New Consumer Protection Laws

Today sees a massive shake up in Consumer Protection Laws giving major new powers to, amongst others, Trading Standards Officers. To tackle 'Rogue Traders' It is said to be the biggest change for forty years.

Things were much different then. In 1968 the Vietnam War was still raging, London was 'Swinging London', the mini skirt was at its height, in more ways than one and I was a young single Policeman with hair and a Fender Stratocaster, living in Soho just around the corner from Carnaby Street. Life was much simpler then and although there have always been con artists and cowboys queing up to take peoples money, it has, without doubt got much worse in recent years.

There are many ways that people can be misled into parting from their money from complete lies to just giving the impression that a person is qualified and experienced enough to competently undertake the task required by the client when they are patently not. In the world of 'Dog Training' when you encounter one of these often well meaning people and it all goes horribly wrong, it will not be their fault, oh no, it will be your fault for having that particular breed of dog, whatever it might be. "Well if you will get a (fill in breed name here), what do you expect?" Is what you'll hear, or maybe "That dog's over the top" or "Your dog's stupid, you won't be able to do anything with him".

In the canine world there is nothing to stop anyone from hiring a church hall and advertising 'Dog Training Classes' and taking peoples money when in fact they have little or no experience with dogs other than their own pet pooch at home. Indeed there is one very well known personality who makes a very good living from giving advice in how to deal with canine behavioural problems, who has never owned a dog. Another person in the same line of work who, although having some background in dogs, seriously over states their CV. Of course if someone had letters after their name that might reassure you. You could be misled. There are organisations that people can join, the only entry criteria being whether they can afford the fee, which then allow them to put a string of letters on their website. Poor old Joe Public comes along and says, "Hey these people are well qualified, lets go with them". Another ploy used by some people is to set up their own organisation which can allow letters to be used. There is one such person who lists themself as 'Chairman and Founder Member' of the particular association. Of course I can't help but wonder how many other members there are. Is this person any good? Who knows, but always check the reality behind the window dressing before spending money it may save you both grief and money further down the line.

There are many good 'dog people' out there I'm not trying to scaremonger I'm just saying be careful. If it's an obedience club, agility, field trials, flyball or any other dog activity that takes your fancy then go along without your dog and just watch. Do the instructors seem competent? Do they need to use gadgets to achieve the desired result? Is there any aggression used either verbal or physical? do the owners seem happy? And most important of all, how are the dogs reacting? Always ask questions. If the trainer, consultant, listener or whisperer, the title doesn't matter, is evasive then walk away. If your instinct makes you unsure then you're probably right.

As a 'Jan Fennell Dog Listener' I welcome this legislation because I know that I, and all of my colleagues working under Jan's name, with her blessing, are squeaky clean. Jan is a very strong lady who holds the integrity of 'Amichien Bonding' as sacrosanct. This system is her baby, she developed and refined it and introduced the rest of the canine world to it and she's not going to let others come along and hijack it.

Why would people do that? Because when the words Dog Listener are used, even if they don't know her name people think of Jan Fennell. As a result it's easy for people to use the name or variations of it to hitch their waggon to a rising star, much easier than making your own reputation isn't it? Jan could very easily have sold franchises as other organisations do and she'd have been a very rich woman. However the welfare of both dog and owner has always been Jan's first and only concern.

When someone approaches Jan wishing to become a Dog Listener they have to attend a foundation course. At this time Jan will decide if the student has the potential to go further. If so they are invited (just paying some money won't do) to attend the advanced course. On successful completion of this course they become a 'Non Active Dog Listener' moving on to 'Preliminary Dog Listener' then to 'Recommended Associate Dog Listener' and then 'Highly Recommended Dog Listener'. At every stage to progress to the next level or maintain their current status, every Dog Listener must fulfill a number of strictly enforced criteria including, every client having phone or email back up for the life of their dog and full case histories of consultations going to Jan so that she can monitor the standard of work and contact clients direct. Every client is given an evaluation form which goes direct to Jan as a quality control measure. Every Dog Listener that reaches and maintains the standards set by Jan is listed on her website.

So if you need help with your dog and you find someone on the internet, not matter what they call themselves or describe their work, before you book them check Jan's website and see if the 'Dog Listener (or variant) is listed. If not I suggest that you adopt the voice of a night club doorman and say, "If your name's not on the list, you're not coming in"

New Year New Status

Well here we are in 2008 and my trip to Montana to visit the wolves is getting ever closer. I have a very busy year ahead with many engagements already booked. I am, for once, so organised that I didn't think anything could surprise me. I was wrong.

I was until recently a 'Recommended Associate Dog Listener' which was the highest achievable ranking in the world of Dog Listeners. It's a hard earned title starting with attending a foundation course run by Jan Fennell 'The Dog Listener'. Selected people who successfully complete that course are invited to attend the advanced course. All the participants are selected personally by Jan as having that 'certain something.' Once the course is completed it's a long road fulfilling a number of criteria involving consultations, evaluations, canine welfare work moving fom 'Non Active' to 'Preliminary Dog Listener' to the highly coveted 'Recommended Associate Dog Listener' . When I got there I thought I had it made.

