Hi folks, yours truly here for the last time in this particular incarnation, with the latest in the series of "The Celebrity Dog Listener" on Channel 7 Australia's Morning Show.

This is definitely one for the ladies, as I interview Australia's Golden Boy of the pool, World Champion swimmer Eamon Sullivan, about his other half, Baxter. As well as the opportunity to ogle a man in his budgie smugglers (Aussie slang for swimming trunks) it has some great information about the right way to play with your dog, especially when toys are involved.

There is also some advice on the best way to train a dog off lead, but I want to stress here that the biggest priority for anyone wanting to walk with their dogs off lead is that it is safe to do so. Busy roads, people and dogs can be unpredictable, and anything can happen. Basically, if in doubt, get the leash out.

You can click onto the TV clip by going to my new address for blogs at http://www.janfennellthedoglistener.com/whatsnews.php.

people can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook using tonydogzknight for both.

As this is the last blog to come from my old website, should you want to keep following my adventures and ponderings you will need to scroll to the bottom of the new blog page and fill in your email address. Then you will be able to keep up with all the latest news from both Jan and I as we travel the world teaching (and learning) more about dog behaviour.

Trust me, there will be a TV clip in the near future that you will definitely want to see! That is all I can say about it for the moment... Cheers, Tony

Hi folks, I have received a fair bit of correspondence about my "guess the Dog Listener error" blog of last week, and as usual with Dog Listening, the answer is obvious (if you step outside the box, so to speak).

In fact, the comment put on the YouTube video clip about people not thinking like dogs was as close to the answer as it was actually way off target. If you add a few words to what they put, and it reads, "... people do not THINK they think like dogs." you are there.

The truth is, there are two animals (not one) whose nature we deny - dogs and humans.

Society is a thin layer of wallpaper, trying to cover up the crack in the wall that is our Nature. We may not like the idea that we are animals, but all it takes is one natural disaster, or famine (or Easter holiday if you found yourself in a supermarket just before Good Friday!) and our nature is revealed.

Have you ever looked up and seen somebody you don't know staring at you? How does it make you feel? That feeling in your stomach is your adrenaline coursing through your body, ready to run away from, or fight off, the predator that is looking at you. Your instinct takes over and prepares you to avoid getting eaten, and YOU CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT IT.

In denying dogs nature, we make it so much harder to understand our dogs behaviour. But, once you understand this, you can start to appreciate the true nature of our amazing relationship with dogs.

Or you could try putting up another layer of wallpaper... the crack is still there though, isn't it?  Cheers, Tony Knight.

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

Hi folks, yours truly is back home after another dog listener expedition.  This time a full-on course in Yverdon, Switzerland. Full-on because it was the first ever Dog Listener Foundation Course done in French, and I did it without a safety net!

There were a few slip-ups language wise (or paux-fas as an Aussie once put it...) but they found it charming rather than alarming. Not like the time I was in Montreal and instead of saying "mammals" I said "boobs".

It turns out that Swiss law says that dogs must be walked everyday, so for a split second there was a problem when I said that owners do not have to walk their dogs.

Thankfully, one of the skills that comes with experience is the ability to think outside the box.

I suggested that they practice Stop/Start Change Direction indoors, that way they can truthfully say that they walk the dog every day, as it transpires that the law is not specific about WHERE the dogs are to be walked. Ta-da!

This elegant solution went down very well with the students. Anne-Francoise - who contacted us in the first place to organise the course - got the best birthday present too. She got rid of her Guilt about walking the dog come rain or shine. Five minutes of SSCD indoors while it is raining outside is much more enjoyable (and drier too of course).

Unfortunately, this weekend's success does mean that I now have to start working on the translations for the Advanced Course. Have I created a rod for my own back?  Cheers for now, 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