Hi folks, touched down in London yesterday and and currently enjoying some warm sunshine in England (YES! It CAN happen!!). Jet lag is being held at bay for the moment but it is a sneaky creature so vigilance is needed...

The Advanced Course in Sydney was terrific, and I also did some more filming helping celebrities with dog behaviour problems for TV (2 of a further 6 episodes to be done) so it seems that progress is in the right direction. Keep an eye out for my email with the next clip - as soon as I have it I will send it on. I have a feeling that one will particularly appeal to the ladies as my client was the current Australian Batchelor of the Year, Eamonn Sullivan.

The last time I saw him on TV, it was as the "highlight" of Sydney fashion week, and the camera did a close-up of his... er... trouser furniture. Mind you, it was no different than the attention that Pippa Middleton has received I guess...

After the Sydney course, I caught up with two of the students and I was told about a study done into Aborginal people which concluded that they were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, brought on by their inability to understand the world around them. Sounds familiar?

Fot example, apparently the idea of a mortgage was completely lost on them. Also, their notion of boundaries was based upon tribes, not upon land ownership. The settlers rules made no sense.

We know that the main reason that we see extreme dog behaviour is their inability to understand the world around them AND be the member of the pack responsible as leader for everyone. While we cannot change the former, we can certainly take care of the latter through Dog Listening, so they can relax and trust our decision. We have to earn that trust though, and do it in a way THEY understand. Cheers, Tony Knight

Hi folks, my latest Dog Listener training TV clip has just been aired on Channel 7 in Australia where I tackle the age-old problem of barking dogs.

As you will see, with some dog behaviour problems, it doesn't take long for them to get the message when you use dog listener methods.

Click on the link below to watch it (to get to the right clip on the Morning Show site, scroll until you see the photo below).

http://au.tv.yahoo.com/the-morning-show/video/-/watch/24697721/catwalks-cranky-canine/

Don't tell anyone, but there I was with model and designer Gail Elliott and her husband - two high fashion designers, who know all kinds of a-list stars (AND Simon Le Bon!), and while I was adjusting the microphone I noticed a food stain on my  T shirt!  You can't buy class...

Anyway, back to the dog training.

Once you add patience and consistency, you actually find the results come quicker than if you rush things.

Ever noticed that the time you are in a hurry and you take a shower, is when the soap becomes extra slippery? Once you relax, things go much more smoothly.

That is the same for walking the dog to heel too. There are some people who say that the dog's nose must not go in front of he owner's knee, which results in not looking where you are going and constantly jerking the dog around. Not great or practical. When walking the dog, it can be slightly ahead, as long as the lead is relaxed. As Mum says, when the lead is smiling, you are Happy and in Control. 

Here's to less dog barking and happier dog walking. Cheers. Tony Knight

Hi folks, as usual I had more dog training questions to answer than time available at the Dog Listener talk I gave in Gothenburg, Sweden last Monday night.

As I hate to disappoint anyone, I'm answering the last few I couldn't squeeze in to the Dog Listener talk in a Youtube video called Stop Dog Barking At Doorbell

It was great to see a full house and also a relief that they understood MOST of my jokes (when they don't work I always have the excuse that the British have a different sense of humour... although when I'm in England the same excuse doesn't work...).

So, if you want to know how to:

• Stop your dog barking at the doorbell
• Deal with dog anxiety on the walk
• Stop your dog jumping up on you

Click on the following link: Stop Dog Barking At Doorbell to listen to my answers on this Youtube video.

I looked for a Swedish flag online, and the one I chose stood out. What can I say? We British have a special sense of humour... Cheers, Tony

I got some interesting questions in response to my last blog on using diverson tactics for dog behaviour problems and thought I'd answer a couple of them here.

Caron emailed to say.... 

"just read your email and was wondering... my dog Cassey when she was about 6 months old got hold of a dead bird. She wouldn't come to me with it and I wasn't going to chase her so I put a couple of pieces of food treats in a little saucer and walked away. At that point she dropped the bird and went to the saucer and I was able to remove the dead bird, however if your dog is outside off lead you're then not in the same controlled environment, so what advice would you proceed with if the dog gets something that maybe harmful and it has to be removed quickly? Some people don't take food treats with them on a walk as they assume their dog will be ok as it is every other time."

My reply....

Dear Caron, of course in an emergency there should be no hesitation to remove something if no other alternative is available. However, understanding the importance of this to your dog means that next time you can, practice doing something the right way so the dog does not get into an unwanted pattern of behaving.

I would also suggest if the thing in the dog's mouth is not harmful, to call your dog and if it does not come, turn and leave. The dog is more likely to follow the pack than retain the "prize" in its mouth. Getting the dog to come to you is far better than you going to the dog - a fact that was made crystal clear in the last piece of filming I did in Australia last week for Channel 7's Morning Show. I let you know when that piece goes out on TV

Barbara emailed to say...

"We have a lovely but dominant staffordshire bull terrier. He pulls  a lot on the lead and sometimes isn't trustworthy near other dogs. We have tried taking treats out with us to train him. He absolutely loves mints when he is at home you can't have a mint without giving him one, but when we are outside he won't accept any treats of any kind not even his beloved mints. Why is this?