Imagine my astonishment (and a little bit of pride) when Jan announced that she was introducing a new enhanced status for a small number of 'Recommended Associates' who would be known as 'Highly Recommended Dog Listeners' And that I was one of them. For once my name was on the list and I was getting in;-)

I'm not after fame and fortune, just recognition and money.

Christmas is Coming

Now that the annual two month period that makes up 'Bonfire Night' is nearly over we are well into the the run up to Christmas.

Both these periods are very busy ones for me and my fellow Dog Listeners. The phone rings off the hook.

Problems with dogs and fireworks fall into two categories, either the dog is traumatised and afraid or they go into 'Defence Drive' and want to face the threat and fight it off. Both of these reactions are incredibly stressful to both dog and owners.

What can 'Dog Listeners' do to reduce the effect of the firework season? A huge amount, but it makes it so much easier if you put the measures in place before all the noise starts, rather than wait until your best friend is suffering a nervous reaction. Then, next time the rockets come out your dogs reaction will be, "Am I bovvered?"

The same thing applies at Christmas. You have a house full of people many of whom you haven't seen since last year. There are excited children and noisy toys. Family arguments, loads of food and even more drink.

Dogs generally don't celebrate Christmas. All they know is that the pack dynamic has changed. They ask questions "Who are all these people in my den? Why are they so noisy? Why do they all think they can sing? Why do they give one another packets of socks?" And, most important of all "Why, when they leave nuts, sausage rolls and Christmas cake laying about where I can reach it do they then get upset when I throw up in Great Aunt Mary's handbag? How was I to know that a silly little thing like that would cause her to change her will?"

If you think Christmas is stressful for humans just try being a dog. At least you can get drunk or go to the bathroom with a book to have some 'time out'. The dog is trapped and at the mercy of a pack of humans who, are all of course, dog experts. They'll all shout contradictory commands at the dog and think it thick when it does not respond.

So, if you have a dog and expect a hectic household at Christmas I strongly recommend that you prepare in plenty of time. If you think that it might get too much for your dog contact a 'Qualified' Dog Listener, preferably me if you live in Southern England, before the problem arises. If you live out of my area I can still assist you by putting you in touch with your nearest 'Qualified' Dog Listener. I know that I keep stressing the word qualified but it is for a reason. There are a number of people who give themselves the title when they have no connection with Amichien Bonding at all. I know of one person who uses the title and advocates (and sells) electric shock collars and other cruel and stress inducing equipment. If you're not sure if someone is genuine go to Jan Fennell's website and there you will find all fully trained Dog Listeners both in the UK and around the world listed. They are either 'Recommended Associate Dog Listeners' like myself, or, 'Preliminary Dog Listeners' who are working their way to full accreditation. If they're not on either list then they're bogus. If you decide against employing a Dog Listener then at the very least buy a copy of 'The Dog Listener' and read it. Do it now so that you can take action early.

Whatever else you do PLEASE DO NOT buy a dog as a present. It will only end in tears. the pup will be removed from it's Mother and siblings and placed into what will seem like a madhouse to them. They will get under peoples feet, they will not have time to work out where they fit into this new pack, you will not have time to start with house training which in turn inevitably will mean 'accidents'. The list of problems is endless. If you are being nagged to buy a puppy then wait until spring when people are more relaxed and you can have the outside doors open more often to help with house training. But what can you give at Christmas in place of a puppy? You can give a vitual puppy, a picture of a dog that the recipient can change for a real animal in the Spring. you could also give leads, collars, food and waterbowls as well as a copy of 'The Seven Ages of Your Dog' by Jan Fennell which is a brilliant book and covers from birth to death and everything in between.

A couple of bits of advice, if you're going to book a 'Dog Listener' don't hang about, we tend to get very busy around this time of year when people remember what happened last year. We also have a rush of bookings straight after the festive season with clients wanting to avoid a repetition of the latest 'stressfest'. If you want to buy any of the books mentioned the simplest way is to go to the links page of my website.

If you give a dog, you're not giving a present you're giving a life. Can the recipient deal with that?

Amnesty For Cruel 'Training Aids'

Recently I did a consultation with a really nice family and their two dogs, one twelve months the other seven months. They were of good temperament and eager to please but very exuberant. They moved around the house like a tornado and climbed all over people, family and visitors alike. Common problems that can be dealt with in a stress free way using Amichien Bonding. That was where I came in.

We had the consultation and put in place measures to address all issues raised. During the course of the consultation I was told that they had tried several other 'training' methods including the dogs being sent away for 'residential training' which involved not only the high cost of such techniques but also the sale of 'essential', extra 'specialist 'equipment for continuation training. Some so called trainers take the concern and commitment many owners have for their dogs as a licence to print money.

When the consultation was over the client showed me a piece of equipment he had been sold by one of these trainers. This piece of kit goes under a number of names 'German Collar', 'Pinch Collar' 'Prong Collar' and 'Spiked Collar' to use the most common. The client told the trainer that he didn't want it (he'd already been charged for it). The trainer responded that he wouldn't make progress without it, (so what had been happening at the residential training?). The client told the trainer that he thought such equipment cruel, and would not use it. And then the trainer came out with a real gem, he explained that it is not at all cruel but, 'just replicates the gentle but firm way that a bitch picks up a puppy'!!

