Dog Listener's Newsletter

We now have a new tool to help us spread the word about Amichien Bonding - the kind natural way to communicate with your dogs. Our own Newsletter. The first edition has just been published and you will be able to access it by clicking on the link below.

It carries a number of articles and I'm involved in three of them. Yellowstone Experience (I'm far right in the picture wearing a fetching little hat). Featured Dog Listeners about our involvement with rescue dogs from Afghanistan and their appearance at Crufts and finally, under the heading Health News is an article I wrote about Electric Shock Collars.

I don't yet know how often this Newsletter will be published but hope to keep getting involved in its content.

Read and enjoy. As always, any feedback welcome. http://www.listeningtoday.co.uk/

Looking Forward to 2008

This will probably be the last post of 2007. A big thank you to those who have contacted me either through the blog or directly. I take note of all your comments either positive or negative. Even if you do not agree with everything I say, and if I have not been able to convince you that using Amichien Bonding and being non confrontational or non violent to your dog is the way forward. At least I hope it has caused you to stop and think, if only for a moment, that oppression of any sort only works in a limited and short term way.

2007 was hectic and next year promises to be even more so. We had petitions to Downing Street to ban the use of cruel training aids such as prong collars and electric collars. The Government response was predictable. They care deeply about animal welfare (really they do). Yeah right.

My understanding of their response was 'When dogs get the vote, come and see us. Until then we're not interested.'

Well perhaps we can focus their minds a little more next year, which can I remind you is 2008. The Government MUST call an election by 2009. They have dug themselves into a deeper and deeper hole over the last few months. They have sent the armed forces to war with inadequate equipment or back up and then cocked up their pay so that some serviceman are unable to pay their mortgages. They have upset nurses by reneging on their pay agreement and now they've done the same to the police. Think of all those Service men and women, doctors, nurses and police who are thoroughly disenchanted with the government. Don't forget that all of those workers have families who can also vote! How many of these people live in marginal constituencies?

If the government want to get re-elected they need to get their act together. The same applies to the opposition parties hoping to take power from them. Therefore the plan for 2008 is to put all parties in a position in which they agree BEFORE the election that, should they win, they will take steps to ban all such equipment.

I'm off to Montana in early February with Jan Fennell, to see the wolves of Yellowstone, but on my return I will be kick-starting the campaign with letters to every sitting MP no matter if in government or opposition. Also letters to every prospective Parliamentary candidate of all parties and in every constituency. I will have template letters on my website for you to download. A petition is one contact as far as a politician is concerned, a letter needs to be read and responded to on an individual basis.

It's all go getting ready for Montana at the moment. I got a fair amount of the specialist kit I need as Christmas presents so I just need to top up with thermal underwear and I'm ready to go. My wife, Rosemary is great and has been very supportive. I think that at first she would have liked to go as well although it is a research based trip and not a holiday, but when I got all the paperwork and saw that snow-shoes are supplied she lost all enthusiasm for the project.

Of course I have to show my appreciation of her support and so offered to take her anywhere she wanted. She said "Somewhere warm with some culture." My first offer of a holiday job in a yogurt factory didn't go down too well so it will probably be Greece or Florence instead.

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?

What does it take to put a 'Celebrity' behind bars?

For all of you lucky people who have never seen an organised dog fight. I can tell you that it takes a special kind of person who having seen one is not physically sick and doesn't have nightmares as a result.

My attention was drawn to the case of the American 'sportsman' Michael Vick and his involvement in this illegal 'sport'. It seems his lawyer is sorting out a deal so that the poor little love is not inconvenienced too much by contravening some boring old law. He is after all famous, surely laws only apply to 'little people'. It is only dogs that have died or been maimed so that's alright then.

Read the story and see the video here http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8fd_1187417726&p=1

Vick then pleaded guilty http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a33_1187638783&p=1

And then the apologists came out of the woodwork. You have to listen to this guy. Did he listen to what Vick did? Is he from the same planet as the rest of us? How can he sleep at night defending people like this? "Mr Vick is a redeemable human being". Yeah, right! http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bf5_1187816021&p=1

And then we have the case of the rapper DMX who loved his multiple dogs so much he they were like family so, like you do, they were tied up and he didn't visit them for two months. Obviously these dogs were much loved family pets and not intended for any other purpose.http://www.usatoday .com/life/ people/2007- 08-24-dmx- dogs_N.htm? csp=34 Will he receive a substantial penalty at court?

