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Tony's Blog 20-02-12

Hi folks, this is my last blog from the Land Down Under for the moment, and I leave Australia in a state of flux (the country, not me - I had a great time and got to help even more dog owners). The biggest news at the moment over here is the continuing power struggle between the current Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and her Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd. Just to get everyone up to speed, K-Rudd was the leader until he was deposed by Ms. Gillard a while ago. The longer this goes on, the more Aussies are feeling uncertain about the leadership of their country.

Guess what? This is classic pack behaviour. Nature abhors a vacuum, and in the case of canines and humans, this includes the need to know who is in charge. The situation in Oz right now means that this position is far from certain, and after talking to many people here, they just want it to be sorted sooner rather than later. The longer it goes on, the more insecure they feel. If Kevin and Julia do not sort this out, they may find the backlash leads to them both being out of a job.

Dogs - like people - need to know who is the one they can trust, and if they don't see that kind of behaviour from those around them, they can take on the responsibility themselves. Of course, the problem for a dog is that they find themselves in our world - a world they do not understand (no matter how much we may pretend that they do). Even when we can convince our dogs that they can trust us with the job of pack leader, we shouldn't be surprised if they ask for reassurance from time to time. Call it "Election Time" maybe... It's best to show the kind of calm leadership that promotes confidence.

Cheers, Tony

PS Sometimes when politicians lose their cool, it can be funny. The egg thrower did not see this one coming. Give 'em hell, John!

John has a slight altercation!

Tony's Valentine's Blog

Hi folks, I am full of the spirit of love and stuff, as 14th February can mean only one very special thing... my dog Kez celebrates his birthday.

This week sees my old Kezziwezz turn 12. As I may have mentioned before, his personality and that of his daughter Pru are perfectly mirrored in their birthdays. Kez was born on St. Valentine's Day, and he loves everyone. Happiness is cuddle-shaped for the Kezmiester. Pru..... she was born on Hallowe'en. That's all I am saying...

I have just recorded an interview with one of our Dog Listeners who is also an Obedience judge and instructor. It is a great interview which sheds light on the huge difference those dogs who, thanks to Amichien Bonding, are relaxed and happy while performing the various tasks, and those who are not due to a lack of good leadership. I originally filmed it as part of an introduction to our new eBook on Dog Anxiety, but it quickly became apparent that what she had to say was of value in a different way. I just need to marry the video and audio together and upload the film, then I will send out the link :)

The point is that (as I often say), as long as there is no negativity in the training, things like obedience, agility, flyball, dog-showing etc. are cool and often fun (as they should be for dog and owner). They are icing on the cake... but you need a cake underneath to support it.

Amichien® Bonding is the cake: When the dog trusts its owner’s ability to make the everyday decisions, it is far more relaexed when asked to perform certain functions or indeed be the centre of attention. Hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at them can be traumatic (how many people don't like that kind of attention?), but knowing that the leader is OK with it helps a great deal.

While you are waiting for me to get my act together with the link to the interview, here is a little something to make you smile... (I would like to point out here that I am not responsible for the music!)

Cheers, Tony

When One is Never Enough

Don't Panic!

Hi folks,

I don't know if you caught the unusual way some people celebrated Australia Day this year, but it ended up with their Prime Minister being bundled into her car, minus one shoe and hitting her head on the car door as she escaped an angry mob. Her bodyguard did his job well, but Miss Gillard may have a couple of bumps and bruises as a result of his actions.

A panic reaction is very rarely done in a cool, level-headed manner. My dad once hit me so hard that I flew back into a brick wall. However, I was about to blindly run out into traffic at the time and I did get an ice cream afterwards (it helped the swelling on my eye to go down).

Dogs can sometimes nip their owners when in such a panic, whether it is while there is a perceived danger, or they think the owner is going to leave the house (some dogs will grab the owner in an attempt to keep them there). Advice to try and communicate with, or get the dog to sit while it is in this state, or even tell the dog off nearly always falls on deaf ears...

The reason why a dog panics is two-fold - it does not understand our world AND it believes it is the one responsible for our safety. While we cannot change the former, we can totally change the latter by demonstrating good leadership, and not just at times when they are panicking (when the best thing to do is firstly be calm and not to try to get the dog's attention). Once the initial adrenalin levels have dropped enough for the dog to calm down, then it is possible to interact with them. Of course, getting the dogs to believe in your ability as the decision maker in the pack helps enormously too. That's what we help people to do.

To see what the sudden adrenalin rush does to a nervous system, check out the clip below.
Cheers, Tony

BOO!

The Genuine Article

Hi folks,

I have been asked by quite a few people about what the difference is between a dog trainer, dog whisperer and Dog Listener. Others are confused as to the difference between those who call themselves Dog Listeners and the real thing (unsurprisingly there are quite a few who have jumped on the bandwagon, offering all sorts of dodgy doggie advice and "magic wand" gadgets that are a waste of time and money). In order to answer this properly, I think it useful to talk about something that happened to my sister recently.

Ellie had heard that there was somebody near where she lives who was calling herself a "Dog Listener", yet had been banned from owning dogs for neglect and cruelty. Naturally, Ellie wanted to be sure that this woman was not a member of our organisation - as it is all too easy for people to get the wrong idea from half-hearing a story - so she looked up the full list of people who we recommend. Of course, this woman was not on there, and after a brief phone conversation, the individual in question has removed any information from her website linking her with us.

So that everyone can be assured that the person they may be contemplating to help them is actually someone they can trust, simply check on www.janfennellthdoglistener.com and go to "Our Dog Listeners" to see if their name is featured on our recommended list. If so, then you know that the person in question is following our Quality Control Monitoring programme that helps us make sure they are giving responsible advice that does not put stress on dogs and owners. If not.... we can't guarantee you'll get a good service. However, we do have a lot of new members who are starting out, and if you cannot see their name yet then feel free to ask us. Remember, just as all dog trainers are not the same, neither are all Dog Listeners! Make sure you ask for their credentials and links to Jan Fennell.

Cheers, Tony (I am on the site by the way!)

PS Maybe the clip below helps to show the difference between an Amichien approved Dog Listener... and the rest. Thankyouverymuch u-huh-huh...

Can You Tell The Difference?