I was given this unwanted piece of equipment, to take it out of circulation and to highlight the widespread use of such cruel methods.

For those of you out there lucky enough to have not seen such equipment in action let me explain how it is used. The chain is placed around the dogs neck spikes facing inwards, with a little bit of free play and then attached to a lead. The dog is then taken for a walk or put through training exercises. If at any time the handler feels that the dog needs correction he pulls the lead as quickly and as hard as he can. The chain rapidly tightens around the dogs neck and the spikes (or prongs as the users prefer to call them because "They're not that sharp") not only stick into the neck but at the same time pinch large areas of flesh between the quickly closing spikes (as I prefer to call them). The dog screams and is traumatised.

The end justifies the means say the supporters of this, and other brutal methods of 'training'. "Next time he'll do as he's told" they say. I suppose that I would be obedient if someone tried to rip my head off and dug bits of metal against my spinal column and windpipe. But would I like or respect the person who did it to me? Of course not. Would I work as hard as I could and to the best of my ability for that person? Of course not. Would I, given the opportunity rip that persons heart out and show it to them while it was still beating? You betcha!!

Another means of using this collar is when 'teaching' a dog not to chase. They may run over to see another dog in the park or maybe chase a cyclist or jogger. These are of course behaviours that are unacceptable but there are humane methods of dealing with them. When using the spiked collar to 'cure' this problem you once again put the collar on the dog. instead of a lead you fasten a long, strong rope or nylon line (15/20 yards) which you tie to a tree or metal post. You then set up a situation which sparks the chasing behaviour such as a jogger running close to but just out of range of the limit of the line. The dog runs, and on reaching the end of the line the collar tightens, the spikes dig in and as an added bonus the dog is flipped onto his back. In fairness I have to say this works, I have seen dogs so 'cured' that when anything is placed around their neck they urinate involuntarily and refuse to move in case some wants to 'cure' them of something else! What a way to treat mans best friend.

As you may have read in some of my previous posts there are many other cruel pieces of 'training equipment' out there which really shouldn't exist in a civilised country. Electric collars, mustard sprays, citrus sprays etc etc.

April 29th 2007 is the second International Day of the Dog when Jan Fennell, 'The Dog Listener' and her 'Associate Dog Listeners' try to raise peoples awareness of Canine Welfare in general and the prevention of Cruelty and Bullying in particular, by the use of a variety of events and publicity.

My goal for this years 'IDOD' is to encourage owners using such 'Training Aids' first of all to STOP and THINK and then hopefully STOP USING THEM. Most pet owners are not cruel, they only want the best for their dogs. They hit a problem and get misled by some quick talking salesman or carefully worded advert which tells them that if they buy product X it will solve all their problems in one quick fix. Because they care about their dogs but are panicked by some behaviour problem they find themselves the owner of the latest gadget which generally promises much but delivers little, if anything, to help either dog or owner.

I hope to go a little further than just getting people to stop using this equipment. My intention is to get people to hand in such equipment to such places as Vets Surgeries and Local Authority Dog Wardens rather like the gun and knife amnesties when people can leave weapons in a box at Police Stations, no questions asked. The intent would be the same. To take harmful equipment out of circulation. and to let people make a committment that they will no longer accept the use of such barbaric methods in the name of training.

I am the process of contacting Vets, local papers, radio and other potential interested parties asking for their support. Watch this space. If you have any ideas or can offer support in any way it would be great to hear from you.

Of course you don't have to wait until 29th April to stop using this equipment, you can do it today! If you don't want to make the trip to, or don't have a collection point near you just let me know that you've disposed of your equipment (and what it was) so that we can monitor our progress.

In an ideal world we would see all such equipment discarded but, if on 30th April, only one person has stopped using it then it will mean that at least one dog will not live their life in fear or risk permanent physical or psychological damage. That'll do for a start.

Client Dog Selection

Below is a small selection of client's dogs. As you can see they cover a multitude of breeds, genders and ages. Their problems included aggression, persistent barking, door chewing and a whole lot more. Dogs are easy, it's only humans who make it complicated!!

Bogus Dog Listeners

It has become apparant that unscrupulous people are calling themselves 'Dog Listeners' and are carrying on business as such. Charging people to do a job they have neither the training, knowledge or skills to do competently. Misleading people already under stress because of problems with their dogs and 'conning' them out of their money. I recently dealt with a very confused dog who responded very well to the method. They clients told me afterwards that they had previously used a man who said he used the Dog Listener Methods but they didn't work and were nothing like the things I had done. Suspect? I should say so.

Why do these people do it? Because 'Amichien Bonding' the technique used by qualified Dog Listeners works. It is becoming well known to the dog owners of this world who want to solve their problems in a stress free way. More and more people are coming to see Amichien as the way forward and are at least questioning the 'Make him do it' traditional methods of training.

What to do then if people don't want their dogs pulled about by a trainer or covered in gadgets by a behaviourist? Easy, call yourself a Dog Listener or say you teach the 'Dog listener method'. I say, be honest, say what you are. If you are a trainer and are good it say so. Likewise if you are a behaviourist. Don't steal our clothes, we are Amichien Dog Listeners and hey, we're good at what we do, very good.