Think Paris Hilton and all the other C list celebrities who drive around in an unfit state often without a licence. Think of Pete Doherty who's more likely to make the news if he wasn't in possession of drugs when stopped by the Police for some unpleasant behaviour or other. He must be on his tenth 'Last Chance' . The list is endless both sides of the Atlantic, actors, musicians, 'Super Models', sports personalities, children of the aforementioned. They assault people, steal (you have to fill the wardrobes in your mansion somehow), demand 'freebies', get unpleasantly and dangerously drunk, openly take drugs and laugh about it because they've just told the last judge that they've found God and turned their life around. They do all of that and more and expect to get away with it, and they do! Weak judges, weak prosecutors and we wonder why young people are killing one another at an alarming rate!

Young people need role models, well duh! Young people would pay a lot more attention if they saw that just because someone has been on tv in a reality programme or crawled into the underwear of some scrawny model they were not exempt from the law. No wonder so many young peoples only ambition is to be a 'celebrity'.

In between my clients and their dogs with behavioural problems I could happily fit in the job of Home Secretary, vote for me! I would have a simple philosophy, Bad things Happen to Bad People and not to Good People. Very Bad Things Happen to Very Bad People!

Finally if you really feel strongly about cruelty to dogs please sign my petition to Downing Street to ban cruel training aids such as spiked collars http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Traumatised-Dogs/

Radio Interview for Cruel Gadget Campaign

I did a short bit on Fred Marden's breakfast show on BBC Southern Counties Radio on the 27th April to raise awareness of my campaign for IDOD.

Listen here.

The quality is not great but it gives a flavour of what we are attempting to do.

Petition to Downing Street

Well the local council elections are over and a lot of politicians have had a wake up call. Others see new opportunities ahead. It is for this reason that we must start putting pressure on politicians at all levels and of all parties whether elected or hoping for election.

There was an attempt to ban electric shock collars recently but it failed at the second reading. The reason for this was that it was a 'Private Members Bill' and very few of those go on to become law without the support of the Government of the day. That support was singularly lacking from Mr Blair and his cohorts. It is strange that a Government that was so rabidly obsessive about banning fox hunting, a subject that evenly divided public opinion, can think that is acceptable to traumatise and torture domestic animals.

During the foxhunting debate I heard many arguments from both sides. Both the 'pros' and 'antis', good points were made by both. In the end a compromise solution was arrived at with many exceptions leaving both sides of the argument not really knowing whether they had won or lost. Hundreds of hours of parliamentary time were spent on not achieving a solution. We must not let this happen with this campaign.

There were, whether you agree or not, some valid arguments put forward by the pro-hunting lobby in support of their case. I have yet to hear a remotely valid argument in favour of beating a dog, using electric shock treatment, gouging it's neck and throat with metal spikes, spraying it with noxious liquids, sounding airhorns or using any of the other 'Advanced Training Equipment' on sale to 'Modify Behaviour'.

I have had a couple of justifications by users and suppliers addressed to me. One 'trainer' told me that they were a vital tool for real 'hands on' trainers if they were to achieve their aims!! He went on to tell me that if I'd ever had to deal with really aggressive dogs I'd soon change my mind. apparantly it's alright for me and all my tree hugging Dog Listener friends but if we had to live in the real world we'd soon change our minds.

I thought that through, maybe he's right?................Never dealt with an aggressive dog? Well of course only all those Police Dogs I've trained and worked over all those years. You wouldn't want to meet them if you'd been naughty! In the two months before I retired one offender tried to kill me with a 'Verey' flare pistol and another tried to rearrange my features with a machete. On both occasions the suspects, after a 'full and frank exchange of views' with my dog Jack, went to hospital. Jack and I went home to well earned tea and cakes. All of my dogs would put you in hospital if needed but most of the time they spent looking for missing children, mixing with the general public, normal patrol duties, doing school visits (have a look at the pictures on my website) and just enjoying being much loved family pets. How many times have I had to shout, bully, bluster, hit, or otherwise abuse my dogs? None. The traditionalist argues that to 'reach a standard', whatever that is, you have to 'keep on top of them and show them you're the master'. All I can offer in reply is the trophies I've been awarded and commendations received, not for competitions won but for operational Police work with my Dogs. I suppose you could say that was living in the real world?

And when we did drug raids, who would be the first guy through the door to deal with the dealers Pitbull? The Salvation Army, the Cats Protection League, The Traditional Trainer? No. Who then? Oh! That would be me then, the tree hugger.

For anyone who doesn't know me to call me a 'tree hugging pinko lefty' is laughable. If I had my way we'd still be sending convicts to Australia. Firstly to ease overcrowding in our prisons but mainly to get Australia back for beating us at cricket.

