Literary Aspirations

They say that everyone has one good book in them, I'm not sure that's true but I've an ego as big as the next person and so have been writing mine. it's a long way from complete as I keep getting diverted. There are always dogs and their owners to be helped and of course my own family to be considered so I write as and when I can, which is not very often.

Nobody is going to be interested in my early life which featured a happy but largely uneventful childhood. It becomes more of a story when I joined The Metropolitan Police in 1967 and patrolled Soho and Mayfair until moving to The Special Patrol Group at Scotland Yard in 1969. In 1975 I transferred to Hampshire Constabulary where after a short posting on the Isle of Wight I was posted to the Dog Section where I stayed until 2002 when I retired. I then took on my current role of Dog Listener.

My first decision has to be whether to write one huge book the size of war and peace or break it into two or three segments. I think I'll opt for a book about my Dog Section and Dog Listening experiences because they run seamlessly into one another and at times ran parallel. If I get anywhere with publishers then I could follow up with a tome about my London experiences and believe me, they were experiences.

In the meantime I have an interest in a couple of books by other people. One written by an American colleague Kim Kapes and titled 'From Wags to Riches' which features a little story that I told her about one of my dogs. Kim uses the story to illustrate a point. She also freely acknowledges the contributions made by myself and others to the book. I therefore have no hesitation in saying "Buy This Book".

The second publication is a different matter. Some time ago myself and a colleague, Caroline Spencer www.yourdoglistener.com assisted an owner with some seriously traumatised dogs. We worked long and hard, travelled hundreds of miles all at our own expense and much of the time in the face of indifference and "I know best" from the owner. In the end we reached a happy resolution due almost entirely to the work put in by Caroline. I then heard that the owner had written a book about the dogs and his experiences. I was interested to see what he had to say about the turn around we'd achieved in the animals. I was sent a copy of the book by someone who knew the work we'd put in. I checked the index, nothing. I flicked through the pages hoping to catch a glimpse of Caroline's or my name, nothing. When all fails, read the book. After ploughing through 299 pages. There we were, or rather we weren't. It was at the stage of the story where the writer realised that he had a huge problem on his hands. He knew that the dogs needed and I quote. "Someone with huge patience to train them. I doubted there was anyone around who fitted that bill. Well apart from me that was" So that was that. Caroline and I didn't exist. We weren't after star billing or even a name check but just a mention that he'd received some help and hopefully how well our method was in dealing with traumatised dogs would have been nice. This would have had a positive result in encouraging readers who had similar problems to know that help was available. It's no big deal but I admit to feeling a little, no that's wrong, feeling very used and exploited. It would however be a sign of petulance and petty mindedness not to tell you the title of the book....so I won't.

Phoenix the Puppy Progress Report

I went to see the litter from which I was to select my new Labrador puppy, provisionally named Phoenix, when the were three weeks old. It is a really good looking litter of three bitches (one black, two yellow) and four dogs (two black, two yellow). My preference was for a black dog but I wanted the best litter member regardless of gender or colour.

I used a method of assessment and temperament testing known only to me and two Ecuadorian goat herders and selected a black dog who pefectly suited the name that I favoured. A week later I received a phone call from the breeder telling me that there was a problem with Phoenix. My heart sank. What was the problem? An injury, or worse still parvo virus? I was quickly reassured, he was perfectly healthy but had developed tan markings on his feet and a couple of small marks on his cheeks.

Stella, the breeder said that If I did not want Phoenix she would understand as some people will only accept 'solid' colouring and because he was 'mismarked' he could not be registered with the Kennel Club. My response was that I'd selected him because he was the best dog in the litter and he would remain my choice whatever his colouring. Stella was very pleased with this but asked me to come down and have another look at him because the marking may become more pronounced and the next time I will see him is when I get back from Australia and collect him, when he'll be eight weeks old.

I travelled down to the New Forest to see the changes a week can bring. He was bigger, fitter, stronger and as for the markings? I think they look great. It may offend the purists who have dogs just for show but I want a dog that will work for me but most of all be my mate. I think I'll have that in Phoenix and of course he will be great company for Treacle.