Tony's Blog 6th Jan 2012

Hi folks, and Happy New Year. My annual winter migration in Australia gives me opportunities to help a nation that often feels "cut off from the rest of the civilised world" as I have been told a fair few times, and so it was that last week I was once more in the 3AW Melbourne studio to reply to questions about antipodean pooches. Unsurprisingly, they have the same problems as the rest of us (fancy that!).

Anyway, as is sometimes the way of things, my introduction music was embarrassingly "How Much Is That Doggie In The Window". I cringed visibly. It reminded me that over here you can still buy dogs in pet shops; something I cannot remember seeing in Britain since I was a wee child (that means small in Scottish, not incontinent). The big problem with pet shop pups is that there is a high probability that they come from puppy farms. There are even adverts in the press where there is a "shopping list" of dog breeds. You get in touch, pick the one you want, and they make them. Sounds easy, but there is a BIG cost. More of that in a moment.

There is increasing pressure from organisations like Oscar's Law here in Australia, trying to get puppy farms banned, and with good reason as the majority keep their dogs in appalling conditions, over-breeding with little concern for the quality of pups they are producing. Often there is in-breeding between family members, resulting in future health problems and deformities. At this point I will make no comment about the various royal families in Europe...

A puppy farm pup can cost a small fortune in the long term - I remember a friend years ago who had two German Shpeherds. One was bred by my Mum, and the other by a former police officer-turned-puppy farmer. I met him once... what a constable. The puppy farm dog cost him an arm and a leg (not literally - it wasn't an aggression problem) in vet bills for the severe hip and leg problems this poor creature endured through bad breeding.

Basically, unless they can prove otherwise... A Pet Shop Pup is a Messed Up Pup (I have used the word "messed" so kids can learn this simple message, although I wanted to use something with a bit more "punch"). Let's help our Aussie friends by giving this phrase the same impact as A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas.

Cheers, Tony
PS click on the link below for MY favourite song with the word "Dog" in it.... I used to dress up like him at village discos...

Dog Eat Dog

Christmas Blog

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS...

Hi folks, as we reflect on the year just gone (always saying the same thing, "I can't believe how quickly the year has gone!"), I thought it would make a nice change to do a quick review which does not focus on the various troubles and traumas that are so typical of the media in general. I find myself once more in Australia, avoiding another winter (yes it is as good an idea as it sounds!). I did the first Aggression Workshop here in Geelong last week, which was very well received and will lead to a Safe Handling Workshop, both of which we will be offering elsewhere next year.

The first half of 2011 saw yours truly appearing regularly on TV in Australia, which was a great experience. I met lots of Aussie celebrities and guess what - they have the same issues that "ordinary" people do. My personal favourite was the music guru Molly Meldrum, who proved much more of a challenge then his equally famous dog Ziggy. As an aside, I wish Molly all the best as he recovers from his recent accident.

China and South Korea became the latest countries to buy the rights to "The Dog Listener", and I was contacted recently about appearing on one of China's most popular TV shows. I imagine that may mean quite a few people watch it... We are also finding new friends in India, as well as continuing our great work in the rest of the world. Mum held a Foundation Course at Monty Roberts' home in California, and she met up again with the main man just a few weeks ago in the UK. It is so cool that her original inspiration and mentor all those years ago has been her friend for these last few years. We will be going back there in April and September 2012 to do it all again, and I am currently talking to some people who want to help me run courses in Washington, New York and Philadelphia (I shall keep it quiet that I support the Cowboys...).

We have had a few changes at the HQ - My sister Ellie decided to change career this year and join the family business (makes us sound like the Mafia!), and her long experience as a teacher has already has a positive impact on our educational courses, as well as greatly improving our on-going assistance for our many associates all over the world. We have put the finishing touches to two eBooks on Aggression and Separation Anxiety, which will include a FREE audio file to further improve the help we can offer for these particular problems.

Personally speaking, 2011 was the year when I ran courses for the first time in French, which in itself was a huge step forward. They were a great success, and gave me confidence to start working in another language, culminating in my first ever talk in France in November. The advantage to doing a talk in another language is that if I tell a joke that they don't laugh at, I can claim that it is down to being English (it works for me...). In any case, apparently I did a good job as I have been asked to do more in Paris, Toulouse & Montauban, as well as running the first course in France next April. Tout s'annonce bien...

So to sum up, as I end this year where I started, it would seem that 2012 is going to be as much of a challenge (and as much fun) as 2011. In fact, later today I am having a meeting with a vet and his associate to discuss how to implement Amichien® Bonding into a re-homing scheme for dogs that have been used in animal experiments. As soon as I know more I will share the information with you all.

That'll do it I reckon - all that remains for me to do is to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Fantastic 2012. To help get you in the holiday spirit, here is the best Christmas song ever made (Mariah Carey was a close second...) http://youtu.be/HwHyuraau4Q

Cheers for now, Tony

Tony's Blog 07/12/11

Hi folks, I am back in England for a week before heading back out to Australia. There'll be no time for jetlag as I will be giving a presentation on the evening of my arrival, all about the Truth on Dog Aggression, in association with a well-known celebrity veterinary.

Although this last week has definitely made up its mind to be when winter starts, we in Europe have been spoilt by some very mild temperatures of late. This has meant extra sun worshipping by yours truly, but it has also confused Nature no end. Flies are walking about (so maybe they should be called “Walks”), my rosebush still had buds on it etc. and over at Pond Farm, Mum's carp were in action once again. Normally, when it gets colder, they "shut down" and stop eating, but they have been large as life at the surface, awaiting the shovelling in of copious amounts of food.

As a result, Mum went to the local garden centre to get some extra supplies. When she saw that there was nothing in the fish food section left, she asked if there was anything out the back.

"You can't give them food now; they never eat in winter."
"I know that's what is said, but can you come over and tell the fish that?"

Anyway, after much discussion as to whether she should just leave them to go hungry or not, a bag of food was found. It was quite expensive, but Mum said she preferred to give them something rather than risk them being hungry now which could affect their survival during the winter.

OK here's the thing - because it was a rather expensive bag of food, they offered her a free “feeding ring”. When she asked what it did, they replied that it was put in the pond so that if ice formed, it would still leave an area clear of ice so fish could get to the food.