A manufacturer of electric collars justifies their use by saying that this equipment, "Makes for happier homes as the pet and owner develop a better relationship." Yeah, right!

Manufacturers of this equipment no longer call them electric collars but 'Electronic Training Aids'. Electronic sounds so much better than electric doesn't it? A bit like a canine ipod maybe? I've got an idea to appease all those in America opposed to the death penalty. Why don't they change the Electric Chair to the Electronic Chair? It would then be acceptable. The way I see it working is to strap the condemned person into the chair and then play them non stop Whitney Houston until they lose the will to live.

When the hunting debate was at it's height one of the pro hunting sides main arguments was that it would cause many thousands of jobs to go, often in areas where unemployment was already high. The Governments response was "A few thousand jobs is a small price to pay to put an end to hunting." Now, one of the reasons politicians are putting forward for not banning this equipment is that it might cause unemployment. I would respond by saying "A few hundred jobs is a small price to pay to put an end to torturing animals." Perhaps even more valid is that to the best of my knowledge most, if not all of this equipment is not produced in the UK but imported.

So what do we need to do to put pressure on all politicians of all parties at all levels? Firstly we have a petition on the Downing Street website please read and sign this to show we have numbers on our side. It can be found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Traumatised-Dogs/ . We must ensure that when the next General Election comes along which might be fairly soon, all parties include in their manifesto a pledge to outlaw this barbaric equipment. I would urge you to write to not only your MP but also to the prospective Parliamentary Candidates of the other parties to ask their views on this matter, refer them to this blog to see pictures of the equipment. Petitions are great to get the ball rolling but letters have more impact because they have to be answered. Can you imagine anyone seeking election responding to your letter by saying that they and their party are FOR cruelty to domestic pets? The questions that we need to ask are:- Are you aware that dogs are being subjected to cruelty by abusive training equipment such as, electric shock collars and inward facing spiked collars? Would you support a ban on such equipment? If not why not? Will you put pressure on your party leadership to include a ban on the import, sale and use of such equipment In the election manifesto? I'm sure there are many ways of asking those questions but the more we bombard the powers that be the more we can achieve. It is important that we target all political parties across the UK. Even if you live in an area that has been held by the same party for years. The sitting MP won't want to give his rivals ammunition. As well as your local MP you could write directly to the Prime Minister, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, you could suggest to him that while waiting the ban to come in he place a prohibitive import tax on such products. Also target other Cabinet Ministers and lobby them. They will be the ones facing interviewers during the Election. One further thought, what about high profile politicians who have dogs such as David Blunkett with his guide dog? How would he feel if the dog he relied on to live an independent life had been brutalised during it's training? Of course such equipment is not used in guide dog training but is used by many 'professionals'


If we get this right all the politicians will go with it because it allow them to take the moral high ground with no risk to them or their party. If we get the three main parties to include it in their manifestos whoever wins the election, the dogs won't lose.

Local councils can also be targeted at both borough and County level. Local authorities are responsible for licensing pet shops in their area. Perhaps a letter suggesting that they make it a condition of all licences that the sale of such equipment is prohibited.

Everything you do from now to the next election will be a blow to ensure the end of this barbaric casual cruelty. We need to start now and build up to the election. If we leave it until the election date is announced it will be too late, there will be demands on all the leaders time and we'll get pushed out. We need to get our foot in the door now and kick it open by the election.

I and my fellow Dog Listeners will be putting pressure on from every area. We have a number of plans in the pipeline including hopefully, celebrity support. Watch this space but every journey starts with a small step, so please, sign the petition and encourage others to do the same.

How To Use A Shock Collar

Still on the trail of people who think it's alright to be cruel to animals just to bend them to their wills I had a chance to view a training video for an electric shock collar.

I always thought that to sell a product or to train people you had to at least be able to pretend that you had some belief in the product. The salesman/instructor in this video brought a new meaning to the term wooden. It was like watching one of Harry Enfield's skits of the wartime public information films except it was not intentionally funny.

I did learn several things about this 'kind' way of training. The equipment is apparantly so 'kind' and 'stress free' that you are advised to have your dog thoroughly checked by a vet before you use it. But I thought this equipment was harmless, so why do we need a vets visit?

Just as an aside they mention that the equipment should not be used on a dog that is in anyway nervous. But the equipment is 'stress free' surely that's just the sort of thing you need for a nervous dog? Or am I missing something here? I would hope that a vet with an ounce of integrity would have a full and frank exchange of views with any owner who asked if his dog was fit to be subjected to random electric shocks.