Some Good News For A Change

For months now everything happening out there in the world and being covered in the press has been so depressing. It seems that they can only report on people such as 'St Jade', The Beckhams, Jordan and Peter Andre not forgetting Madonna and her divine right to adopt any child she wants because of who she is and the size of her bank balance. And now of course we have the scandal over expenses for MPs. Enough has been written about this by people far more eloquent than me and I'm sure that there's more to come.

So it's time for some good news. I'm getting a new puppy! Sadly due to the passage of time and the natural order of things all my dogs have gone to that great kennel in the sky. It leaves a huge void in any dog lovers life but to someone like me who spent every waking moment with their dogs at work and at home it's indescribable. I find myself looking to my left hand side ready to give a little tickle on the top of the head and there's nothing there.

I obviously urgently needed a new dog and have been looking. It's got to be a good dog because it wouldn't be fair to those dogs who have gone before to have second best. I've done my research and had a lot of disappointments but now everything has come right. A Labrador cuddle muffin called Phoenix, one of a litter of seven will be my new best mate. The timing of the birth couldn't be better either. I am off to Australia shortly for a few weeks during which time I hope to meet some colleagues from the Southern Hemisphere and see some dingoes. On my arrival home it will be just the right time for Phoenix to leave the litter and come home with me. Once he's had all his jabs we will be going to a remote cottage in Yorkshire for a break and there he will be able to play with my daughters chocolate Lab, Treacle. Exercise at this early age will of course be carefully monitored, he will still be a baby.

As with all my dogs, Phoenix will be raised using the kind, natural, non confrontational methods that I experimented with in the late 1970s but started really having great success in the mid 1980s which culminated in a Chief Constables Commendation in 1988. As you can see this is not a new method, canines of all sorts have been using it forever. It's only in the past few years that we humans, top of the food chain and so much brighter than dogs (yeah right) have realised that we can interact and communicate with our best friends without bellowing and ripping their heads off.

In earlier posts on this blog there are some frightening video clips of a younger me with hair working a dog. I hope to have a video diary of Phoenix and his progress. Watch this space.

Oh Dear How Sad Never Mind

I came across the article below and was angry but not surprised. This is the government that was going to be 'Tough on crime. Tough on the causes of crime'. When a politician produces sound bites like that you just know that they mean 'We'll make the copper on the streets job even harder than it is already, and when something goes wrong, we'll have a large number of people sit around a table with cups of tea and decide how to blame the police for doing their job'.

Read the article and see all the different groups that sat in judgement. What a collection of letters in their titles, you could get a great score in Scrabble. One thing they have in common is that they've for the most part never done anything more dangerous than stand in a queue in a supermarket. This grandly titled 'Learning The Lessons Committee' which of course is a 'multi-agency committee' (it would be wouldn't it?). Although multi agency it is a tad light on operational Police Officers who actually have to do the job. When I say a tad light I mean none, not one. it wouldn't do would it, to bring a dose of reality to the proceedings?


Lessons: Using Police Dogs Against Youngsters
12-Mar-09
A case in which two youngsters were injured by a police dog raises both good practice and lessons to be learned regarding using police dogs on juveniles...
The Learning the Lessons Committee is a multi-agency committee established to disseminate and promote learning across the police service. Its members are: ACPO, APA, Home Office, IPCC, HMIC and the NPIA. The Committee produces bulletins with articles containing lessons from investigations. One such article is published below:

