As you may have read on previous blogs my new puppy is called Phoenix, this is a very appropriate name with it’s connection with rebirth and rising from the ashes.

I have for some time now been working as an ‘Associate Highly Recommended Dog Listener’ under the umbrella of the Jan Fennell Dog Listeners organisation. it has been a very fruitful collaboration but for sometime now [... continue reading 'A PURE New Beginning']]]>

As you may have read on previous blogs my new puppy is called Phoenix, this is a very appropriate name with it’s connection with rebirth and rising from the ashes.

I have for some time now been working as an ‘Associate Highly Recommended Dog Listener’ under the umbrella of the Jan Fennell Dog Listeners organisation. it has been a very fruitful collaboration but for sometime now I have felt that it was perhaps time to move to a smaller operation where I would know everyone involved both as a person and also their capabilities as a Dog Listener. The focus could be put back where it should be. On dogs and their owners.

I talked with a friend and colleague of mine (and a superb dog listener) Caroline Spencer and she felt the same way. We decided to set up a new association. What to call ourselves? We kicked a few ideas about and as a starter came up with ‘Caroline and Robin Animal Psychology’ but that would give the acronym ‘CRAP’. As Phoenix had arrived at such an opportune moment we thought we might use him as the face of the new company. How about Phoenix Independent Dog Listeners? But that gave us ‘PIDL’ not a very appealing acronym although certainly better than our first thoughts.

After a lot more thought we realised that the reason for this new venture was to keep what we do pure. Going to peoples homes and helping them and their dogs in their own safe place where we could really make a difference and bring their dogs to a happy and peaceful resolution. That was it. PURE Dog Listeners. We are at the moment working flat out doing the admin and we are still mending dogs. Nothing else has changed except that we are now a much tighter unit able to support one another at all times. It’s going to be an exciting time I feel revitalised.

I brought him home to meet the family including two and a half year old grandson. He settled in right [... continue reading 'Phoenix Arrives']]]> 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.

The hotel we [... continue reading 'Australia']]]> 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.