Of course the sales team would argue that the system comes with full instructions and indeed it does.

1) Call the dog in a normal way. If he does not respond at once

2) Tell him again in a STERN VOICE!!! If no instant response we get to the highly trained technical bit

3) Shout OI!!! And shock him.

Well, if he wasn't in need of a vet's care or nervous before this 'kind' training session I bet he will be now.

These items are being sold as a quick fix. The cheapest one that I could find cost well over £100 and I've found some costing around £550. Add to that the cost of the vets visit before the training session (and very possibly after) and you're talking big money. They also offer the services of an instructor, specially trained in the use of the equipment. If you have trouble traumatising your dog then they 'Know a Man Who Can'. I have no idea how much you would be charged for the use of that service.

Just think of how much real stress free help that money would buy. You'd have money left over, a clear conscience and a happy dog.

Cruel Gadgets, Electric Shock Collar Arrives

As promised by a dog owner and mentioned in an earlier post I was sent an electric shock collar which they had bought on advice to deal with a behavioural problem. It arrived with me earlier this week and as a result I am able to share the delights of this piece of equipment with you.

First of all you may want to know, 'Did it work?' Well, if I tell you that the donor paid £195.00 for it, has now decided that it is not the way to go and has sent it to me free of charge, that might be an indication of its training value. They could have easily sold this on ebay and recouped some of their money but had more integrity than to perpetuate the use of such cruel equipment.

So if this equipment is so bad why do people some of whom are obviously dog lovers buy it? Because they are at the end of their tether. They hit a problem that they can't seem to resolve, maybe they go to the usual 'Dog Training Club' for 'Obedience Training' and that doesn't work so they look for other options and, if they are very unlucky they will either find a 'Trainer' who will take the dog away for a period of time (at vast expense) and return it 'Trained' often by the use of such equipment as the shock collar or spiked collar plus of course a bit of brute force and bloody ignorance. You can usually spot this type pretty quickly because they won't want you anywhere near the training venue. They will tell you that your presence will distract the dog. The truth is it would seriously disturb the owner. Ask yourself 'What have they got to hide?' The owner might also see this equipment on the the internet or be sold it by a 'Dog Training Expert' as a quick and easy fix.

The manufacturers of this sort of equipment are very coy in the description of their products. The one that I've been sent is described as a 'Remote Trainer'. Of course it's a bit of a giveaway when you open the packing and see the control unit has two buttons marked 'Trigger' and a power button which turns almost 360 degrees marked 'Intensity'. When I was a Police Officer we used to call things like that 'Clues'!

Let's open the packing. First of all the control unit, an innocuous piece of equipment until you read the control instructions. Slightly larger than a mobile phone with a rechargeable battery. It of course has a charger unit supplied.

Next we have the 'Dummy'collar. The manufacturers recommend the dog wear this for four or five days before starting remedial training. The collar is worn so that the box is held against the dogs throat with the electrodes making contact with the skin. If you have a hairy dog you are advised to trim the hair around the contact points to ensure better flow of power. Why don't we throw a bucket of water over the dog at the same time? That would really ensure a good contact. Of course the dummy is inert and only designed to get the dog used to having two lumps of metal sticking into their throat all the time. I like the use of the word 'only' don't you?

Now we get to the action part, the live collar. When you are ready to start 'remedial training' then you remove the dummy collar and replace with the real thing. Hey! What's this? Another dial on the collar itself! it's marked 1-5 what fun we're going to have trying out varying shock levels! Once the live collar is in place training commences. If the dog does anything that you don't like Zap!

Of course the instruction book gives no guidance how the equipment should be used. It does tell you that you can correct (give him an electric shock against his throat) a dog up to one mile away. How you can see what the dog is doing at that distance is something I've not been able to workout. The blurb also says 'The natural choice for sporting dog enthusiasts who need deep penetration of woodland or undergrowth'. In both scenarios if the dog is unsighted, even leaving aside the obvious cruelty issues. How can you correct an animal without knowing what he's doing? He might even be on his way back to you when you shock him. A good move?

There have been instances with this equipment where exactly the opposite result to that desired occurs e.g. Using it to 'cure' poor recall. Dog doesn't recall at once, trigger pressed, dog shocked and panics, runs away. Or even less successful when being used to deal with chasing behaviour. When shocked the dog can interpret the cause of the pain to be the jogger, cyclist or other object of interest and attack their perceived tormentor. There have also been cases where the dog realises that the trainer is the cause of all the trauma and then..... Can I have a new trainer please? I've split this one.

