James Middleton is a proud father and dog lover and divides his time between London and a family farm in Berkshire. He still lives there with his wife, Alizee Thevenet, their son Inigo, and their cherished pack of six dogs. A pack of four Cocker Spaniels and two Labradors rounds out the tight-knit dog family. They are used in ways that are incredibly powerful for guiding how the family operates.
Middleton, best known for his hugely successful dog food brand James & Ella, has ambitious plans for his son Inigo. To that end, he wishes Inigo to someday inherit one of the family’s pups. He went on to breed five litters of puppies. Two of those litters were with his late dog Ella, as well as his most recent one with his Labrador companion Mabel. Ella’s first litter was a landmark all on its own, producing five male puppies her first time around.
Now a father of two, Middleton opens up in his memoir about the struggles. He says, “what I love is the unique bond in dogs and autistic kids. He recalls a humorous anecdote about Inigo’s early life, saying, “He spent the first year of his life thinking he was a dog… He’d crawl around on all fours, which was entertaining to watch.”
Inigo, whose middle name Gabriel pays tribute to his maternal grandfather, has formed a special bond with the family’s dogs. Middleton expects this bond will deepen as Inigo grows older. He explains very articulate that enthusiasm in the clipped outtake above, saying “I really love the idea of maintaining a thread of Ella through my life. And my son [Inigo, two] will have one of her descendants some day.”
The couple shares responsibilities in their household equally, with Middleton noting, “My wife [Alizée Thevenet] and I share it very much equally.” Those nature walks often feature their dogs and are made possible by this partnership, which ensures they experience them as a family. He mentioned that “90 percent of the walks we go on are together.”
Life on a sustainable farm has created a space where Inigo is able to blossom along with his four-legged friends. Middleton voiced how these experiences deepen their family life and shape Inigo’s development.
As he goes about telling stories to publicize his family’s travels and encourage others to get off their screens, Middleton becomes a champion for protecting memories. He hopes to foster appreciation for his son’s French culture, along with feelings that will deepen the family connection and create memories for all.
“It is a small tribute, and we look forward to sharing lots of stories about his French grandad too.” – James Middleton
