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
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
Puppy in the Middle by Ross McCarthy
Obviously when one works with people to alter canine behaviour problems, the human aspect is often the greater part – a high percentage of problems that I deal with in dogs would never be seen if that dog lived in another environment. I have had more than a few cases recently that present me with so many questions about people, relationships and our love for our canine chums and moreover how perhaps our irrational beliefs
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
Don’t touch the dog… regardless of how cute that dog may look, don’t touch him. By Lez Graham
Dogs have simply got to be one of the most touchable animals on the planet, especially as a species, humans tend to be touchy-feely, reaching to touch, hug and pat anything we can get our hands on. However it’s rarely appropriate to touch a dog that doesn’t belong to you unless you know the owner and the dog really well, and never, a dog that is tied up… Today we mourn the passing of a
Dog Surprise – The unknown quantity
Our dogs often respond behaviourally to different stimuli and locations and the resulting behaviour can be quite a shock or surprise to the owner. One could say that our dogs have secret behaviour waiting to spring on us so we have to stay watchful at all times! Dog ownership is something that many of choose to do – and once we’ve had one dog, most of us continue to do so for life. Owning dogs