I'll let you think about this for a second...

That means that somebody has invented a device that allows fish to eat in cold weather, and even though the people at the garden centre told her that feeding the fish in December was wrong, THEY SOLD THE FEEDING RING.

This means that someone out there realised that an animal's nature doesn't necessarily conform to our idea of what they should do. They invented something which appreciates the reality of the situation.

Needless to say, Mum and I appreciated the irony...

Cheers, Tony

Bonjour tout le monde,

I am writing this blog inside that darkened room I mentioned in an earlier posting, after a hectic November. Courses in Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark (many thanks to those who helped organise them), and to finish off the month a full-on weekend in which I sandwiched my first ever talk in France with two birthday parties for my good mate Pascal. Maybe staying up until 6am was not the best way to prepare for a 3 hour talk in French, but when I saw the hall fill up (extra chairs were brought in) I got all the energy I needed to get over 150 French people enthused about the Dog Listening process. 2012 already looks like the right time to start courses here, both in French and English. After all, I am not the only Brit living over here... We are everywhere!

Being able to understand and communicate in another language meant that I was able to successfully get the message across (even if I did make the occasional gaffe). If I had used the traditional British way of speaking a foreign language - to shout in English - it would not have gone so well. It is no different with dogs. Once you understand their language, their behaviour is easily explained, and - more importantly - you know how to give the right answers to their questions. The great thing about Amichien Bonding is that we already know the dog's language. All that has happened is that we have forgotten how to do it. That's where AB comes in.

Even the word "Amichien" is a great example of this idea. Taking the French for "friend" and "dog" and sticking them together shows that when you understand the language, it is obvious.

OK, time to listen to whale song with the lights out - I have a short time to recover before I head off to Australia once more to give our new Safe Handling course, as well as an Aggression course and the Foundation course too. Phew - just looking at that has made me tired.

Cheerzzzzzzzzz, Tony

PS Pascal invited me up on stage with his new band to play a couple of songs - the first time we have done that for a looooong time. This song means a lot as not only is it the unofficial French national anthem, but it was used on the last Australian TV segment. ”Lets rock!”

Tony's Blog 17-11-11

MAN EATS HIS OWN LEG

Hi folks, so far November has been hectic to say the least. Work in Sweden, France and Switzerland already done and tomorrow I head off to Denmark once again. Copenhagen (wonderful wonderful) beckons.

For those of you who have been asking to see more of me (so to speak), I may be on TV again soon, this time in France (which will be very cool). France 3 are interested in doing a feature later this month so regardez cette espace...

I heard yesterday that apparently in America there is now a law that states that the owner of any dog that barks for more than 10 minutes risks getting a fine. I have yet to have this rumour confirmed, and I wonder if it one of those "facts" that nobody believes until the words, "in America" are added at the end. All of a sudden it becomes feasible, as in the example below:

"A man ate his own leg."
"No way!".
"In America."
"Oh OK..."

Understanding why a dog barks all the time is the first step to solving the issue. Barking at potential danger can be dealt with if the dog sees the owner as leader and they create a positive association and sometimes actually look to see what the problem is. Done correctly, this is really effective and I have seen previous serial offenders stop in their tracks once the right information is given.

Barking can be a sign of separation Anxiety or of Attention Seeking too. Knowing the right way to address these problems in a calm, psotive manner is the way to bring peace to the United States. A fine does nothing to improve the situation. In fact, is the owner feels even more stressed as a result of the dog's barking, it can make the situation worse.

Actually, maybe this is a tactic to get the USA out of its debt crisis...

Cheers, Tony

PS This clip does contain colourful Australian language (so watch only if you are not easily offended), but it does show how a dog can react to a potential danger, no matter how harmless it may seem to us...

Wilfred in The Car

Tony's Blog 25/10/11

BIG AND SCARY!

Hi folks, this is my last week in Australia for this trip, before heading back to Europe for a full-on series of talks and courses in Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and France. I hope the French will have gotten over the disappointment of losing the Rugby World Cup, especially after having salt rubbed into the wounds by being fined $15000 for crossing the halfway line while the All Blacks performed their Haka (it made great viewing though). May I suggest that the next time England play New Zealand that the English players perform the equally ancient battle ritual of mooning the opposition (from behind the halfway line of course...).

The Haka is another demonstration of the second option of defence that animals use. Making yourself look big and scary can deter an attack, once the first option of Flight has gone. This of course explains why so many dogs out there are more aggressive on the leash than off it. The way to solve this is to show the dog that the owner is the decision maker, so it has less reason to be worried by the world around it. All of this information and more will soon be available on our brand new Aggression eBook, which will come complete with a free accompanying audio. More news on that soon...

In the meantime, here is something the French have given us which is one of those rare occasions when our tendancy to humanise animals produces something really funny. Watch until the very end - brilliant! Click here for The Dragonfly/Wasp Race.

Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 19th October 2011

There's a new buzz going on' literally (I know my sister's experience as an English teacher will mean she will be sick of seeing the constant misuse of the word "literally", but bear with me Sis).

I had an interesting phone call over lunch from a gentleman who is currently involved in a country-wide initiative to rid Australia of Asian bees, which invaded the country in the last few years (you see? Literally a new buzz...). The problem is serious as they are taking over from the European bees, which will have many unwanted side-effects to the ecosystem. We are all now aware of the importance of bees to life on Earth; if Mankind died out there would be no problem for Nature, whereas the disappearance of the bee would have a catastrophic consquence to the planet. Someone could argue that Man dying out would be a bad thing as it would mean no more X Factor.... but that someone is definitely not me.

Anyway, the plan is to train dogs to act as "species hounds"; sniffing out the hives of Asian bees so they can be dealt with, while leaving the European bees alone. I have been involved in this kind of training before in New Zealand, where non-indigenous animals have threatened that country's fragile ecosystem, and the advice is the same.

The key to success is patient training, using positive reward for the dog choosing the right target, plus (of course) the foundation of trust that the dog sees the handler as the overall deicison maker, or "Project Manager", if you like. The dog will WANT to work for the handler, rather than being made to. As a Dog Listener, I have previously been able to fast track success with Guide Dogs for the Blind, as well as police dogs and sniffer dogs. Watch this space to see how this latest development.... er, develops.

