Even from a HR perspective, having a dog around seems to ease the atmosphere and calm things down.
Beyond that, having a dog that doesn’t judge you and is always positive translates into life and leadership too.
Is taking your dog on holiday a good idea?
Yes, it is. If you commit to having a dog, you’re all in.
Obviously, sometimes you want to travel without your dog, and that’s fine, but we often use Tripadvisor to find places that are properly dog-friendly. And they have to be really dog friendly.
Dogs are a reflection of their owners, so annoying dogs usually have annoying owners. Huggy’s very well behaved. In hotels, he often ends up sitting behind reception while we’re at dinner. In fact, some places don’t want to give him back.
Where in the world is the best place you’ve taken your dog?
Bovey Castle is amazing. It used to be the WH Smith family’s estate, and it’s very pro-dogs.
When you arrive, they offer you Wellington boots and ask if they can take your dog for a walk. Even the doorman gets involved.
Plus, there’s a swearing parrot in the lobby that says the C word and the F word, which is quite funny.
It’s just one of those rare places that properly welcomes dogs, not just tolerates them. Huggy absolutely loves it.
