Robin Glover - PURE Dog Listener » Dog Welfare

Help needed in Australia

Robin Glover — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:58:49 +0000

We know that there are dogs in need around the world. Luckily there are many good people and organisations working to alleviate these problems. Here in the UK we probably have more such as in other parts of the world although of course there are never enough.

In Australia we have colleagues www.doglistenersdownunder.com.au who are doing amazing work in all fields of canine welfare. You may recall the dreadful Victoria bushfires a short time ago. People and dogs lost their lives and homes and many of those who survived suffered terrible burns. There was treatment for the humans but no infrastructure in place for the dogs particularly for those parted from their owners. Dog Listeners swung into action and were the driving force in the rescue and treatment of these dogs. This is still a work in progress but Lynne (who I met during my recent visit) and the gang will be there for as long as it takes.

This morning on the Australian Dog Listeners Forum I read about ‘Lacey’ and it really touched me. I know that we can’t, as much as we would like to, help every dog. I know that Australia is a long way away, but due to the huge size of the country and the proportionately small population they can’t have the same number of suitably funded shelters that we have. I also know that times are hard for everyone, unless you’re an MP. Just read Lacey’s story below and if you can help it would be wonderful. If you can’t we understand. For your information an Australian Dollar equates to about 50p.

LACEY’S STORY

Hello, my name is Lacey and I am eight years old. I came to Golden Retriever Rescue because I am not wanted by my owners as they are having a new baby. I have lived in the yard all my life without a bed or shelter and when I arrived at GRR I was filthy and my gorgeous golden coat and tail were full of knots. However, Wendy and Trisha looked on the inside and found a special quality in me that touched their hearts. They also noticed that I had difficulty moving around but I was so happy to be living in Goldie headquarters that I didn’t mind the pain. Life was certainly getting better by the moment.

Going through the assessment process at GRR I was bathed and groomed but a vet check, followed by x-rays showed that I have the worst case of hip dysplasia the vet has seen in his career. GRR’s vet said that I should have my x-rays placed in a text book and here I was thinking that it was because of my cute smile. My x-rays show that I have no sockets for my hips and I have been taking the pressure on my knees causing one to deteriorate to the point that I need a knee as well. No wonder walking was so painful. Goldie Rescue was given the difficult decision to put me to sleep. Wendy and Trisha thought long and hard because there are so many Goldies that they need to help, but they just couldn’t put an end to my life without me ever having the chance to know what it is like to be pain free and part of a loving family, so it’s new hips for me. GRR’s vet calls it bilateral hip replacement and I know that the recovery will be long and painful but it will be wonderful to walk and run again.

GRR has been in debt for over eight years and it seems that it’s only the depth that varies, but the surgery to give me two new hips will cost approximately $6,000 and Goldie Rescue wants to continue to help other Goldies that come to them for help. It’s not all about me you know.

GRR has found a special family to care for me during my long and difficult recovery and now they need to find the money to pay for my surgery and that’s where you come in. If you would like to donate towards my operation please go to the Donate page found on the top right hand corner of the website or simply send a cheque made out to Golden Retriever Rescue Inc.

Thank you for reading my story and whether you decide to donate or simply wish me a speedy recovery I’m happy to know that there are people out there who care enough to hold me in their thoughts. That’s a whole lot more than I’ve experienced in my life so far.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE INC.
www.grr.org. au
P O Box 4081 Oatley West NSW 2223

Phoenix Arrives

Robin Glover — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:16:00 +0000

A hectic week. Saturday afternoon return to the UK following flights in excess of 24 hours. Half nine Sunday morning off to the New Forest to pick up Phoenix my new puppy (I didn’t drive). Would he still be cute? Of course, even more so.

I brought him home to meet the family including two and a half year old grandson. He settled in right away. Tom and Katie the cats were not too sure but decided on a state of armed truce. Katie has accepted the situation now but Tom’s holding out for a better offer.

It’s been a major upheaval for Phoenix, leaving his mum and littermates, moving to a new pack, a new place to sleep, working out where he fits into this situation. this is where dog listening comes into its own because we can communicate in a way that he will understand. Already he is happy and settled, no problems with eating, sleeping or toileting. If he has any questions he looks to me or my wife to know the answer and of course we must, he is not able to be a decision maker.