Click here for more Quite Interesting facts about bees, courtesy of Stephen Fry and friends. HONEY BEES
Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 29/09/11

Hi folks, I am just taking a few moments to write this latest blog before I head off to the airport, then it's off to Australia again! I wonder if this will be the first time that I leave better weather for worse... I hope the Europeans are enjoying the Indian summer. What do they call it in India? Maybe it's just known as weather...

While I am back in Oz, I am going to try to get footage of a certain sheepdog in action. You may not think this is necessarily of interest, but if I added that the dog in question is a Shar Pei... maybe that should be seen.

The fact is (as I keep saying) that the breed of the dog is not the issue, but the personality and nature. A Shar Pei is a dog with a hunting instinct, used in this case to drive the sheep along. That's how we started to use that skill for our own benefit in the first place. Not all guide dogs are Labradors, not all police dogs are German Shepherds, and if you check out the clip below you'll see clearly that it's not just Beagles who do this. € (for future reference, € denotes a bit of a joke - maybe that comment deserves a € too? More of a Greek tragedy perhaps...)

If you have film of a dog doing something that is against the traditional breed stereotypes, we would love to see it at the office. Perhaps we could compile a "Best Of"...

Cheers, Tony

"Why Your Dog Really Goes Outside......"

Tony's Blog 21-09-2011

Hi folks, I am starting to get my stuff together for more travels - Australia in October, followed by Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark in November. Then I am considering hibernation until Spring...

I have mentioned before that humans act like animals all the time (and this is not meant in a bad way). Currently the Rugby World Cup is taking place in New Zealand, home of the world-famous All Blacks.

One of the highlights of seeing New Zealand play is the Haka (I probably haven't spelt that right) - a traditional Maori challenge which is very intimidating, and that gained extra meaning during the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War (the one commonly known as the Great War - although personally I think it was ghastly). After a battle to drive back the Turks, the allies celebrated, and some Maori members of the ANZACs performed a traditional dance upon the hill. The Turks, seeing these frightening warriors with their scary eye movements and tongues hanging out, retreated even further.

I was lucky enough to witness the All Blacks perform live at Eden Park, shortly before they gave England a rugby lesson. It was made all the more impressive as there was a Maori sitting just behind us who, upon seeing the players begin, leapt up and joined in.

All animals (who know what is good for them) will avoid confrontation if possible, either by running away (as the Turks did) or by standing ground and looking as scary as possible - just like a rattlesnake, rattling its tail, or the Maoris performing the Haka.

The Haka - done properly - is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in sport. However, there was a time when it resembled less a show of strength, rather a group of Dads at a wedding disco.. (click here for the clip)
Cheers, Tony

NEWS JUST IN: My first talk in France will take place on Saturday 26th November in Cahors, in association with the Refuge Canin Lotois. More details to come- very excited!

Tony's Blog 14/09/11

Ethnic Cleansing in Australia?

Hi folks, once more a story about politicians jerking their knees and getting the wrong end of the stick; this time in Victoria, Australia. New legislation being brought about to ban "dangerous" breeds has meant that rescue centres there have been overwhelmed with the sudden flood of dogs either deemed vicious, or in some cases simply left because of a panic reaction by owners, scared that their beloved pooch may be a killer. The usual suspects are pit bulls, Staffies and anything that looks like them.

Meanwhile, in America a young child was attacked by a Labrador. A TV vet in Australia once stated on national TV, "There are two things you need to know about Labradors: One - they are always hungry. Two - they love children". It is not clear if they can eat a whole one though... Any plans to get rid of them (just in case)?

Throughout history, certain sections of society have been singled out as being a "problem", and steps have been taken to eradicate them. I think we know of a few examples. One wonders if somebody in Victoria will create a hidden haven for these banned breeds, a secret place where they are protected from authorities. I look forward to reading the diary. Let's just hope they don't use sharks to find them... (click here for "Sharks and Nazis.)

Obviously, something needs to be done, and the politicians are doing what they think is the right thing. However taking action without knowing the facts is not what we elect them for. They are supposed to make reasoned, informed judgements. What dog owners need is education (I would say it twice more but that line has been taken by another Tony). Any dog - given the wrong circumstances - is capable of causing harm, yet if people knew the correct way to interact with them, the incidences of dog attacks would be eradicated, without any loss of life.

It's not difficult, guys. Ask a Dog Listener!

Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 07/09/11

Hi folks, from time to time we are reminded why dog is called Man's Best Friend, and this little story is such an example. As you may know, I have been recently working with Australian celebrities and their dogs, but this particular duo was the prototype, so to speak. (By the way, don't you agree that the term "psycho" is thrown about nearly as much these days as "conspiracy"...?)

Check out this brave warrior and his story: click here to see Taj, the "psycho" spaniel.
Go Taj!! I might add that when I met the pair of them a few years back, the so-called psycho was a sweetie... but then again I know what to do around dogs, and soon so will everyone else (more on this later).

There are some "experts" out there who claim that a one-colour cocker spaniel is prone to "cocker rage". The first syllable is apt here... Whenever a dog bites a person, there is inevitably a knee jerk reaction to ban "Dangerous Dogs". However, the number of adorable, calm and happy Rottweilers, Dobermans, Staffies etc. far outweighs the few. Hmm, weren't people saying that during the recent riots in England?

Blaming the breed and not the deed is something that people do when they do not know what to do. Thankfully for a lot of dogs and owners, they have found Amichien ® Bonding and they lived happily ever after. It is also a reason why we are putting the finishing touches to our brand new package which deals with that most thorny of dog problems, Aggression. Keep an eye out for its release. I guarantee that it is the definitive answer for anyone out there currently suffering from this most unfortunate problem.

Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 30-08-11

Hi folks, just a quick thought after stumbling across an article about the idea that Galileo "got it wrong". It struck me that the word "conspiracy" gets used willy, and indeed, nilly these days. Even an element of the Catholic church has used it now (see Galileo got it wrong) It was everybody's favourite Pope John Paul II (the one with the lickable face according to Stewart Lee) who actually apologised for the church's treatment of Galileo at the time. Interestingly, the less lickable current Pope has backtracked from this now...