My reply...
Dear Barbara, the reason that the mint does not work outside is that there are too many decisions and distractions outside, and it sounds like, through nobody's fault your dog has assumed the role of decision maker. This happens when we give them mixed signals in everyday life. For example, when you get the mints out indoors, do you call him to you, or is he right there anyway? If you treat him when he come up to you, he has got your attention on his terms, which contributes to the idea that he is the leader. Whenever you get the mints out indoors in the future use this treat to get your dog to come to you. Pulling on the lead is also a clear signal that the dog is in charge, needing to get there first to make the decisions. You can change this quite easily by correctly adopting the Dog Listener principles. When you learn to be the pack leader and convince him, he will listen to you outside.

I hope those answers help.  Cheers. Tony Knight

Hi folks, I was going to write another blog along the lines of the pack instinct in humans (as you know I like to “dogify” people, rather than humanise dogs), as in the recent hot water incident involving the Sarkozys (France’s first couple), referring to the Alsace region of their own country as Germany ( a BIG no no), or the fears of violent clashes between Serbs and Croatians… at the Australian Tennis Open (which gives a whole new meaning to the term break point).

Instead, inspiration struck after doing my first filming sessions with Channel 7 over here in Australia. Bondi Beach, to be precise.

Someone has to…

Anyway, the client in question was a famous swimwear model…

See above comment…

Her dog had a few behavior problems, including possessiveness over other dogs’ toys when out on the walk. Getting the thing out of her mouth was a struggle. She had previously snatched the fluffy microphone cover from the camera and was very reluctant to give it up (the dog, not the owner I hasten to add).

My producer wanted this behaviour to be reproduced in front of camera, which worried the cameraman as these fluffy mike covers are very expensive apparently. Of course, to a dog, it looks just like a little animal that it can eat, hence the interest. There is also the added incentive that this kind of behaviour can often work at getting attention.

The compromise was one of the client’s gym socks, and the diversion technique I used was an empty plastic water bottle. The important thing, if possible, is to get the thing you don’t want the dog to have by introducing something of more interest that you don’t mind the dog having.

Right on cue, during the interview section, the sock was swiped. I brought out the bottle and Hey Presto, she let go. Success!

Now for the twist. As we were packing up, our previously glamorous assistant pilfered the fluffy mike cover again. This time, the bottle held no interest at all, and all I could think was, “How expensive is this thing?” At this point (and this proves that knowledge can be passed on passively sometimes), the soundman lowered his boom microphone near the scene of the crime. Yes, you guessed it, the boom had an even bigger fluffy cover, and as our canine star went to grab that one, he pulled back and I took the other cover away. Result!

So, for the first time, I am going to end with a scientific equation (anyone reading this who has seen me at a talk or on a course knows that I teach in a way that is actually a lot of fun, rather than being dry and clinical, so you may be surprised at this). It goes as follows:

Gym sock < plastic bottle < fluffy mike cover < even bigger fluffy mike cover

(Where < means less than in terms of interest to a Bondi Beach-dwelling Staffie).

In plain English, here's a useful dog training tip - if your dog takes something that you don’t want it to have, don’t chase after it and force the dog’s jaws open if you can help it. Instead, find something of more interest and get the dog to come to you.

Cheers, Tony

Hi folks from a drier Australia (at last). This week should be an exciting one as I've got some TV work to do in Sydney and Melbourne and it always feels great to be spreading the word about dog listener training methods.

I've also just finished a radio interview in Perth where I chatted with ABC's presenter Eoin Cameron (and his able colleague Brad) about various dog behaviour problems such as separation anxiety and scavenging, as well as dog breeds (Eoin has a cocker spaniel which is both a joy and a curse to him sometimes!).

He then asked if my expertise could be used to help with his wife... which reminded me of a time when I was asked to do a speech to retired businessmen in North Lincolnshire. At the end, we did a Q&A, and there was one guy at the back who, when I saw the look of mischief on his face, I decided to leave until last. When I gave him the chance, he took it with both hands.

"Does this method work with wives?" he grinned, a comment that got a good reception. When I asked why he wanted to know, he replied, "I want my wife to come to me when I call her." Again, this was followed by more hilarity.

"Sir," I answered, "Give her a good reason to come to you."

N.B. A few months later, I was asked to do a talk for the wives of the retired businessmen. I got the same question from them, to which I gave the same answer. I wonder if she was married to the same bloke...

People and dogs have many similarities, which goes a long way to explaining the special relationship we have with them. We are both selfish creatures (there's nothing wrong with that). We need a good reason to do something, otherwise we will not waste our time.

Some dog owners are mistaken into thinking that in order to show who is the boss, force and domination must be used. We know how human beings react to that kind of "leadership", and what would work better. After all, would you treat your human "Best Friend" in the same way?

More news on the Australian adventure after filming on Thursday, but for now, click here for an example of how using force can be ineffective...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSe38dzJYkY  Ciao for now, Tony Knight