Police received an anonymous call about the sound of breaking glass coming from playing fields and, suspecting a burglary, went to the scene with a police dog handler and his dog. They spotted four youngsters running towards the top of the field but because they were in hooded tops and jackets they could not tell how old they were. The Force did not have a policy about using dogs against juveniles.
The dog handler shouted that he had a police dog and would send it after them unless they stood still. The youngsters kept running and, as he was too far away to catch them on foot, he sent the dog after the nearest suspect. When the dog brought the suspect to the ground, he discovered the suspect was a girl. One of the other suspects was still moving, either running or waving his arms around and shouting. The dog ran at him and knocked him to the ground.
The dog’s actions injured both the girl, who was 15, and the boy, who was 12. She had a bruise on her arm and grazed her side and stomach; he had a cut to his upper lip and scratches on the back of his shoulder. The youngsters had not managed to get into the pavilion but three of them (including the two caught by the dog) were given a reprimand for criminal damage.
Good practice: After-care card, with suitable advice and contact information, carried by dog-handlers to be given to anyone who had received a dog-bite; copying all third-party dog bite reports to the Professional Standards Department for review and possible referral to the IPCC.
Key messages are to ensure the Force’s dog deployment policy gives guidance or instruction about deploying dogs against juveniles; integrate records held on dog-handlers to give a comprehensive picture of their performance.

Well readers what do you think? Why did it take all of these very highly paid people to sit round a table and discuss what any right thinking person could work out for themselves.

There was a crime in progress. It was either burglary or criminal damage to the pavilion.

A police dog handler attended. It may well be that had he not attended as promptly as he did then the criminal damage would have become burglary as they gained entry.

The dog handler located the offenders and challenged them. It was dark and they were wearing hoods. Their age and/or gender would not have been apparent to him.

They ignored the repeated challenge and decamped, as a result they were stopped by the dog, well boo hoo. So they were 15 and 12, old enough to be out in the dark and commit crime, old enough to shout abuse at police, old enough to cost you and me, the taxpayer, even more money. They were lucky to get away with such slight injuries, either it was a very young dog or the handler was very switched on and quickly called his dog off.

The point is that the offenders had choices. They had a choice not to either destroy property that wasn't theirs or to try and steal. Having decided against that choice, when confronted by the dog and handler they then had the choice to run or be compliant. They chose to run. Everything has a consequence of action either good or bad. These people made bad decisions and showed lack of respect for their community so why are we discussing what the police should have done?

She was a girl! Yes, and your point is? Go into any city centre at night or even just stand outside a school and you'll hear language, see yobbish behaviour and violence that you'd expect to see in the east end of London when the Krays were around.

He was 12. Once again his decision. If he wants to play the hard man the world can end in pain. Just what was the handler supposed to do? Perhaps run alongside them and on discovering it was a girl let her go? To the best of my knowledge the law applies to both genders. And as for the 12 year old boy there are some big lads of that age, I have had a 13 year old try to stab me and a 14 year old swing a scaffold pole at me with such force it broke my foot so you'll forgive me if I don't feel sorry for these little darlings.

Anyone who decides to take on a police dog is very stupid and the outcome will not be in doubt, sadly part of the outcome will be a collection of bleeding hearts blaming the police or victims.

Recent and Future Travels

It's a busy life being a Dog Listener hence the delay since my last posting. Already this year in the course of my job 'mending dogs', as well as my usual hunting ground of Southern England I have travelled to such diverse and exotic locations as Scunthorpe (twice) Northamptonshire, the Isle of Wight (twice). Still to come are France, Australia, Yorkshire and possibly America.

There have been a number of jobs on offer which it would be prohibitive in cost to the client for me to travel such a distance. In cases like these we have a network of Dog Listeners across the UK and indeed the world that we can refer the client to. In some cases clients are not concerned about the distance or cost they want a specific Dog Listener. It maybe because of their background, that they would feel more comfortable with a male (or female) dealing with their dog or they might just like the look of a particular Dog Listener. Whatever the reason I, and my colleagues will always do our best to keep the customer happy. Wherever you are we can almost certainly get someone to assist you and your best friend.

This year has already yielded a crop of super dogs and clients helped. I hope soon to update my website and get some of their stories and pictures on the testimonial page.

With a general election coming I really need to get my act together and start putting pressure on all political parties about electric shock collars, spiked collars and other brutal training methods. watch this space.

