It was love at first sight when Luke Jacobz met Ollie. Now he’s teaching others how to care for man’s best friend.
He’s the host of one Australia’s biggest singing shows, but Luke Jacobz happily admits his heart belongs to a small tan dog.
The X Factor presenter met adorable pooch Ollie through a mutual friend a few years ago and when Luke’s mate could no longer look after him, animal lover Luke stepped up.
“I’d fallen in love with him,” the 33-year-old says of the jack russell-pug cross, known as a “jug”.
“We’d made that bond already so I rescued him, and he’s been my heart and soul ever since.”
Ollie gets to travel everywhere with Luke – work, the park… he even gets to sleep in the same bed!
And if the former Home And Away star ever needs help learning his lines, you can bet his best bud and biggest fan is there.
“When we’re doing The X Factor, I go in to do voiceovers and he’ll come and sit in the room,” smiles Luke. “He just sits there and waits.”
But it’s not just at the studio where these best mates bond – at home they watch The X Factor together too.
“He’ll jump up to the TV and stand there and watch it,” laughs Luke.
“I think it’s the voice because his ears will prick up.”
And while three’s a crowd in most relationships, Luke reveals his girlfriend Katie Hansen isn’t fazed by Ollie and Luke’s bond.
“Katie has come into the house and she’s not jealous because she has a great relationship with Ollie as well. Until you’ve actually had a dog and had that connection, it’s hard to explain how much they can mean to you.”
Since becoming a spokesperson for the Purina P.E.T. (Play, Eat, Train) Project, Luke is on a mission to help improve the wellbeing of dogs across Australia.
“It’s all about feeding, exercising and training them right. Some pet owners think if they can eat something, their dogs can too. But that’s not the case.
“If you give a dog like Ollie two rashers of bacon, it’s the equivalent of 17 scoops of ice-cream,” Luke says.
“You may think you’re giving them a treat, but you’re doing them more harm than good.”
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