To become a Dog Listener you must first attend the 'Foundation Course' while on this course you will be assessed by Jan Fennell herself. On successful completion of the Foundation Course a limited number of people are invited to attend the 'Amichien Advanced Course in Canine Communication'. If you are successful on that course then you are able to start doing consultations but even the you will, quite rightly be subject to constant assessment. Your first twenty consultations will be the subject of an in depth report and analysis, dogs problem, advice given, progress made, follow up calls etc. All of which will be checked by Jan and contact made by her with the clients to ensure satisfaction. Every client will receive a feedback form that goes direct to Jan so that if a client is unhappy with the service provided then they have an easy way of making their concerns known. The title 'Dog Listener' is hard earned and jealously guarded. I say to those Wannabees if you think it's easy come and work for the qualification. If you can't hack it then go back to doing what you do but be honest about it.

How will you know whether a Dog Listener is genuine? If they are listed on Jan Fennell's website you will know that those people are 'Recommended Associate Dog Listeners'. There are others also qualified just working their way through the certification process or awaiting inclusion when the website is updated. If they've passed the course they are comptent to do consultations. If you want to ensure that you're getting the genuine article then when you book a consultation ask the Dog Listener to bring their Certificate with them when they visit. A proper Dog Listener will be happy to do so. If you've got it, flaunt it. Every client at every consultation gets a feedback form for quality monitoring purposes.

What's in a name?

I've been thinking over the last couple of weeks with reference to the recent spate of bad publicity about dog attacks on people. These have been a godsend to the anti-dog lobby. When I looked back over the many years that I've been involved in both dogs and law enforcement I realised that there was, in many cases, a common thread running through dogs involved in violent incidents.

That common factor was not as you might think breed but name. So many of these dogs have aggressive names given to them by their owners. Tyson, Killer, Fang, Rooney, Ripper, Storm. I even knew a particularly unpleasant character who had two large dogs called Ronnie and Reggie after the Kray twins.

You have to ask, do the owners give their dogs macho names because they want a dog that is looking for trouble because they are themselves are rather inadequate? I recently had a client who was concerned following the Leicester Rottweiler attack. She had a Rottweiler/Japanese Akita X. She just wanted as a responsible dog owner to ensure that she was doing the right thing. Both by her dog and any humans she interacted with. It is easy to make presumptions before meeting a dog and if I'd just said that with that mix of breeds there would be aggression issues it would have been a wholly wrong assessment. When I asked the dogs name and was told 'Wilma' I just knew that these owners were not the type to have a land shark. I did the consultation, there were as always, issues to be addressed but the family were delightful and Wilma was a real sweetie. When have you ever heard of someone being savaged by a dog called Cecil?

All of my Police Dogs would go into any situation and take the world on if that was what was required but would far rather chill out at home or on a nice country walk. They didn't have to prove anything to themselves or anyone else. They had really butch names such as Ben, Acco, Gaspode (named after a scruffy talking dog in 'Moving Pictures' by Terry Pratchett), Cocoa, Jack and Bramble.

It just goes to support my long held view that it's not dogs who need a licence but the prospective owners. They should be assessed for suitability before being allowed to take on a dog but the I suppose that would infringe their 'Human Rights'. Never mind the rights of the poor old dog who is often discarded when he is no longer 'Hard Enough' or a new breed becomes fashionable within certain groups in society.

It is not only dog owners who stereotype by name. There was the time in the course of my Police service when I had cause to speak to woman living one of the rougher areas of my patch. She had eight sons and when I asked their names replied "Duane" When I asked what the others were called she replied "Duane, they're all called Duane. It makes it easier you see." I then asked the obvious question "What do you do if you want to speak to a particular Duane?" "Oh that's easy" She replied. "I just call his surname!"

Got Any Spare Money?

I've just received a catalogue from a well known Pet Company. What an interesting read it is too. It just goes to show that there is a market for everything.

I just looked at the equipment recommended to train a dog in basic good manners compared to what it would cost using Amichien Bonding.

Do you want to stop your dog going into a particular area indoors? No problem, all you need do is spend £160 for a spray barrier to spray some unpleasant fluid at your pet if he approaches. Of course that will only cover one area of the house so, if you have more than one 'no-go area......... Then of course you will need to buy the refills of 'training spray', they don't come cheap. But, I hear you ask. What if we have more than one dog? Well don't worry because for only an extra £30 per dog you can annoy, distress and confuse multiple canines at the same time.

O.K. We've now got the dog too worried to move about the house but hey, he might still bark BAD DOG!! How dare he do something so natural? Don't worry once again technology triumphs over taking the time and effort to understand your dog. For only £70 you can buy a machine to emit a sound that will cause a dog discomfort if they bark. It is very clever because it can be adjusted so that if the tone can be heard by a human with very sensitive hearing you can alter the pitch. It would not do for a human to be made uncomfortable would it?

