Paul O’Grady says the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home pooches regard him as "the canine version of an Anne Summers sex toy".
The ‘For the Love of Dogs’ host works closely with a number of four-legged friends on the programme, and the aroused mutts sometimes get so excited they "go to town" on the 63-year-old TV presenter when he is at the London-based animal shelter.
Speaking backstage at the National Television Awards at London’s The O2 on Tuesday night (22.01.19), Paul told BANG Showbiz and other media: "It’s the usual, me crawling on my knees, being mounted by various breeds of dog.
"Seriously, a lot of them when I go in there they think, ‘Oh, this is the canine version of an Anne Summers sex toy this is.’
"They sort of go to town on me. I’ve had some terrible experiences. I’ve had to go home and scrub myself in the shower."
Paul – who is married to Andre Portasio – took home the Factual Entertainment accolade for the series, and admits he is "very proud" of the show for highlighting issues such as puppy farming.
He said: "It’s a ‘Cinderella’ story. A poor, abused dog has been dumped, and they work miracles at Battersea to bring them back and then a very kind person comes along and offers them a home, so it has a happy ending.
"We’ve highlighted the issues like puppy farming.
"It’s a job I’m very proud of."
He also joked: "They’re a nice lot to work with. I rescue most of them from a brothel in Amsterdam."
As well as spending his time at work surrounded by animals, Paul also has a number of pets, and admitted he has no plans to retire in the near future because he needs all the money he can get to feed his animals.
He said: "I can’t afford to retire. I’m not sitting on barrels of gold. I’ve got God knows how many animals to feed and pig nuts are expensive, I can tell you.
"I enjoy it, so what would I do? Probably sit at home getting into trouble, so it’s best if I keep working.
"How often do you get the chance to go for a walk with a dirty great bull elephant the size of a London bus?"
Paul O’Grady: Battersea dogs think I’m a sex toy