While on the subject of watching don't miss BBC2 at 8p.m. on Sunday 15th March 2009. The start of a series on Yellowstone Park my spiritual home. the place where you will (if you know the right people) witness canines in their most beautiful and natural state. I'll be recording it because I know that if I don't, then at the most interesting part someone will phone me to tell me it's on and ask if I'm watching. So everybody, yes I know it's on and I won't forget to watch.

Dogs as Film stars

On the 31st August I posted an article part of which included a warning about fashionable breeds and how they can go out of style just as quickly and then clog up the rescue centres. Further to that it now seems that 2009 is to be year for films about 'cute dogs'. There are a number of films either made or in production with some big name stars. The dogs include a Chihuahua, Labrador, German Shepherd and a multi pedigree. One of the films 'Marley and Me' I am told by people who've seen it in the US where it is already on release; is not too sickly sweet. I am however concerned that we will have an infestation of unwanted chihuahuas later in the year.

If you do see these films then think long and hard on leaving the cinema before you take the step that can lead to heartbreak for both dogs and humans.

Once Hollywood have exhausted the cute dog theme the next project is to milk the cute cate scenario (is there one?)

Be Careful About Who You Let Near Your Dog

Below is an article I picked up from a Chicago newspaper. Once again it concerns the use of cruel training gadgets on dogs. Every dog owner should read this as a cautionary tale. It's horrific not only for what this woman has done but the justification she uses. In essence what she says is that it's alright to attach an electric shock collar to a dogs genitals and if anyone complains then they're only doing so because she's black or a woman (or maybe both). No thought that it is wrong to torture a dog then? It's much easier to blame someone else. Wrong! If you either treat a dog this way or allow anyone else to do so then it matters not what gender, race, colour or religion you are this is still cruel and unacceptable. If it's not illegal in your part of the world then it should be.

I know that I talk about this subject a lot and annoy the hell out a lot of 'traditional trainers' or sellers of cruel training gadgets (often one and the same people) but it really is important. Whichever method that you choose to train your dog, please ensure that you are involved at every stage. Please don't let someone charge you a lot of money, take your best friend away and then return them days or weeks later 'trained'. You don't know what's happened to your dog or what equipment has been used. Even if you've found the best trainer in the world how can you carry on the training if you've not been party to it? If the dog has bonded with anyone it will be with the trainer not you. You are the one after all, who handed total control of your dog to a stranger. How can he trust you not to do the same again sometime in the future?

Your dog, your best friend and certainly your responsibility.

Click on and read the following link, you will, I hope, be angry. But at the same time see the positive side in that people are no longer sitting back and accepting this behaviour just because someone on TV says it's ok. I've left some of the comments to the paper attached as well. They make interesting reading, particularly if you have an interest in following the links to the bigger story.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/dogtraining/

Police Dog Sections Cut

A recent story confirmed my suspicions that the Police Service (you mustn't say Police Force......it's naughty). Have been taken over by Social Services.

For years certain elements in the 'community' and Government have been trying to either get rid of Police Dogs altogether or restrict their use and capabilities. Why? Very simple, they are effective, they have no pre-conceived ideas. They only know that the offenders track goes this way. They don't know and certainly don't care that in that particular area the 'community' don't like the police entering 'their' neighbourhood. If the bad guy went this way, well that's where he went. If someone attacks a police dog then they will be bitten. If they run away the dog will stop them. The dog is the only piece of kit in the police toolbox who, two hours after an offender has left the scene can put his nose on the ground and say to his handler "He went this way and he dropped this weapon or threw away these car keys". They can be used to track criminals, find missing persons, search buildings for suspects hiding, search crime scenes for evidence, deal with public disorder. Disarm and detain violent offenders, teach road safety to children, act as great public relation ambassadors and of course also find drugs, explosives, firearms and money. All this for a few dog biscuits and a bit of love and affection. Good value I'd say.

