To see Amichien Bonding used so well in extreme circumstances is always heartening. I'm currently on the Dutch stage of my road trip back to France with my beloved open top (no working roof) Beetle Sasha, named after our black German Shepherd from years ago. The only time I got rained on was as I left England - a reminder why I am taking the car down to France lol.

Yesterday I met up with Myrthe, a friend who has for several years suffered with cancer in various parts of her body, all of which has left her struggling to look after herself. The pain she feels constantly does not diminish her spirit and she is an inspiration to us all.

To aid her in everyday tasks that we take for granted, Myrthe has an assistance dog called Fenna, a beautiful long haired German Shepherd. From the beginning to the end of the day, Fenna will help Myrthe get out of bed, get dressed, open and close the curtains and doors, turn lights on and off, get the shopping, (this requires a lot of self-control for Fenna, especially when picking up sausages!) even take off her shoes.

Fenna was trained with positive reinforcement and patience, and is capable of learning new skills when needed, yet she is no robot. She is still a dog and acts like one, still playful, occasionally distracted by new things, but Myrthe's patience with her comes from a deep understanding of Amichien Bonding so she does not get angry or impatient. She knows Fenna will get there.

I saw Fenna demonstrate some of her skills and even filmed them with a view to putting them onto the site for everyone to see. It is a truly wonderful thing that dogs are capable of helping those who cannot help themselves, and equally wonderful when an owner understands that despite all the marvels it can perform, the dog is still a dog. 

Myrthe talked about mutual respect, and I can't think of a better way to describe it. Even recently, when Myrthe had a particularly bad episode and was in a great deal of pain, that respect was evident. Fenna left her alone except when needed, sensing that it was best to give her the space. We are aware that dogs can smell cancer, and they can feel our emotional state, and the change in the dog's behaviour was evidence of that.

So if you have had a bad day or are feeling unwell, don't be surprised if your dog's behaviour changes. The good news is that with this process you know there is something you can do about it.   Tony

Now when it comes to understanding dogs, I know a thing or two. However, when it comes to trimming them, I am still very much the amateur.

Yesterday I decided to tidy up my two - nothing too complicated, just the feet and ears - and after over an hour of clippering, cutting and combing, Pru and Kez were rewarded for their patience with a hairdo that I am sure somewhere would be called "avant-garde". All the while I was toiling over them I kept thinking, "I wonder if there is a good groomer somewhere..."

The advice I give owners who are searching for a good dog professional - groomer, walker or vet for example - is to go and see how they operate, and whether they spend more time talking to the owners or the dogs. If it is the former then all well and good. A dog that already finds itself in a strange environment full of weird sights, sounds and smells does not need an over-the-top human in their face as well. This is why some dogs react badly to these excursions, and if misread can be seen as aggression, rather than fear.

In my time teaching people the Amichien Bonding method, I have had various professionals attend, and the piece of advice I give for those who only spend a limited time with a dog is to be as matter-of-fact as possible. This way the dog sees there is no threat and that everything is calm. This can dramatically reduce the risk of being bitten.

The ONLY problem is they will sometimes have to explain to owners unaware of what they are doing is that of course they think their dog is adorable, they are simply putting it at ease (some owners worry that there may be something unlovable about their pride and joy - bless).

Let me ask you a question.  As temperatures soar this summer, can you imagine going barefoot on hot concrete wearing a fur coat? No?  Then perhaps you should think twice before making your dog do it!

This week has so far seen a heatwave in England, and I have forgotten to bring my shorts! I'm here in the UK to teach the latest group of people wishing to become Dog Listeners. Humidity is high and energy is low - a perfect time for those dog owners who are enlightened - and have taken on board Amichien Bonding Methods - to be thankful that they do not have to take their dogs out for a walk in this heat.

For me, it's not only the sight of poor dog owners (and their dogs) out in rain, hail and thunderstorms with the mistaken belief that they must walk their dogs. If anything  it is worse when the temperature is so high. As I have said before, if we humans find ourselves sweating profusely, imagine if we had to go barefoot on the concrete while wearing a fur coat!