Right, now the dog is in the garden. He's away from the indoor gadgets. He can relax a bit and start being a dog can't he? Come on! What if he goes on the flowers? What if you couldn't be bothered to make the garden secure? Electric Fencing that's the answer. Lull him into a false sense of security and then..... ZAP!! He won't do that again will he? Only he will. When a dog is frightened or angry they will power through the pain barrier and there is a good chance that the last you will see of him is his rear end as he heads over the hills and far away. How much will that cost you? The answer ranges from exorbitant to utterly ridiculous depending upon the area covered. Of course you might also need to buy a replacement dog

Your home and garden are now secure but of course the whole idea of having a dog is so that you can interact with him on nice healthy walks. What if he barks when you're with him? There must be a way of stopping him from barking outside and of course there is, this one only costs £80 (plus refills) and, joy of joys this time you get a choice. Do you spray citrus in his face or good old traditional mustard? At this point I would suggest to potential buyers of these gadgets that they try them on themselves. They could rub lemon juice on one eyeball and Colmans English mustard on the other. They could then reflect as they hold their head under running cold water that a dog can't use a tap or even rub their eyes.

You are now at the stage of letting your dog off the lead. A big moment for both of you but you are about to give-up complete control. What if he does not respond to your every whim? Well for only £165 you can buy yet another gadget. This one works upto 200 metres away. I particularly like the advertising blurb with this one. 'Now you can control your dog at a distance. WITHOUT PUNISHING HIM you can cause him to hear a sharp unpleasnt sound at the same time as being sprayed in the face with cold liquid and being distracted by the sight of a harmless mist. This will let him know that his behaviour is unacceptable'. I don't know how the manufacturers define punishment but equipment like that wouldn't be allowed in prisons.

There are still all the special types of harness and headcollars to make sure that the dog does not pull. Of course you could just teach him how to walk properly in the first place. You might also want to buy the airhorns and numerous other bits of expensive kit to distract your dog. The amount of money you can spend is endless. Before you do consider:-

If your dog is not doing what you want him to do:-

Does he KNOW what you want him to do? If he does and is still not doing it:-

Have you trained him how to do it? Remember you can't tell a dog what to do but you CAN show him in a stress free way.

Only if your dog knows what you want, has been trained how to do it and still does not comply do you have major problems. Yes you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Rather than make your house look like Dr Who's Tardis you could raise your dog using Amichien Bonding and learn to understand why a dog reacts the way he does to various situations and to day to day life in the human pack. What equipment will you need to use Amichien Bonding?

Oh, just a collar, a lead and a toy.

If however you would rather spend vast amounts of money to make manufacturers rich and inflict pain and misery on animals then please contact me URGENTLY........I have a bridge that I want to sell you!!

Improved Service

With immediate effect all 'Amichien' Recommended Associate Dog Listeners will be subject to continual monitoring and will have to prove that they are providing and maintaining a high standard of service to keep their qualified status. This is a move that we all strongly support, we are proud of the help that we can give to both dog and owners.

The monitoring will take several different forms. All clients will be issued a comprehensive post consultation evaluation form which they can send direct to Jan Fennell without the consulting Dog Listener having sight of the form. This is to enable the client to record their true feelings of all aspects of the service without feeling pressured. The consulting Dog Listener will provide in depth case histories direct to Jan Fennell including problems faced by dog and/or owner and all advice given to the client. A number of clients (with their consent) will be contacted by Jan at random to ensure that standards are maintained.

The system is constantly being evaluated for further ways to improve customer service.

Any Fool Can Be Unpleasant

I was talking to a client the other day after a consultation and she told me that she was surprised as to how I had treated her. She said that she knew that I would be kind to her dog but, having seen a number of the 'Dog Training' programmes on TV recently she expected me to shout and maybe swear at her. She certainly expected to have her stress levels raised by me. I told her that it's been a long time since I've raised any womans stress levels but, hey, look at John Prescott, there's hope for us all.

The whole Amichien ethos is that everything, both dog and humanwise is done in a natural stress-free way. There is no point in any kind of bullying either physical or emotional it is wholly unproductive and I will never use such methods. I prefer to rely on a proven system, thirty years of handling a variety of dogs, handling them all day, every day not just for a couple of hours in the evening and, of course, my natural boyish charm.

When I got to thinking about unpleasant people on TV I realised that it's not just 'Dog Trainers' with character flaws who feel a need to massage their already inflated egos by humiliating the participants in the show that they think, they've come on to be helped. There are the copycat versions on British TV of the Jerry Springer type show which make the Springer version look like Shakespeare.It is beyond me how we can pay presenters vast amounts of money so that they can gloat and pretend sympathy at the same time when some-one tells their husband or wife in front of millions of people that they are sexually attracted to mice or have some even more bizarre hang-up. They always seem to justify their cruelty by saying "You weren't there for me".

One of the biggest waste of a wage bill must be down to those two godawful creatures whose day seems to consist of getting dressed in the dark having got their clothes out of a charity shop reject bin and then having the nerve to tell members of the public that they look like crap. Don't they have mirrors at the TV station? Hasn't any TV executive got the guts or moral fibre to tell these people the truth? I fear the answer is, No. Rudeness sells to a certain type of viewer. The problem is that the behaviour encouraged on TV is moving into everyday life.