The rot set in when it was decided that a manager is a manager and their roles are interchangeable. No knowledge is required of the department that is being managed. We saw just how well that worked when the man put in charge of the Royal Mail came straight from heading the Football Association. there was a connection in that both organisations failed to deliver. If you've never worked or trained a dog how can you know when things are not right? If you've never been on your own down a dark alley at 3 a.m. with a group of people trying to fillet you with cutlery marked 'made in China' how can you appreciate the stress your staff are under? The fact that you ran the 'Department of Folding Chairs' for the government and can compile a mean pie chart doesn't mean much in the real world.

We now see very real cuts in dog sections across the UK. one of the largest, Greater Manchester, are halving their establishment. Think of all that dedication and experience in both dogs and handlers, gone at a stroke. Once lost experience takes a long time to regain, if it ever is. What will happen to the money saved? A lot will be kept by the government and the rest will be spent on 'management suites' and teams of clerical staff to compile more targets and paperwork for the two policeman left actually doing the job to meet and complete.

Joined up Government they call it.

Busy Times

As the title says it's been a very busy time on three fronts, dog listening, our new charity 'Every Chance Rescue' and domestically.

I am very busy at this time of year as people try to iron out problems with their dogs prior to Christmas. In the post Christmas period there are the dogs to be sorted out who have somehow upset their families over the holiday. There is also the puppy who has been bought as a present and is suffering shell shock who needs de-stressing. I'm also taking part in an 'Enhancement Course' in mid January. Along with dog listener colleagues I am always striving to improve both my knowledge and the service given to clients and their dogs.

Every Chance Rescue is due it's official launch any day now. Watch this space for website details. On Friday I travelled to Scunthorpe for the first full meeting of the Every Chance team. It was a very productive meeting with a huge range of issues discussed. As with any such venture the main problem is going to be money. There is less of it about and more calls on it than ever before but if we don't succeed then dogs will die because the dogs we are dealing with are the ones that have been let down big time by humans. Normal rescue centres can't or won't take them so it's down to us. we mustn't let them down. They've already been down that road.

On the domestic front it's been a manic year with highs and lows. The high has to be the wedding of my son Richard to Kathryn in September and my trip to Montana to see the wolves in February. The lows have been varied and include my sister having her leg amputated just before the wedding. Due to the wonderful support and resources given to the NHS by the government she is being discharged to her home on Monday. She wants to go home but not in the condition she is in. Her wound has not healed and still bleeds heavily, she developed MRSA in hospital and is being discharged without the condition being resolved. She lives alone with an upstairs bathroom and no means of reaching it. The occupational therapist in the case has been superb and tried to arrange a number of things to improve the situation. However as my sister has worked all her life and contributed in taxes she now becomes a very low priority. She was stupid enough to buy her own house but has no savings to speak of and so will be left to fend for herself. I'm her next of kin but live some distance away and certainly couldn't visit everyday. I have, in between hospital visits been making what alterations that I can to her house to make it more user friendly. Still I can relax in the knowledge that the money being saved in not treating my sister can be used in treating Waynes drug habit, Tylers ADHD or in giving AIDS medication running to thousands of pounds a month to someone who shouldn't even be in the country and certainly has no intention of contributing anything. Bitter, moi?

The Simpsons is a very clever programme full of great observational humour. In one episode about income tax, Ned Flanders is asked by his sons, Rod and Todd why he has to pay tax. He replied "It's to pay for the schools, the libraries, roads and hey, for those people who just don't want to work. God bless them."

I'm Both Interesting and Unusual

No real surprise there then. But it's true, my occupation although not specifically named Dog Listeners but people who deal with dog behaviour problems; was listed as one of the ten most interesting or unusual jobs.

My occupation came in at number four. Just below embalmers but above kosher certification consultants and vibration consultants. I've no idea what the latter do.......or do I? I would imagine that they get a buzz out of their job.

Also on the list are court jesters, feng shui consultants and Ravenmaster at the Tower of London.

So when considering a career it doesn't have to be banking, sales or a service industry. You could get out there and rattle those ravens.