Anyway, I sometimes get the feeling that Galileo and us have a lot in common (hopefully this statement will not lead to angry astronomers burning copies of our Walk DVD!). The evidence is there, it makes sense, and yet when we explain the true nature of dogs, people see it as a conspiracy theory against the idea that dogs are "little people".

Fortunately, the number of folks out there who listen is growing all the time, and although there is still a long way for us to go to get to the top of the mountain, the climb is the interesting part (I read that profound quote in an interview with none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger - a man who, despite not being able to act or speak English properly, decided that he would become Hollywood\'s most highly paid star. Who’dathunkit?).

I have set myself a similar challenge - to make Dog Listening the most well known method of dog training in France. Now THERE'S a challenge. I'll keep you posted on how that goes... Bonne chance a moi!

Cheers, Tony

PS Here is why Michelangelo did not paint the Last Supper www.youtube.com/watch?

Tony's Blog 16-08-11

Bonjour tout le monde,

We had a family trip to Lyon last week (see photo). As you can see, the dogs are impressed by the view. They were the centre of attention wherever we went, most often from japanese tourists, who would come over, take a photo and go off straight away (I admire their stamina on their brief but intense holidays, although I did hear of a group of Japanese tourists who feel asleep in their plane while going over the Grand Canyon after a whistle stop tour of USA). Anyway, it was a good thing that my two are fairly relaxed around big crowds. Of course, Amichien Bonding helps, especially for Pru, who is a nervous character, and would occasionally look to me to see if everything was still OK.

It reminded me of the consultation I did in France that brought me to this part of the world. A couple who live about 45 minutes from where i am now had a poodle that had a lot of issues, including freaking out in public. As part of my time with them (I had a few days) we went to a well-known market in a picture postcard town called Figeac. By that time, this dog had shown enough improvements at home and on little sorties for us to take this step, so remember, only go as fast as EVERYONE feels comfortable, human and dog.

We arrived at one spot that was in full swing, so to speak, at which point our canine friend became overwhelmed. Keeping calm, I advised the owner to go down a side street which was at one end of the square, and do some SSCD to reassure the dog that all was well. After about 5 minutes, they both returned, calm and relaxed.

Dogs will ask questions all the time, and our task is to give the right answer. When we can do that, the dog is reminded that it is not the one making the decisions for the group, and it can chill out. My dogs are soon to become stars in Japan, I am sure...

Normally, I do not recommend other TV shows about dogs, mainly because the info isn't that great, and indeed sometimes downright dangerous. However, if this US version is as good as the original Australian show, then it should be well worth watching. Click Here To Watch
A bientot, Tony

Tony's Blog 02/08/11

Greetings, here is something to DEFINITELY brighten up anyone's day. If you don’t at least giggle at this clip I will be very surprised!
What's the name of that area outside the school, surrounded by fences and gates so the kids can't get out (in theory)? When I was a kid, it had hopscotch squares marked out in paint, monkey bars (no mats thank you - it was the 70s) and we would all run about everywhere, often flailing our arms in all directions. What was it called??
Ah, that's right - a playground.
Not a "walk" ground.
Put kids on a patch of grass and almost immediately there will be high pitched shouting and screaming and definitely some high speed antics. We used to race to the climbing frame and back to see who was the fastest, running forward, backwards, even high velocity skipping (a lad called Gary was brilliant at skipping - had his own special technique which resembled a triple jump movement. There were no rules against it so he won. Thorpe St. Peter's very own Dick Fosbury).
Anyway, the point is this - at no point did we think it would be a good idea to just walk about for exercise. In fact, when we were kids we never understood when adults would tell us to wait "to let our dinner go down". It was straight out of lunch and off we went. We played, we found out where we fitted in the school pecking order, we fell over, we cried, we LEARNT.
Dogs play. Some dogs play a lot, especially when they are young. They learn valuable skills for life, such as grabbing each other by the neck or legs. This is instinctive so they can practice how to bring down prey to survive. It is important. Going for a walk because it is "a lovely day" is not important.
Also, when they play, it is in short bursts, and then it is over. No hours of plodding for them. So why do we think that is what they need now?
Five minutes of play with your dog is more beneficial, more stimulating, more fun and more natural to the dog. You can even do it indoors if it is raining. Brilliant! Try it with your dog and see what happens. Play safe and have fun, especially if it means avoiding a drenching in the dark. Why do we think that is the right way to exercise dogs? Well, that is the subject of another blog...
OK, serious dog learning done, click here to enjoy Playing Dead. This is a fantastic clip!!
Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 27-07-2011

Hi folks,

The Space Shuttle program has flown its last mission. I remember watching with extreme excitement the very first launch thirty years ago (yes I am that old). All our lessons were cancelled and a TV was brought into the classroom, and we sat there, marvelling at this latest great adventure of Mankind in space. Of course, at that age I dreamt of being an astronaut, and who knows, if Virgin Galactic gets a bit cheaper (!) I will be able to live that dream and orbit around the Earth one day.

Amazing to think therefore that, despite all the images sent back from space that CLEARLY show the Earth to be a spheroid (pedants will point out that it is not a sphere blah blah blah) there is still a Flat Earth Society, dedicated to the idea that the planet we live on is actually a Discworld. How can it be that they can ignore all the evidence?

This society helps me to be pragmatic when people tell me that dogs are not related to wolves. I remember seeing a documentary about dog breeds on the TV a few years ago, which was very interesting right up to the point where they stated "Today's dog is half wolf, half human". What bizarre breeding programme were they referring to?

Listen, we can ignore reality or accept it, and once we respect the dog for what it is, then we can start to appreciate its part in our lives all the more, and (more importantly) get the relationship with them that we and the dogs deserve.

Rant over ;)

Cheers, Tony

Here's a clip of the Earth from space - We live HERE? Location, location, location...

WE LIVE HERE? Location, location, location

Tony's Blog 20-07-2011

Greetings folks,

I made a startling discovery last Friday at the vets, while the Dynamic Duo (or Gruesome Twosome) were having their rabies vaccination boosters (they last 4 years in the UK, but only one year here in France, due to the French being annoyed at the British government for demanding them in the first place. Vive l'amour!).