The people who say it doesn't hurt suddenly find other important things to do when offered the chance to try it out for themselves. Have I tried it on myself? Yes. Will I be trying it again? No! Is it cruel? Of course it is. I find it difficult to understand that such evil equipment is on sale in the 21st century. It has no purpose other than to cause pain, except of course to make someone a lot of money.

I don't know where this equipment comes from but certainly the charger unit comes from Japan and the rest appears to be of identical manufacture. Perhaps I'm wrong but when you look at what happens to contestants in Japanese Game Shows it might explain why it is considered acceptable to inflict cruelty on animals.

There are other factors to be considered in the use of this equipment. The frequencies used in transmitting the 'correction' are shared with all the other owners of similar collars. So, there you are out walking your your dog who is now so worried about being shocked that he is doing nothing (like playing or just enjoying his walk) that might incur your wrath and involve further distress. Suddenly, another owner anywhere upto a mile away decides to 'correct' his dog and your dog gets a jolt as well. For what? He's already doing nothing through fear and he's still being shocked. It's lucky that this is a country of dog lovers. What would happen if we didn't like them?

Having this sort of equipment around the house can lead to tragedy. What happens if very young children get hold of it and use it in 'play'? There was a case of child abuse reported this week from Spokane U.S.A. which resulted in a child's death. One of the favourite tools of abuse used by the offenders was an electric dog training collar.

What can you do if you have a dog problem and you are being encouraged to turn towards gadgets for a resolution? Firstly say No. Ideally contact me or any of the other 'Dog Listeners' using the 'Amichien Bonding' techniques pioneered by Jan Fennell. All of these real Dog Listeners hold the 'Advanced Certificate In Canine Communication' and are authorised by Jan to offer this service. The title Dog Listener is hard earned and jealously guarded and all of us are regularly monitored to ensure quality of service to the client. A full list of Recommended Associate Dog Listeners and Preliminary Dog Listeners who are working to their full accreditation can be found not only for the UK but Worldwide, on Jan's website www,janfennellthedoglistener.com. With a Dog Listener you will know there will be only natural methods used. No stress for you or your dog(s), no gadgets and definitely no cruelty. If you decide not to follow the Amichien route then I urge you to ensure that you are in full control and have the final say on all matters relating to your dog whatever method you choose. When the training is over the trainer will go away. You will have your dog for better or worse for the rest of its life. It's best to get it right first time. Make sure you get the genuine article, there are people claiming to be Dog Listeners who have no right to the title. If their name is not on Jan's list they are bogus.

All of this is building up to seek your support for this years International Day of the Dog on 29th April 2007. Further details can be found on Jan's website. My project is to persuade people not to buy cruel training aids in the first place but, once they have, to hand them in to sites which we hope will be available on the run-up to the event. You can of course contact me direct (anonymously if you wish) and pass the equipment to me for publicity purposes. If you know someone who uses such equipment ask them to visit this site and approach it with an open mind. If they want to discuss any of the points raised I'll be happy to do so.

If you are in any doubt as to what this sort of equipment can do have a look at this clip I found on the internet. The collar being used in this sequence is to prevent a dog from barking and therefore is not as powerful as those used in 'Remedial Training'. I think it's a fair bet that drink had been taken by those in this experiment. Remember the participants are aware of what is going to happen and are doing it of their own free will. That would not apply to a dog. The participants can choose to stop at anytime. Again the same would not apply to a dog. They just have to wait until the 'superior species' chooses to stop torturing them (or not).

Progress on Cruel Training Aids!!

Great news! We are making an early start. As I mentioned in my previous post my intention was to build towards 29th April 2007 The International Day of the Dog (IDOD) to encourage caring dog owners who have been badly advised to hand in the various cruel gadgets they been sold to deal with behavioural issues.

As I've said so many times before THEY DON'T WORK!!! At best they replace one problem with another usually much worse. How do you then deal with that? More pain, more stress, more trauma?

Anyway let's be positive. Since my last post on this subject I have been contacted by two dog owners who have got the campaign off to a good start. One has an electric shock 'Training Collar' which they bought to deal with a particular problem and now realise that it was counter- productive. They are now sending it to me to educate people as to the sheer cruelty of such equipment. When it arrives I will post pictures here. The second owner was advised to buy a riding crop to 'encourage' their dog to sit instantly and to reinforce other obedience exercises. That piece of equipment is now also out of circulation.

Watch this space for updates.

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.