Published: 3 April, 2014
By DAN CARRIER

JAMIE Belman is known for striding over the fields and hills of Emmerdale Farm with a sheepdog at his heels – but now the soap star has packed in the acting profession to take dogs for walkies without a camera trained on him.

The actor, known for his roles in the ITV countryside soap and The Bill, launched a dog-sitting service, The Wag Club, in Highgate this week. 

He told the New Journal his decision to quit  stage and screen was prompted by his experience of leaving his inseparable pet alone while he went to auditions. 

He said: “I had returned from a stint of working in America and brought home a rescue dog I saved from a shelter in New Jersey.”

Boo, a Bichon-Yorkie cross, was the catalyst for his launch of The Wag Club.

He said: “I brought my dog home with me and found that he had such massive anxiety when I went out to work. It was heartbreaking – I couldn’t leave him during the day.” 

He tried to find dog walkers but no service suited his needs.

“It struck me that dog crèches and kennels want your pet for a whole day,” he said. 

“I needed someone to look after Boo for just a few hours. I was disillusioned with waiting in draughty corridors for auditions, knowing Boo was at home getting into a state, so this was the answer.”

His dog crèche offers grooming and training.

He added: “I’ll maybe go back to acting –  if I am offered a role in a new Lassie film.”