Anyway, I was glancing about and my eyes fell upon a chart of dog breeds. I scanned them lazily, then suddenly I realised that the Great Dane was not called a Grand Danois according to the picture - it was called a Dogue Allemand. German? Immediately it reminded me of the blog I wrote a while ago about how the British changed the name of certain breeds to make them sound less Germanic. Daschund, German Shepherd and Saxe-Coburg being the best examples...

This was to avoid angering a public during the time of the World Wars. A sort of rebranding, if you like, so people forget. I wonder what the new name for The News Of The World will be...

Whether it is the relationship between the British and the French (have you seen the advert with the talking snail and frog?), or how we feel about the Germans (friends of mine went to the World Cup in Germany a few years ago and were "shocked" by how nice German people were), it all boils down to tribes and territory, which is... yes, you guessed it, a natural instinct we share with dogs and wolves (see my latest Youtube clip). I could (and will) go on about how we share so much natural behaviour with other predatory mammals, just in case this reaches scientists - you know, to help them out a bit.

While we wait, here is a clip illustrating what can be achieved if we cooperate. Je vous presente... Ze Flying Sheep
Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 13/07/2011

Greetings, back from watching the Tour de France LIVE - nearly lost an eye from having a free bottle opener thrown at me by one of the many advertising floats that precede the race itself. All that waiting and it was over in a matter of seconds. Punchlines not necessary thank you very much.

Another week goes by, and yet another university "study" into the nature of dogs comes out, which on the one hand states that people create problems for dogs by humanising them, but on the other hand the relationship between wolves and dogs is overstated. I would like to say that I have fond memories of being at University... I would like to say it, but I can't as I went to Kingston Uni. But I digress.

This week I have stuck a video clip onto our old friend You Tube, where I PROVE that people think like wolves. In fact, there are more times we do, but for the sake of this week's blog I am focusing on the one. Are you looking closely? Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW0nlLap6Ys and judge for yourself.

Also, someone asked me recently if it was disheartening that even though Dog Listening is easily the best way to train dogs, why it was not on TV. Of course, Australia is already ahead of everyone else (that will be the time difference), but after watching a brilliant documentary about the comedian Eddie Izzard, I am always hopeful that eventually, everyone else will get it. By the way, guess what routine got Eddie finally noticed? Ironic... http://youtu.be/ctcMF9TQJCg
Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 21-06-2011

Hi folks, I'll start this blog with some wise words from someone I know;

"I have a list of qualifications as long as your arm, but the next animal that comes in here doesn't know, or care".

That came from the man himself, Monty Roberts, and is a great example of this week's pondering. One of my clients asked me if I had heard of a new study that "proves" that dogs differ from wolves, as they do not follow a strict hierarchy, nor are they governed by dominance. I replied that this sort of research goes on all the time, and opinion can change dramatically from one day to the next. Remember the scientist who claimed that vaccinating children with the combined MMR jab could lead to autism? After creating a political and clinical storm, he later said that he had got it wrong. Too late - the number of cases of measles, mumps and rubella in children in Britain shot up dramatically. Hey-ho...

Scientists have PROVEN that by all the laws of Physics, the bumblebee cannot fly. Tell that to the bumblebees...

Basically, all I know is that Dog Listening WORKS, and works better than anything else out there. We continue to study dogs and their relatives in order to further our knowledge, yet all our studies keep coming back to the basics of Amichien® Bonding, which are easily the best way to go, and the way that dogs respond to it shows that THEY are the best judges of what works, not organisations or clubs who THINK they know (the huge bonus of AB is of course is that it doesn’t use pain, force or dominance).

This brings me to the second point - this idea that wolves and dogs can be graded in black and white. Dominance is not necessary with either, rather all that is needed is good leadership (Gandhi was no Rambo). Depending on the differences in environment, wolf behaviour can change noticeably, with temporary alliances forming, or packs splitting up as needs dictate. The main thing to keep in mind is that leaders are the ones who know best within any pack or group and make the decisions for the benefit of all.

OK, rant over. Let's lighten the mood with a clip of someone who definitely has not done official studies sanctioned by "professionals". Judge for yourself if this has stopped him... Chooker Parker
Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 08-06-2011

Hi folks,

It would appear that last week's topic hit a nerve, and it had nothing to do with the mention of Nazis (I think we are all agreed that they were not the most pleasant bunch). It was the idea that dogs "talk" that stirred some discussion (ironically). It is amazing to think that if you inform people that dogs are descended from, and think like wolves, they will not believe you, yet if you say that your dog understands EVERY word you say, there is much nodding of heads in agreement. Go figure.

One of the cleverest dogs I have ever known was our black German Shepherd, Sasha. She could balance a ball on her nose, waiting for me to clap my hands, at which point she would flick it up into the air and catch it deftly in a spilt second. Brilliant stuff. If I then gave her the choice of going to the park or to the forest for a walk, she would look at me, turning her head one way and another, trying to get the idea of what I was on about.

Of course, key words like "Park" and "Forest" would get a response, but the context was lost. It would have been an error on my part to assume that she knew what I was talking about. However, how many owners out there get a hysterical reaction to the word "Walk"? Don't think that this means the dog is thinking, "Brilliant, off we go for a walk. I can sniff the flowers and listen to the birdies in the trees etc. etc." Some poor people have to spell the word W-A-L-K in order to avoid creating the Tasmanian Devil (this has nothing to do with excitement by the way - for a solution to the chaos on the walk just have a look at our new Walk DVD package, which is solving this thorny issue for countless people, and all without using gadgets, gizmos, harnesses, reins, stirrups or anything else you can think of that is out there.)

With this in mind, I would like to firstly say that the dog is NOT ACTUALLY TALKING in this clip, and also that (I hope) there was no actual teasing going on. Having said that, how funny is this video? Enjoy. The Dog Tease

Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 31/05/11

Hi folks, yours truly here with you regular dose of off-the-wall ponderings, and this one in particular is inspired by the news that last week it was divulged that the Nazis had spent time and effort trying to get dogs to talk. Now THAT'S an opening sentence.

