Hi folks, I'll keep this short as it's my birthday today and too much work is not on my schedule... although some would agrue that it never is!

That said, Dog Listening is very much on the agenda this week as filming begins on Friday for Channel 7, and I have a radio interview with Bay FM tomorrow, as well as a meeting with a famous vet at his practice about working alongside them. Exciting times ahead for yours truly.

As some of you will know from listening to this week's audio, I have just got back from a fantastic time in New Zealand, staying at a bache (holiday home), where I attempted wakeboarding for the first time (and nearly the last as my friend forgot to give me the spare lifejacket at the beginning!).

Being surrounded by breath-taking scenery and messing about in the water reminded me of the film I did a while ago when in the South Island of NZ, where I talk about our view of Nature and of course dog behaviour, and I realised that I had been VERY wrong about something that is vital to Dog Listening!

Watch the clip here http://youtu.be/MhZ5jBATLLA and leave your ideas as to what you think I have missed. I will give the answer next week so keep 'em peeled. Cheers, Tony

Hi folks, yours truly here once more with a link to an audio clip I have done, answering those questions we did not have time for at the Geelong Dog Listener talk.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWryNeSD_xg to hear them.

The subject of language – and the misunderstandings that occur – was evident as I tried to get to grips with the Aussie language. Yes, I know that technically it is English, but at there are differences that can create major problems.

For example, if you support a sports team in Australia, you “barrack” for them, while in America you “root” for them. Do NOT get these mixed up – if you were to tell an Aussie that you root for Dallas, they would think your name was Debbie…

Anyway, to illustrate this, I am now going to use an Australian Slang Dictionary given to me by someone who attended the talk (many thanks, or good on ya)…

“Fair dinkum, I won’t carry on like a pork chop about it, but as a pommie chalkie of Dog Listening, when I’m Down Under my bunghole sometimes makes a blue, and I look a right galah. I’ve got Buckley’s chance of avoiding it either. Fair suck of the sav! It gives me the irrits, like trying to make Lamingtons and forgetting the bum nuts. Even so, the mob said I was Mickey Mouse for a molly dooker, and that Dog Listening is ridgie didge.”

The hardest thing about that was finding phrases that were suitable for all the family – believe me, there are some crackers in this dictionary!

If we can have problems understanding fellow English speakers, imagine the plight of the dog in our home, surrounded by foreigners in a world is doesn’t understand.

So, isn’t it a really good idea to learn to communicate effectively with our dogs? Dog Listening does that for humans and dogs. Meanwhile, I have to work on my “strine”…

Hooroo, Tony Knight

I was honoured to be asked to give a talk in Queensland last night as part of a fund-raiser for the Victoria Bush Fire Relief effort, and in particular an organisation called Fun4Paws.  They're putting so much effort into finding foster homes for dogs who cannot remain with their families who have been placed in temporary accommodation after losing their homes in the devastating fires.

One story was particularly touching - a guy who had already lost all his possessions was heartbroken to think that he would also lose his dog. When he was told that thanks to Fun4Paws a place had been found for his pooch only 20 minutes from him he broke down and wept.