7-10 March 2019 NEC Birmingham Spring is just around the corner and it’s that time of year again which means the Guild of Dog Trainers will be hosting our own stand for the fifth year in succession, providing a prestigious platform to showcase the work of the organisation and its core values to an international audience. Each year, members give up their valuable free time to support the event; and will be available throughout the
Over-attached Dogs – Sausages and Toast by Sue Gilmore
Adorable, handsome, cute – these were just some of the admiring descriptions of a twelve week-old-cocker spaniel puppy called Alfie, when he arrived at puppy class way back in the autumn of 2008. Vic, his owner, regularly brought Alfie to class and they made excellent progress, going on to perform well together in the more senior obedience classes. Vic’s work routine changed, however, so he was unable to attend training classes with Alfie and although
What’s wrong with Fur-babies and fur-kids… by Ross McCarthy
Dogs have survived for centuries, just fine without wearing clothes, being carted around in some kind of case, being imposed on by people who believe that they should always behave like fluffy little people in polite society. I would like to see a return to us treating dogs like dogs. They deserve nothing less. All over the internet and social media sites, people are posting images of their fur-babies and fur-kids…and just what, you may
Getting your dog to listen to you by Ross McCarthy
Do you feel like your voice is like white noise to your dog? Here’s how to gain back authority in the house. I know so many people with dogs who have attended training classes and their dogs respond to all learnt commands in the training environment, when food is involved or simply when they want to. Responding when they want to however, generally doesn’t fit with when the NEED to or when you want them
Guarding dog breeds by Ross McCarthy
Whilst we commonly hear that many breeds require specialist handling and training and a more enthusiastic and knowledgeable owner than other types of dog, this is never truer than with many of the dogs that sit within this group. Oh, this is unreservedly my favourite group of dogs. I am not yet sure why people are attracted to certain types of dog, but the guarding group are certainly my top dogs. I share my home
Training multiple dogs by Ross McCarthy
I have had to learn how to not only manage multiple dogs, how to train dogs, but how to put it both together and train multiple dogs concurrently. So, for those of you that own two or more dogs…here, on a plate are the answers that I have worked hard to find out, since my teenage years at the GSD training club banging my head against the proverbial wall! As a teenager, I went to my
Home Alone – Separation Anxiety by Ross McCarthy
Dogs are pack animals and are not suited to solitary lives and when we take a puppy into our home, we become the family pack. Though dogs are pack animals they can adapt to spending time in their own company without severe psychological problems. Leaving dogs alone for long periods regularly of course is not satisfactory and is not commensurate with dog care and ownership. For most well-adjusted dogs, anxieties rarely develop to the point of
Why dog attacks happen…and how to prevent them
Well, at the moment that is the subject on the lips of many people. Over the past few weeks, I have been on the Radio discussing fatal dog attacks – as have many other dog specialists, MP’s, lawyers , concerned and interested parties. Since the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) came in to force after devastating dog attacks and subsequently failed to bring about the safety that this kneejerk legislation was supposed to…everyone has been wondering
Spoil Your Dog
Spoil your dog? Well, it’s a life choice – with consequences I was sitting in my office earlier today talking to a new client of mine, Cheryl, with a dog that had recently bitten both of her legs badly enough to require stitches and quite some time off work. The dog was a Labrador named Jimmy aged two. He was as wide as the average coffee table and looked as though he was about sixteen
Equipment used in modifying canine behaviour
Basic Dog Training When dogs need training we begin with the basic essentials like a collar and lead and for those people who make the effort the results are generally good. A dog, like a child, needs an education to prepare it for life in our world and like a child if it does not learn what it can and cannot do it will eventually do what suits itself purely by instinct and conflict with