Hi folks from a very windy Auckland. I am staying with my friend Kris and today I went to see her at the beach as she continued with her kite surf practice - and couldn't help but notice a Dog Listener lesson in it for us all.

She started practicing six months ago and has only just begun to stand on her board and get majestically swept along in control of her kite (most of the time anyway).

My job was to take photos of her, either to help her evaluate her progress or (as I suspect) so she can put the pictures on Facebook to show off.

Her teacher is a guy called Steve, who was good enough to give me a quick lesson. We started on dry land, with a much smaller kite. The first, most important thing to grasp is how to read the wind and move the kite in the right way to get more speed and to manoeuvre it correctly. It is surprising how such a small kite could virtually lift me off my feet as I took my first steps into the world of kite surfing, and I am happy to report that I stayed on my feet the whole time and there were relatively few fatalities of those around me...

Imagine what could have happened if, for my first lesson, Steve had rigged me up in the full equipment, complete with 12 metre kite, put me into the water and said “Good Luck”. Chances are it could have gone disastrously wrong. As it was, I felt good and that I wanted to try the next stage.

Later, we chatted about what I did for a job, and the subject of walking dogs came up. At first, Steve felt that dogs needed exercise in order to avoid getting fat. However, I made the comparison with how he teaches, and he instantly understood and agreed that it is far more effective to take it one stage at a time, making sure you are happy and in control, before you take the next step.

In fact, this step-by-step approach usually means the student makes quicker progress this way.

Does that sound familiar? Taking small steps with your own dog training can actually results in quicker progress and is actually more enjoyable. One day I will stop going on and on about this - and for those who say the day people realise they don’t have to walk their dogs and learn the controls is the day when Hell freezes over - they said that about New Orleans getting to the Superbowl… Go Saints!!

All the best, Tony

P.S. This http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaaafxPUW5E - is what can happen if you aren’t happy and in control?