A late evening stroll, being happy and in control, can be very enjoyable. But most owners out there don't consider walking the dog a joy, rather a chore that can cause anxiety, fear and misery. Yet they still go out there because they think they have to.

I remember seeing an old lady in France, zimmer frame grasped firmly in hand, slowly making her way down the road in scorching conditions, followed by her three-legged dog. As anyone who has ever had a personal trainer will testify, there is a fine line between exercise and torture......

So if you are feeling the heat right now, think of your four-legged friend too and find some shade. Maybe grab an iced tea while you're at it and don't forget to fill the dog's water bowl.... enjoy the British summer while it lasts!

PS For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, I will post this blog again in 6 months!

P.P.S  After hearing about the tragic story about the two police dogs that died from heat in the back of their handlers car, I just wanted to add this warning that was made by The Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, "the charity would like to remind dog owners that leaving your dog locked in a car can prove fatal, particularly during a heatwave. It can take just 20 minutes for a dog to die and temperatures reach over 40 degrees in some vehicles.   Stay Cool - Tony Knight

Last weekend I did a dog listener consultation for a couple with a highly intelligent dog who had a list of phobias as long as your arm - literally (so my arm really).

The wife had written down all things that freaked this dog out, and as I scanned the multitude of problems, one jumped out at me. You see, I am used to seeing "phone", "laughing", "thunder" etc, and although the list contained some more interesting articles, such as "Salad spinner", or "cutting bread", my eyes stopped at the name "Andrew Marr".

Now, for those who are unaware of this man, he is a political reporter for the BBC, and I am sure he's a very nice man. However, the mere sound of this man's voice on radio or TV would send this dog into a fit of panicked barking. Basically, we simplified the whole list by condensing it down to one word "ANYTHING".

A dog is in a world it does not understand, so don't be surprised if something that seems to you completely harmless is seen as a threat to the very existence of the dogs and its pack. The benefit of Dog Listener Training is that it takes a consistent approach to all threats which allows the dog to calm down.

The key of course if to get the dog to realise that you are the decision maker of the pack, not him (or her).  You can also create the environment for the dog to learn by (without making a fuss) using the salad spinner, ringing the phone.... or even inviting Mr. Marr round for dinner?   Tony Knight 

We keep telling you how easy dog listener training can be... but rather than just say it, we wanted to prove it to you too, so we've chosen a video from my Dog Listener Training web site which uses two rather gorgeous participants to demonstrate a technique we call 'Stop, Start, Change Direction'.

I talk a lot about owners being Happy and In Control -  especially when out for a walk.  If we're vigilant we can probably stop a lot of potentially difficult situations from ever happening.  Anyway, in this video I show you exactly how I use this to keep my own dogs safe.

Hope you enjoy the videos.  If you want to leave any comments for me below, I'd be pleased to hear from you. Tony Knight

I was asked lots of great questions on my phone-in on Tuesday evening, which means there’s plenty of useful training advice amongst the answers I gave. 

An interesting theme ran through the session which was about dogs starting to question their owners about “who’s in charge” as they came out of the puppy stage (particularly between 1-2 years old).  So there lots of advice on how to take the control back from a dog who’s trying to assert their leadership.

It was a great session – and I look forward to running some more with you all. We've broken the session down into sections, and described each question so you can pick and choose the ones you'd like to listen to if you're short of time.

 

Teri had adopted a rescue dog who had some strong traits.  She was highly protective and increasingly aggressive and recently snapped at a 3 year old child.  Out on the walk she was now trying to attack other dogs too. Teri was coming under pressure to have her put down.....

Click the Read More button to hear the rest of the answers ...

This week you may have heard about Lillian Miller in Florida whose life was saved by her pet Chihuahua cross, called Spaz.

Spaz woke the owner in the early hours by barking, and the owner, thinking the dog wanted to go outside to pee, got up and noticed her living room was on fire. She had taken out her hearing aids upon going to bed (the owner, not Spaz) so did not hear the fire alarm.

This raises an important question – is it okay to have a dog that barks? The answer here is obviously yes, but the reason that sometimes dogs bark non-stop is that in their mind they are the protectors of the den and must deter all potential intruders. By implementing Dog Listener training (aka Amichien Bonding), the dog believes the owner is the guardian, however this does not mean the dog will not bark at all, rather it will now alert the decision-maker.

