Name: Aster
Age: 5 (or 35 in human years)
Career: trained as hunter/pointer/retriever but retrained as company mascot to Alexander Macdonald LLP
Likes: food, snacks (I love Bonios) walking, swimming, black Labrador dogs (they’re just so cool though lacking in dress sense – black is so yesterday), sleeping on the sofa when no-one is watching, Vita the Cat (up to a point).
Dislikes: foxes, squirrels, cats, small dogs that look like a fast food snack (especially sausage dogs), travelling in cars, my new training diet.
Achievements: 6 Munros (Scottish peaks over 3000ft), learning to live with Vita, learning to ignore sheep and cattle
Ambitions: to retire early and spend more time with my family, to walk more, to be allowed to sleep on the sofa more often
 

Name: Alistair Macdonald
Age: are you buying or selling? (but around 8+ in dog years)
Career: former award-winning BBC TV reporter/producer, now partner in media consultancy and training company, Alexander Macdonald LLP
Likes: mountain walking, cycling, a good curry, Robinson’s bitter, exploring remote areas, river and lake swimming with Aster
Dislikes: having to share the sofa with Aster, having to carry Aster to the car when going out
Achievements: 100+ Munros, climbing to over 23,000ft on Mt Everest, managing to combine work and play for many years, learning to play the harmonica
Ambition: to retire early and spend more time with my family, to walk more, to be allowed to sleep on the sofa more often
 

Name: Scott Welch
Age: 4½-ish-ish in dog years
Career: Former boxer - amateur & professional. Amateur: ABA British Heavyweight Champ. Professional: Southern Area Champ, British & Commonwealth Heavyweight Champ, WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of Great Britain. Also fought for the Heavyweight Championship of The World losing on points. I WAS ROBBED – BAD DECISION!
Likes: Running, walking, mountain biking, skiing, motorcycles, shooting – targets not animals - and occasional bird watching ……
Dislikes: Moaning, bullies, losing & traffic wardens.
Achievements: Running 6 marathons in 7 days - Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara Desert. Lost 2½ stone in a week - would highly recommend if you want to lose weight quickly! Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Walked from Edinburgh to Brighton then cycled to Gibraltar then rowed a boat to Tangier - took two months.
Ambition: To do us much as I can as fast as I can

Name: Chris Robinson
Age: 6½ in dog years
Career: Ex sports/lottery promoter working with Manchester City, Manchester United and many others. Retrained for an IT career in 1997 working in several Asian and South American countries. Moved to Dallas, Texas, as part of a 2-year technical project in 2000, returning as an IT sales executive in 2002. Now an IT Manager at Flexsys (UK) Ltd
Likes: Running, cycling, most sports, playing piano and guitar – most good beer, and most red wines !
Dislikes: Anyone who lives life with an “it’ll do” attitude
Achievements: As a young Rochdale Harrier, achieved county level at indoor 400 metres. Competed for over 10 years in numerous longer events - typically cross country and fell racing. Ran London Marathon for first and only time so far in 2005
Ambitions: To retire comfortable and happy, and to continue expanding boundaries of achievement, both professionally and physically.

Name: Austin ‘Powers’ Hutchinson.
Age: Just over 4 in dog years – the youngest in the team. I’m a financial advisor; you do the maths for a change.
Career: Founding Partner of Mutual Financial Management LLP; an independent financial advisors and wealth management company based in Didsbury, Manchester.
Likes: Holidays, going to the gym, meals and nights out with friends, any form of DIY.
Dislikes: late nights, rude people, anyone criticising my DIY.
Achievements: 25m swimming badge, can now tie my own shoelaces without any help (I bet Aster can’t do that! ).
Ambitions: to retire happily on a boat in a warmer climate, to keep up with Aster across Scotland.