Well it's not going to influence me, I expect to be treated with courtesy and I hope that I deal with everybody with the same courtesy and consideration no matter who they are. Life is just so much nicer that way.

My client told me that I should be on television. No thanks. I've done a few bits, some years ago I was on a 'World in Action' about the 'Special Patrol Group', I also was involved in a 'CuttingEdge' programme about the Naval Provost in which I was shown with my dog doing a drug search at a Naval base. My TV career climaxed with a six part ITV documentary 'Dog Squad' in which I appeared in several episodes. The problem is that the the programme makers are looking for people to be larger than life and play to the cameras and if you get swept along by them then you can end up looking a complete muppet. In one instance a camera crew had been with me on patrol on a Saturday day shift. In the evening I was going to a pub to watch my sons band play a gig ( check out www.voodoofire.com ). A camera crew were filming the gig, still no problem but then, they wanted to film me getting out of my uniform, having a shower and then getting dressed again. They couldn't understand why I said no. I had visions of viewers phoning the TV station in distress saying "I don't know what that dog handler's wearing, but it needs ironing".

Everybody I know agree that when it comes to television then I have the perfect face for radio.

All I really want to say is, let's hear it for good manners. Whenever I hear people in the street swearing, belching, breaking wind, spitting or doing any of those things that make life unpleasant for the rest of us and then thinking it's clever because they've seen some third rate presenter do it on TV. I just say to myself,..................ANY FOOL CAN BE UNPLEASANT.

Value for Money, How the System Works

Your money is hard earned and there are countless things to spend it on. The trick is to know that when you do spend you get value for money. You know that when a washing machine breaks down or you have a leaking pipe the tradesman you call is going to charge you £50 just to knock on your door. You will then probably be charged by the quarter hour and then of course there are the parts that have to be paid for. You will never know until you get the bad news at the end of the call how much it's going to cost you. If you have another fault next week you will have to go through the same procedure and cost again because what is the point of a washing machine if you don't get the benefit of it?

People spend a lot of their hard earned cash on their dogs, you can pay £1200 or more for some pedigree animals. Pedigree puppy or old rescue dog of indeterminate parentage, people love their dogs. They have them for company, security or maybe so that they get some exercise themselves, taking long country walks. They want the best for their dogs so it's no expense spared in food, toys and vets fees.

Having spent all this money on your dog what do you do if he has problems that you can't resolve such as anxiety, aggression, pulling on the lead or not coming back when called? You could go to dog training classes pay an enrolment fee and then an additional fee each time you attend. If your dog is nervous or aggressive on it's own territory how are the stress levels going to be relieved by putting them in a confined space with other dogs? If he won't come back when you are alone with your dog why would he when there are other distractions? A good use of your money? And what about your stress levels?

So, if you decide to use Amichien Bonding what do you get for your money and how is it good value?

You will be quoted a one off price at the time of your enquiry. This will depend on whether the consultation is on a weekday or weekend, there is no extra charge if you require an evening visit. If due to distance there is a mileage charge to cover fuel and travelling time that will be included in the quote. There will be no other charges even if there is more than one dog. I will attend your home address to see you and your dog(s) on their home territory so that they are not stressed. Ideally any other family members who interact with your dog should also be present. I will take a full case history from you to include areas of concern. I will fully assess the dog and then teach you a clear and stress free system to get your dog to moderate his behaviour of his own free will. You will be given specific ways of dealing with any identified behavioural problems. During the consultation I will take unposed pictures of your dog with a digital camera. Before leaving I will give you a 'crib' sheet of reminders of the main points of the system. On my return home I will prepare an individual 'ActionPlan' specific to you and your dog(s) and the family situation and lifestyle. There will be comprehensive advice on all matters raised as well as general advice on keeping your dog happy in his place in your family (pack). The Action Plan will be further individualised by placing pictures of your dog(s) on it. The completed report will be laminated so that it can be kept in good condition and referred to if required and either sent to you by first class post or hand delivered depending on your location.

The consultation will take a minimum of two hours but will last as long as it takes. I'm happy to talk dogs forever, while you have questions I'm happy to stay. A four hour consultation is not unusual. Remember however long the consultation you only pay the quoted price. After the consultation should you have any problems or are just a little unsure of something, you can at anytime during the lifetime of your dog, contact me by phone or email at no extra charge.

This system works because it uses the dogs natural behaviour patterns and means of communication. If you implement the system consistently you will have a calm, well behaved dog that you can take anywhere. A dog that will not pull on the lead and will come back when called. In short, a dog whose company you can enjoy.