One of my dogs, Pru, will bark if she sees something she believes is of concern (and being a nervous dog in nature that can be something as seemingly insignificant as a plastic bag). Once I acknowledge her alert and – in her eyes – deal with the situation as I see fit she stops, or at least gives one final tiny woof as if to say “Yeah, and stay out!”

Some people actually feel reassured that their dog is there in case of unwanted visitors (I don’t mean the in-laws). At the same time it is good to know that they trust you to make the decision, and it is entirely possible to achieve that without having to shout, throw things, use shock collars, and generally get everyone well and truly wound up.

One other question did arise as I read the story – if the lady couldn’t hear the fire alarm, how loud was Spaz? 

Source: The Orlando Sentinel

I've been back in France now for a week or so and the temperature is high to say the least - and my dogs are feeling the heat.

Now, apart from obviously making sure they have adequate shade and water, I have only walked them once since getting back, and that was at 8 pm.

There are those who will tell dog owners ad nauseum that you must walk your dog every day or else, but before you head out in your sandals and sunglasses, just ask those people to throw a coat on and see how long they find it fun. Oh, and while they're at it, they can ditch the sandals and walk barefoot on the concrete or tarmac. If you are brave enough to try then do let me know how it goes.

Right now my two are stretched out by me in the cool of the house - not as daft as they look.... 

I have finally found the time to write my latest blog after finishing the latest Advanced Course to train new Dog Listeners, and after over 6 months I will soon be returning home to France and taking my dogs with me (I am incredibly lucky to be able to leave my two at my mother's while I am away - in my opinion the best place I could leave them!) However some people don't have that choice and I get asked on my views about dog kennelling, and more importantly what places I can recommend.

It is a very important decision to make - to leave your beloved pooches in the care of someone you may not know. In the world of Dog Listeners we do actually have a few kennels that practice the method and their full books indicate the satisfaction level of their customers. Similarly some Dog Listeners offer a house sitting service and are excellent (details of these can be found on www.janfennellthedoglistener.com).

If these aren't viable then use common sense and check out the kennels before you decide which one to use. Are they clean? How calm are the "guests"? Ask around for word of mouth too if you don't just want to take the proprietor's word for it. It doesn't take long and it can lead to a great deal of peace of mind while you're away. There's nothing worse than ruining your holiday fretting over your dog. Much better to choose somewhere that your dog can relax itself and have it's own holiday too (but this does not mean taking your dog to a "hotel" where it gets spoilt, pampered and generally treated like a little person - you could end up picking up a spoilt brat when you return). If the kennels treat your dog as a dog and with respect, you are looking in the right direction.

Today was my first appearance on American TV - a show called Better Connecticut - about Dog Listening. An in-depth interview for daytime television (it lasted 5 minutes) but they are talking about following it up with a filmed consultation so hopefully this is the start of the conquest of America (to boldly go where Robbie Williams didn't.....).
One of the other guests was a diet expert who lost an astonishing 200 pounds, and more importantly she had kept it off. As we were chatting after the show we realised that our careers had many parallels. Just like her, I have a simple message that is effective, without gadgets and gimmicks, BUT it is not a quick fix, magic bullet or a miracle. However, both methods ARE down to the person (dog owner or dieter) and are a WAY OF LIFE. Yet how many fad diet books are out there, and how many so-quick miracle cures for dog behaviour? Because so many folks out there want the magic wand, rather than put in the effort themselves, and often this is coupled with impatience.
I completely understand this thinking - I've found myself shouting at a microwave to hurry up, even though it cooks food quicker than anything else. We have to be realistic when it comes to our own health and our dogs' welfare. We can get amazing results but we need to keep going with the program to maintain the progress, rather then stop and rest on our laurels. Serial dieters know too well the yo-yo weight phenomenon, and similarly the system of dog training I provide never ends...... after all when does a dog stop being a dog?

I may be doing some more filming next week over here so keep you posted.
Cheers for now y'all, Tony