Responsible Owners

After the recent comment from 'A Real Professional' I was angry and a little bit down that there are still people out there who think that only way to 'Train' a dog is to brutalise him either physically or mentally. Indeed, they see nothing wrong with it and consider anyone using a more thoughtful method as 'Softies'. I wonder if these advocates of "Beat some respect into him" have children and if so how they raise them. I also wonder how many of these 'Professionals' have dogs of their own that they interact with on a day to day basis so that they can truly understand the dynamics of the pack, be it human/dog or dog/dog. A well publicised 'Dog Expert' with ten years 'experience'. Said on TV this week when talking of a service for dog owners "If I ever had a dog it's something I would use". What next, Formula 1 drivers who can't drive but have seen a road? Pilots who think a Spitfire is a mother-in-law? People who go for advice about their dog are often at their wits end and at the very least should expect to deal with someone who can show a deep and lasting interaction with the creature that they advising on. Remember this really can be a matter of life and death to the client dog. It is too serious a matter to be taken lightly.

That's the rant over. Now the good bit. It has become very noticeable not only from my own experience but by talking to other Amichien Practitioners, how much more aware many dog owners are becoming. It used to be that most enquiries were in relation to behavioural problems in the dog and a breakdown in the relationship between dog and owners. It now seems that many owners are having consultations shortly after picking a puppy up, to nip any such problems in the bud. This has to be the way forward, it's so much easier to gently guide a puppy from day one rather than try to get them to 'unlearn' behaviours at a year old. Responsible dog owners know that they have to share this planet with rest of us and are addressing the matter. Now all I have to do is to persuade those parents who allow their screaming brats to make my visits to Tesco's (other supermarkets are available) a nightmare, to come for a consultation and I will be truly happy.

Treacle Goes To Tea

Last weekend my wife Rosemary and I, along with daughter Caroline and son-in-law Steve went to visit my eldest son Brian and girlfriend Nikki. As Nikki has a houseful of dogs Treacle was invited too. It was a wet day ideal to introduce the 'yoblet' to a Labrador of mature years, a Collie cross, a Westie with a trimmed body and 'Rasta' haircut and a couple of extra guests, a Jack Russell and her puppy. It was a great if rather damp day. Treacle thoroughly enjoyed herself, she got grumbled at by the Lab because she was impolite and was put in her place. She played with them all but bonded really well with the Collie. At the end of the day she had a few lessons in dog etiquette and had made some new friends. She went home worn out and straight into snoring mode.

She has also made a new friend at home. She has started 'hanging out' in the back garden with the cat from next door. If she is not in the garden he has taken to putting his head through the dog flap to ask if Treacle can come out to play. I think I'm going to have to persuade Steve and Caroline to change her name from Treacle to Spike. We can then sit her in front of the TV and show her Tom and Jerry videos until she gets the right idea. Either that or buy her a kaftan and enrol her in a yoga class.

Comment by 'A Real Professional'

I always enjoy reading comments to my blog or website but I was surprised by one that popped-up over the weekend that referred to my earlier post Why use Amichien bonding? I started to read and, Oh Dear!! Mr or Mrs Angry or what?

The comment started with an attack on Jan Fennell as a person and on her methods in fact on the whole idea of Amichien bonding. It then went on to refer to a link which when I accessed it was pure poison. Who is this person that we practioners of Amichien have upset so much? I pondered. It seemed that the only thing they didn't say was that my kids were ugly! I looked to see who the message was from and saw that he or she had signed themselves 'A Real Professional' but had decided to remain anonymous. That made me angry. Here we have someone claiming to be Professional but failing to give any clue as to their background, making sweeping statements and criticisms without having the moral courage to stand-up and say "This is who I am, this is what qualifies me to speak, these are my criticisms and this is my evidence." The writer, who I shall hereafter call RP as their assumed name, clearly does not know Jan (or does he/she?), they clearly have not understood my earlier post.

I thought some more and then it came to me, of course, if RP is a Professional then that must make us all amateurs. I thought about the dogs I have worked and of the many lives they've saved by finding missing children, vulnerable elderly people and attempted suicides. I thought about the large amounts of drugs they've recovered (how many lives saved there I wonder?). About all the bad guys they've locked-up. About keeping the streets (and me) safe. About all the work raising the profile not only of Police Dogs but all dogs and those that work for their welfare. About working with my dogs to give people with special needs and with terminally ill children from Chernobyl a bit of fun. During my Police service, and beyond, I dealt with dogs with behavioural problems. So on reflection I really think I can call myself a Professional, my history is open to public scrutiny. I don't feel the need to sign myself Anonymous. Why should I? Why should anyone?

I think about the other'Amateurs' using the Amichien system. Off the top of my head I can think of another retired Police Dog Handler, a gun dog trainer, an Instructor for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Dog Rescue workers, Kennel owners and Dog Groomers. They all seem to know what they're doing. None of these are stupid people, we have all seen the variety of 'traditional' training methods at first hand. So why do we all decide to use Amichien? Let me see. Because it works. Because it is stress free and it works for every breed and for every non medically based problem. Of course the system has to used consistently. If you were on a diet, went to the gym and ate salad all day but had six pints of beer and a box of chocolates every night at bedtime, you would still be a fat bloater no matter how many lettuce leaves you ate.

Now I don't want you think that I have a suspicious mind or believe in conspiracy theories, but, why should RP get so het up over a stress free and gadget free. natural system? Unless, it was in someones interest to have a world full of screwed-up canines that would enable you to sell a range of ever more bizarre products at ever higher prices to 'deal' with the problem. If there was a system that didn't need expensive gadgets to resolve problems, that could be to some people in the dog world (I won't honour them with the title dog people) like a car than could run on water to a petrol company, very dangerous.

I was going to publish the whole comment by RP but when I followed the link it took me to a site selling a range of products including electric collars to shock your dog to obedience. Of course you could save yourself the cost of both electric collar and dog and just buy yourself a cabbage instead, because that is probably what you would be left with after canine ECT. There is no way that I will give any encouragement to anyone selling these barbaric items.

In conclusion I have a shrewd idea that RP is female, from the USA, has serious jealousy issues and probably sells 'training aids'. How close is that RP? I'm almost tempted to guess your initials!!