He’s been to the vets and had a check-up and his first jabs and so will soon be able to go out. I will be working with him at home before the big day so that he is not overwhelmed when it happens. He will be taught not to pull on the lead and he will be happy with that. Firstly because he’ll be taught in a non-confrontational way with no cruel gadgets and because he’ll want to stay with me as a credible leader. A lot of work ahead but also a lot of fun.

Australia

Robin Glover — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Here I am back home after three weeks in Australia mainly spent on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland north of Brisbane. For those of you who’ve done the trip you’ll know just how far it is and what a huge country Australia is. I went with my wife Rosemary and we visited her sister and family who moved out there almost five years ago.

The hotel we stayed out was run by a man who bore more than a passing resemblance to Les Patterson, Dame Edna Everage’s alter ego or maybe it was him. Almost without exception we found the Australian people friendly and helpful. We saw so much out there, like Koalas in the wild, which many Australians say they’ve only seen in the zoo. It was while moving position to try to get a better picture of a Koala that I nearly walked at face level into a spider the size of a Pit Bull Terrier. I swear it curled it’s lips and growled at me. Ok, maybe it didn’t growl, but it certainly sneered in a really arrogant manner. The dingo was another animal I was pleased to see on it’s own continent. It was wolves in America last year, Dingoes in Australia this year. Maybe 2010 will be African Wild Dogs in the wild, although I have a policy not to go anywhere that requires me to have lots of injections, so perhaps I’ll make do with National Geographic channel instead. I’m certainly off to New York next year so maybe it’ll be hotdogs

We did visit Australia Zoo the home of the late Steve Irwin and his family. It’s a very well kept place and we watched the obligatory crocodile show in the ‘Crocatorium’ which was interesting and fronted by Steve Irwin’s widow and two children. The highlights for me though were discovering that they had a crocodile called Acco which was the name of my best police dog who had a similar bite. Also high on my list of favourites were the Tasmanian Devils who were dozing in the sun and looked really cute. Yes I know they’re not cute but I lived in hope that some of the people who tease animals might just find that out the hard way. Sadly it was not to be. And of course no mention of Australian animals would be complete without the Hairy Nosed Wombat. I felt a certain affinity with these creatures.

A major bonus on this trip was being able to meet Lynne and Jenny, two Australian colleagues, over a long lunch, during which we discussed all matters canine and how we saw Dog Listening developing across the globe. It was amazing that the same issues that were concerning dog listeners in Australia were being perceived in the same manner by many in the UK. A valuable meeting, email is a wonderful thing but you can’t beat being face to face with a beer in your hand to make a proper connection.

Things to do or not to do in Australia. Don’t buy confectionery it’s a ridiculous price. Don’t buy food to cook yourelf it’s a ridiculous price. Do eat out. The quality is very good, the portions generous, the service quick and friendly and the prices are very reasonable. We couldn’t understand why it cost so much for average groceries in a supermarket and yet you could go into a good restaurant get a superb meal with all the trimmings and then double check the bill because it couldn’t be that cheap. If I lived in Australia I would probably only use my kitchen to make drinks (coffee shops are dear) I would have all my main meals out. And on a closing note, in a bar or eating house if you ask advice on what Australian product they are very appreciative and give a little bit more care in their service. They are proud of their country and of being Australian and rightly so.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit but was anxious to get home because I had a puppy to pick up.

Literary Aspirations

Robin Glover — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:14:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

Phoenix the Puppy Progress Report

Robin Glover — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:52:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

Recent and Future Travels

Robin Glover — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:46:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

Dogs as Film stars

Robin Glover — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:10:00 +0000

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

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

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

Be Careful About Who You Let Near Your Dog

Robin Glover — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:20:00 +0000

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

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

Your dog, your best friend and certainly your responsibility.

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

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

Police Dog Sections Cut

Robin Glover — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:55:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

Joined up Government they call it.

Busy Times

Robin Glover — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:45:00 +0000

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

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

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

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

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