A short case history will give some idea of how the system supplies good value. Shortly before Christmas 2005 I visited a very nice family with a big problem. Family consisted of Mum, Dad and two adult daughters. They had a twelve year old dog 'Bernard' who had always been the alpha male. He was a nice dog but a had always dragged 'his' human wherever he pleased when he went for a walk. Then Daisy-May arrived a pretty little Jack Russell. Bernard didn't waste anytime, he was straight down the florists, a quick diversion to Tesco for a bottle of Blue Nun and the next thing was the arrival of six puppies. Homes were found for four of the puppies but as the daughters were moving to their own homes they decided to keep one each, Molly and Stanley. That was fine except that the daughters moves were postponed and as they worked it left Mum to look after four dogs. Worse was to come, Bernard had always been alpha and saw no reason to change, Daisy had found out what boys were really like and was'n't having anymore of it, Molly was a shy girl but Stanley thought of himself as the new kid on the block and was after the alpha male role. There was a lot of tension in the pack with the potential for major fighting, there had been a couple of skirmishes already. They could not be walked together and had to be done in pairs or singly depending on the relationships each day. I visited one Saturday, the family were a joy to work with, so receptive and open minded. We went through the system, many questions were asked and answered. I explained that as Bernard mellowed then Stanley, if he did not elect the humans in the pack as leaders might still try for the top job. I was delighted to receive a Christmas card from the family in which they wrote, "Things are progressing! Bernard is enjoying a relaxing retirement after a lifetime of dedicated service as alpha male-it's great to see him race off to play with the others on his walk rather than remaining responsibly on duty. He walks to heel happily after pulling us all along for 12 years. We still have a few dominance issues with young Stanley but we are persisting-he's great on his own but still keeps pushing it when he's with the others-the girls are happy to be followers so they're no problem". We talked about Stanley and I reminded them that they had to convince him that they were the pack leaders not him and suggested a couple of techniques to reinforce the method. Shortly afterwards I received an email, I smiled when I read the message title 'I've Been Elected' Stanley had given up his leadership challenge. I recently received another email from one of the daughters who is now moving and taking Stanley with her. She was seeking advice as to the most stress free way to introduce a dog to a new home. All this was covered by the initial consultation cost. Four dogs one fee. Is that a bargain or what.

In conclusion, consider, one fee, all done. No subscription, no gadgets to buy, no stress for you or your dog. Value for money.

Cats and Dogs

It's strange how things come in cycles. Until about six weeks ago I had never had a consultation or even an enquiry which mentioned, even in passing, the interaction between the client dog and the family cat. Then out of the blue every other enquiry seems to feature a cat somewhere in the list of problems.

When I had the first cat enquiry I was confident that the dog, once the principals of 'Amichien Bonding' were introduced, would, of his own free will stop trying to mug the cat. What I wasn't sure about was how the cat would react. I was pleasantly surprised, it seems that if the dog ignores the cat then the cat will return the favour, in some cases they become close friends. It's just a case of laying down boundaries.

Next problem please.

Belated Update

It's been a long time since I updated my blog due to a very eventful end to 2005. We thought that once we got over my daughters wedding in July things would slow down a bit but far from it. Treacle, the puppy, is getting bigger by the day. She is suffering from 'Friendly Dog Syndrome' and thinks that every dog out there is as good natured as her. She is just beginning to realise that some dogs are lacking in social skills. Generally her training is progressing well although she needs a good walk to let her burn off some energy before embarking on some of the exercises. She has the potential to track and search like a demon. Wait for the next exciting episode with pictures.

I lost my old German Shepherd 'Gaspode' aged 14 he just suddenly got very tired and knew it was time to go. It was upsetting for the family but the most affected was my remaining German Shepherd 'Jack'. When Jack was born he was rejected by his mother and so was bottle fed by kennel maids. As a result he missed out on the rough and tumble between litter-mates where a dog learns social skills. He was bought by a husband and wife, both Barristers, who returned him to the kennels at 11 months because he was too lively. Their theory was that if you bought a puppy from a kennels specialising in working dogs then it should leave the kennels aged 8 weeks fully trained. After a full and frank exchange of views between kennel owner and Barrister Jack was offered to me for training as a Police dog. I had been searching for a new dog and had looked at many but none were suitable, it takes a very special dog to do police work. They must be brave with fire in their belly but at the same time be good with decent people. They are after all going to spend a lot of time looking for missing children and it's always good if, when found, they are handed back to their parents in one piece. It's not good for Police/Public relations if your dog plucks a passing Nun from her bicycle! Anyway I went to look at Jack, not with any high hopes I must admit. We bonded at once he so obviously wanted to work, he was a natural. I took him home and that was when he got his reality check, he thought he was going to be top dog but the two older German Shepherds and Labrador bitch soon disabused him of that notion. Cocoa the Lab mothered him and taught him manners. Now Jack is an only dog and my wife Rosemary and I are already looking to the future, another GSD? Labrador? Or maybe something different. We both like Clumber Spaniels. Whatever happens we won't rush into anything, it will have to be the right dog. Remember dog ownership is like marriage without the washing-up.

Consultations with clients are increasing steadily. It is good to see so many dog owners are now taking the responsible route to 'dog training' and are realising that in general terms what we really need is 'Owner training'. I feel privileged to have the training and experience to be able to help people to have a full and rewarding relationshp with their dogs.

As I have mentioned in earlier postings I use Amichien Bonding when dealing with dogs and owners, this method was devised by Jan Fennell 'The Dog Listener'. Although trained by Jan I could not call myself a 'Dog Listener' because of trade mark restrictions. There were only two people who could use the title, Jan herself and Tony Knight her son. I am pleased to say that Jan has now allowed me to use the title so i will have to play with words. Should it be Robin Glover (Dog Listener) Consultant in Canine Communication and Behaviour or possibly Robin Glover Consultant in Canine Communication and Behaviour (Certified Dog Listener). Or maybe something entirely different? All suggestions welcome.