The plan was to get the dogs to infiltrate enemy territory, and then report back to their superiors. I can only imagine they were convinced this could work after seeing that the Americans had trained a Rough Collie to alert the locals when children fell down wells in the area... Anyway, one of the "star pupils" cold apparently let his meisters know that he wanted sausages (It would take another 30 years for Britain to get their own version of a Sausage Dog"... Click here to see the clip)

Incidentally, the term "Sausage Dog" was coined during World War II so Dachshunds were not thrown out onto the streets in the UK. The same applied to German Shepherds, who became Alsatians, and of course the Saxe-Coburg family, who changed their name to Windsor...

One of the most common mistakes people make with dogs is believing that they think like us, rather than the other way around. This includes top Nazi scientists apparently. Some of these same men went on to help America with their nuclear program. Go figure.

Cheers, Tony

P.S. I discovered a brilliant way to remove ticks from my dogs at the weekend, which requires no specialist equipment or lotions and potions. Make them dizzy! See the link right here How-to-remove-a-tick

P.P.S. This dog clip from "That's Life" is even better than Prince. Click here to see the clip
For some reason it is sub-titled in Dutch (why not?). I remember clips of this show being shown on French TV years ago under the title "The English are Crazy". I wonder why they thought that...

Tony's Blog 26 May 2011

Hi folks, this week's blog is - to be honest - just an excuse to show a particularly funny clip, but it does shed light on a common theme that, as a Dog Listener, I have to talk about to explain its importance.

If you remember the game "Simon Says" (I have tried to get people to play along during talks and courses with varying degrees of success. "No, Tony, we will not join in. We are adults now and have better things to do like pay bills etc." Honestly....) then I use this to point out that dogs understand the game too. Dogs are very good at getting attention in many ways (see last week's blog), and if it works, the dog knows what to do next time. Some dogs will then interpret it as a sign that they are in charge, which of course can lead to all sorts of problems.

People who understand Dog Listening become very good at being more stubborn than dogs, as some of them are VERY persistent. If you ignore your dog's attempts to get your attention, then call your dog to you once it has given up, you show that you have a personal space that deserves respect. This is what is done by the pack leaders in Nature.

Click below to see how one persistent dog met its match.

Throw The Stick /

19 May 2011

Hi folks, I am back to reality in France (not a bad reality to have really). I am disappointed to see that during my absence the DIY fairies did nothing to my house so it's back to the dirty work. A far cry from the life of a TV star in Australia... Showbiz is a fickle mistress.

The subject of saying "No" to a dog came up a few times while I was Down Under, and in order to explain why it is something to avoid, I had to explain to people what an ASBO was. The Anti Social Behaviour Order was one of the British government\'s less successful ideas. Basically, if someone was convicted of being a public nuisance, they were given an ASBO with the intention of shaming them to behave.

Unfortunately, it had the reverse effect, and young ruffians (feel free to add your own term if you feel \"ruffian\" is not sufficient) would collect them like scout badges. I was briefly in the cub scouts many years ago, and only ever got my Shoplifting badge. Well, I stole it really...

Anyway, the point is that if attention can be gained by bad behaviour, it will be gotten that way. I have met many "delinquent" dogs who have tried to attract my attention by throwing, chewing, knocking over tables, pushing chairs around, barking, jumping and grabbing... the list goes on. If any of this behaviour works, the dog will do it again. The trick is to ignore this and (if the behaviour is too extreme) give the dog a Time Out, so it can think about things while it has lost the pack.

The other thing about using the negative is how we humans have problems with it. Our subconscious cannot process a negative command. For example, do not think about a blue tree right now.

You thought of one, didn't you? In order not to think of one, you HAD to think of one. Clever, huh? Today's clip is another example. All you need to know here is that one of the T.V. presenters was specifically told NOT to touch the "sweet" looking mascot...

CLICK HERE TO SE THE CLIP

Cheers, Tony

Tony's Blog 19-04-11

Hi folks, interesting developments over here in Oz to report. A vet right here in Geelong asked to meet with me about doing an interview for 3AW radio, one of the most popular talk radio shows in the country. He also invited me to an open day going on today at his surgery today (Sunday) which I will head off to in a couple of hours. There is talk of a sausage sizzle...

The talk at the home of the Geelong Cats went down well, even my jokes (well, most of them). One lady came up to me at the end who told me she was going to come to the Sydney courses. She had been following The Dog Whisperer's work for years, and had recently attended a 2-week dog training course in Queensland. She told me that for the first time she felt that the pieces were starting to come together, and that I was the first person who had explained WHY AND HOW we should do certain things with dogs (another difference between Dog Listening and other methods out there ). If anyone tells you to do something, be sure to ask why. If the reply is not convincing, think twice before doing it. Anyway, I look forward to seeing her in a couple of weeks, and to guiding her in her future career.

The jet lag hit me out of the blue last night in one of my favourite restaurants, which could have offended my friends if they hadn't known. I remember the first time I came to Oz I actually fell asleep in my dinner on the first night! This clip shows very well what jetlag can be like...

Cheerzzzzzzz, Tony

Tony's Latest Blog From Down Under

G’day cobbers, yep it’s that time again. I am back Down Under for a few weeks, starting with a talk this Saturday (giving me a couple of days to get over the jetlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa………… it strikes at the oddest time!)
I got talking to a guy at Heathrow airport, while having a coffee just before boarding, who was going to Boston, Massachusetts for a water colour course (over there he will be using water colors of course). Check out his work at www.peter-robson.com. He gave me a greetings card with a London winter scene which is brilliant.
He told me that his teachers advised him to practice doing the things he found difficult until it got easier. Simple advice, yet how often do we actually do that? Great raw talent is one thing, but persistent practice is far more important for success. David Beckham would spend ages doing extra practice, long after the rest of the team had gone, and as a result he virtually carried the England soccer team at one point.
The point is, as long as your practice is consistent, you will make sometimes drastic improvements, even if occasionally you can have “one of those days”. However, unlike David, you don’t have to spend hours doing Dog Listening… unless you want to. Some dogs are excellent dribblers too…
There are 6 places left on the Foundation Course in Sydney at the end of the month, and after seeing the exchange rate yesterday (which came as a shock) now would seem to be the perfect opportunity for Antipodean friends to take advantage. Click on the courses link on my website to book a spot.
P.S. Here is the latest TV clip from Australia. Good music choice this time, but they do seem to like to see me walk…
Latest TV Clip "Braakensiek's Bad Girl" Go to the straight to the "Pets Page"

Tony's Blog

Hi folks, yours truly is back home after a full-on course in Yverdon, Switzerland. Full-on because it was the first ever Foundation Course done in French, and I did it without a safety net! There were a few slip-ups language wise (or paux-fas as an Aussie once put it...) but they found it charming rather than alarming. Not like the time I was in Montreal and instead of saying "mammals" I said "boobs".