Why Use Amichien Bonding?

This is a question I am often asked "After all" say people "There are so many other training methods, what makes Amichien better?" and of course they are right, there are more methods than you can shake a stick at. There are whistles, clickers, electric collars, collars that spray various substances at the dog, collars that emit noise, chains with spikes that stick in the dogs neck, sticks to 'touch' the dog with and many more gadgets and gizmos. Alongside all these pieces of equipment are the different ways of training, there is the traditional 'make him do it', there is the 'endless repetition until the dog is bored senseless' system and then there is the good old 'walking around in a circle in a church hall with fifteen other dogs' method. This teaches a dog to walk in a circle with other dogs, usually on leaving the hall most dogs revert to their previous behaviour. Do these systems work? Yes, to a greater or lesser degree on some, but not all dogs. Some systems I consider barbaric, they don't train the dog they traumatise him. One thing is constant in the above list, they are all unnatural.
During my years as a Police Dog Handler I worked German Shepherd Dogs, Labradors and Springer Spaniels. I also worked with other Handlers using other breeds such as Belgian Shepherd Dogs (Malinois), Giant Schnauzers, Rottweilers, Weimaraners, Border Collies and Bloodhounds. A large variety of breeds trained in a variety of skills but with one constant factor, they didn't worry about breed differences, as far as they were concerned the only thing that mattered was that they were all dogs. Dogs are descended from Wolves and are pack animals so it became apparent to me that to achieve a really close bond with my dogs I would have to be the pack leader or Alpha male. For this to work I had to be elected leader by the dogs themselves, people who shout and bluster and say "He knows who the Boss is" are only fooling themselves, they're sure as hell not fooling the dog.
Having decided what the problem with traditional training methods was I had to work out the next step which was of course that we had to understand one another. Dogs can always communicate with one another there's no English or French or German language for them. Whatever the breed and wherever they're from all dogs speak Canine. All I had to do now was to become fluent. Another truth then struck me, wolf packs are well organised with a hierarchy that all members understand where every pack member has an important job to do for the survival of the pack, they don't need training aids and gadgets to organise their lives so why do we?
I started off down the path of trying to understand the dynamics of the Wolf pack and how it could be used with domestic dogs, tremendous progress was made and as a result the quality of work and success rate of my dogs increased greatly. It was very pleasing to be Commended by the Chief Constable of Hampshire in 1988. The Citation read 'Commended for consistent good work, tenacity and intelligent application of his Police Dog 'ACCO' during 1988. It was good to be recognised but in fact all I was doing was allowing ACCO to be a dog without confusing the issue. Then as the Alpha I was able to direct and use his natural skills for the benefit of the public.
I then became aware of the work of Jan Fennell 'The Dog Listener' who was working along similar lines although her thoughts and procedures were much more organised than mine. Jan had studied the subject in great depth as well as forming a close association with Monty Roberts 'The Horse Whisperer'. Jan devised a structured system using the dogs own language which she called Amichien Bonding. I was fortunate to be able to travel to Lincolnshireto meet Jan and complete both an initial and advanced Canine Communication course. As a result I now hold an Amichien Certificate in Advanced Canine Communication.
The Amichien Bonding System is not a 'training method' in the normal sense of the words but a holistic, natural, stress free way of communicating with your dog. If used consistently your dog will elect you as leader of his own free will making any subsequent training a pleasure. The use of Amichien Bonding is particularly effective in dealing with behavioural problems such as, Aggression, Nervousness, Obsessive or Destructive Behaviour, Failing to Return When Called, Taking Charge on a Walk, Jumping Up and Persistent Barking. Because you will be talking the dogs language he will modify his behaviour of his own free will.
I use this system BECAUSE IT WORKS I have seen many other methods and have approached them all with an open mind but nothing comes close to Amichien for consistent success. It is not a magic wand, you will have to do your part but the investment in time and effort you expend will be well worth it. My life and the lives of others were often entrusted to my dogs over many years, they never let me down, that's bonding.
For more information visit my website www.robinglover.com

Manic Dog Becomes Mellow

When dealing with clients concerned about their dogs behaviour I always stress that the place to learn good manners is in the home. They must address the problem there before taking the dog into the wider world with all the unexpected situations that can occur, which will only increase the stress levels of both owner and dog. To this end I supply my clients with a set of simple guidelines which, if implemented Calmly, Consistently and Convincingly will have a major positive effect on the dogs behaviour. Very often clients will try to cut down on the groundwork needed in an attempt to make progress faster which, in fact, slows down the rate of improvement.
It was therefore very pleasing to hear today from a client whose dog had been incredibly highly stressed and had displayed manic behaviour. Following her consultation with me she had followed the action plan prepared for her dog to the letter. She had contacted me once after the consultation to clarify a couple of small points in the method. As a result of the work put in by the owner and the resultant acceptance of the dog of his proper place in the pack she was able to take him to a large dog 'funday' where not only did he not get involved in a fight, but also competed and took second prize in the veterans class without removing any fingers from the judge. Success is sweet.