It turns out that Swiss law says that dogs must be walked everyday, so for a split second there was a problem when I said that owners do not have to walk their dogs. Thankfully, one of the skills that comes with experience is the ability to think outside the box. I suggested that they practice Stop/Start Change Direction indoors, that way they can truthfully say that they are walking their dogs every day, as it transpires that the law is not specific about WHERE the dogs are to be walked. Ta-da! This elegant solution went down very well with the students. Anne-Francoise - who contacted us in the first place to organise the course - got the best birthday present too. She got rid of her Guilt about walking the dogs come rain or shine. Five minutes of SSCD indoors while it is raining outside is much more enjoyable (and drier too of course).

Unfortunately, this weekend's success does mean that I now have to start working on the translations for the Advanced Course. Have I created a rod for my own back?

Cheers for now, Tony

Tony's Latest Adventure "Down Under"

Hi folks, the latest TV clip has just been aired in Australia. Don't tell anyone but there I was with these two high fashion designers, who know all kinds of a-list stars (AND Simon Le Bon!), and while I was adjusting the microphone I noticed a food stain on my T shirt. You can't buy class...

(click here to see the clip and go to the \"pets\" page.)
As you will see, with some dogs it doesn't take long for them to get the message. Once you use patience and consistency, you actually find the results come quicker than if you rush things. Ever noticed that the time you are in a hurry and you take a shower, that is when the soap becomes extra slippery? Once you relax, things go much more smoothly. That is the same for walking the dog to heel. There are some people who say that the dog's nose must not go in front of the owner's knee, which results in not looking where you are going and constantly jerking the dog around. Not great or practical. A dog can be slightly ahead, as long as the lead is relaxed. As Mum says, when the lead is smiling, you are Happy and In Control.
Cheers, Tony

Tony's latest TV spot 02-03-2011

Hi folks, as I write this blog I am just back home after a great weekend teaching the Foundation Course in Vallentuna, Sweden, and a really fun talk in Gothenburg for the first time ever, as well as giving a magazine interview. It seems Sweden is really getting into the swings of things.

This is the link for the latest TV clip has just gone out in Australia, and it is a cracker. See how yours truly tamed the Hound From Hell by clicking here: "Ruby Rose's Pound Puppy" and going to the "pets page"

As I keep saying, understanding the language of the dog is the key to success, and once you get the idea, you can easily avoid problems like the one in the clip. One of the biggest obstacles to this is our insistence on humanising animals. Walt Disney made a fortune doing it (I remember being slightly disturbed as a 4 year old after watching a rabbit and a skunk talking to a deer, In English, with an American accent. I followed rabbit around for weeks afterwards trying to get them to talk to me...).

People can substitute dogs for children, and by treating them as such give the dogs the wrong kind of information that can lead to all sorts of problem behaviour. However, one thing I am keen to mention is that you can both treat the dog as a dog, and still give loads of affection. You just have to do it at the right time and in the right way. On a previous talk, one woman told me that she loved to cuddle the dog in its basket, and she was afraid that I would tell her to stop. I reassured her that she could still do it, but she would have to get in the basket first, then call the dog to her. That way, everybody was happy.

Having said that, there are times when humanising animals is really funny. Watch out for the moment in the clip from the Craig Ferguson Show that the unicorn gets the words wrong (I never thought I would ever write that sentence in my life...).
Craig Ferguson Show

Cheers, Tony

Tony's Newest Blog 01/03/2011

DOG LISTENERS, DOCTORS AND DENTISTS
People have said to me in the past, "As a Dog Listener, don't you sometimes get sick of talking about dogs?"
I think I know what they mean - you hear the old chestnut about doctors at dinner parties being asked for their opinion of the host's haemorrhoids, for example. And I always like the joke about the gynaecologist who can't form a relationship, "If I see one more...".
Well, in a little down time between filming for Channel 7 and returning to Europe (next stop Sweden in mid February, which after being in the Australian summer will be a SEVERE shock), I have, among other things, been reading Russell Brand's autobiography (which may explain the rather risqué comments above. He's such a bad influence, don't you know).
Intrigued by the description of some of the TV shows he has done in the past, I have looked for them on Youtube, and as you know, yours truly has a penchant for adding a clip from said website in an attempt to entertain as well as inform.
Sometimes though, I have found a good clip, only to be put off by the barmy comments that some people feel they need to leave underneath the film, not only for or against the clip itself, but sometimes verbally attacking each other, using some right naughty language (I am sounding like Russell again).
Anyway, what does this have to do with dogs? Well, there was one rather nasty exchange between an American and a Brit, culminating with the former going on about the British and their "gross teeth".
I have heard this before from our cousins across the Pond, and speaking as someone whose teeth have "character" (in fact, I think their imperfections are part of my charm), I wonder why it is such a big deal to them. After all, if they were to criticise someone's appearance on gender or colour of skin, they would be rightfully labelled as sexist or racist (and I am sure that "dentist" does not also mean a tooth bigot... or am I?).
The reason for such an attitude is that fundamentally we are disturbed by difference. Whether race, sex or religion, we feel threatened by something that does not fit in with our world. This is a natural reaction based upon our natural instinct to survive. Just as the biggest threat to a wolf pack is the nearest pack to it, we feel our actual lives at risk from "others". I am not condoning this kind of behaviour, as our society means there is no need for it, but it needs to be understood before we can successfully manage it.
Which brings me back to why I very rarely get tired of talking about Dog Listening, or dogs - there is something of relevance in nearly everything around us, once you are aware. In any case, if ever I don't want to talk about what I do, I pretend I'm a lawyer, which usually results in social isolation! Cheers, Tony Knight
To check out Tony's recent blogs visit tony-knight.co.uk