Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Another Dog Borstal - Dog Advised to be Put Down

Watched the latest episode of Dog Borstal tonight. I can't help but watch it, even though I don't learn much from it and potentially could learn wrong information. For me it just highlights general problems and why as a society (including most dog trainers, workers) why we need a much better alround understanding of dogs, like Cesar Milan has. I've come to the realisation that the dog trainers on the programme are just that, trainers, they are not dog behaviour experts.

Robert did another excellent job with a greyhound. Mic did his usual swearing. Lynne had a tough case with a dog which had aggressive issues. In the end she came up with 3 options and one of them was to have the American Bulldog put down, which is the option the owner took. The other options were muzzle the dog when outside the house, and while in the house keep separate from the kids, or opt to find dog a new owner. The owner had 2 children, so I fully understand how they cannot be put at any risk, especially with an 8 stone dog. Apparently they couldn't find anyone to take the dog on and were told they were just passing on a problem.

The owner told herself everyday she shouldn't feel guilty. Well, she chose the wrong breed. She let the dog rule the house. She couldn't even put a check chain on correctly. She should at least feel a little responsible.

Thing is, I know full well that putting the dog down is not an option the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan would have taken.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still on an early learning curve and do not have lots of knowledge and experience myself, but the trainer Lynne did not do one single thing that Cesar might have tried. She was actually praising the dog and offering treats while it was in a stressed out misbehaving state. Other trainers were doing the similar thing. However, I accept Cesars Way isnt the only way. Lynne is known to be a very good good alround trainer.

Plus I'm tired of seeing the owners walking there dogs on tense leashes with the dog pulling them. Come on, get the owners leading the pack from the off. The dogs lives are literally at stake if they don't get put in there place as a follower.

Like I say, it highlights to me the right way of how Cesar works and gives me a better understanding of why his methods work. If I can get a fuller understanding of a dogs mind, psychology and behaviour etc I will certainly do my best to get the message across on the website so help any dog owner that needs it.

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Thursday, 11 October 2007

Another Dog Borstal Episode

Watched tonights episode of Dog Borstal.

Robert was training a Patterdale Terrier, and did a very good job. He said "Takes real intelligence to be a naughty dog. We never get stupid dogs here, because there too clever. They figured out how to get what they want. If he's an intelliegent dog we can train him". Now that's light at the end of the tunnel for any struggling owner.

The lady dog trainer Lynne, was training a White German Shepherd also stated to the owner "Part of the problem is you have an intelligent dog which isn't using its mind, well it is is but in the wrong way".

I found the programme more interesting tonight. 1 pair of owners had a Bull Mastif and and Old English Bull Mastif with a combined weight of 23 stone. It was almost laughably seeing the owners literally being pulled along the floor behind them, until one time they were actually pulling both owners into a road with a passing car as the dogs surge towards a dog on the other side of the street.

However on the return a couple of months later one of the dogs had actually attacked another dog of leash, which isnt surprising as the root of the problem was never solved, the dog was pack leader, made worse by the fact I think the owners had split up and the fragile lady owner was sole carer.

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Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Dog Borstal TV Programme

Watched a BBC Three programme "Dog Borstal" for only the second time today. It's normally on Thursdays at 8 p.m but I Skyplus'd it and watched last weeks episode today.

I've just learnt by checking the BBC website that its actually in its third series. I find that quite surprising, mainly because I'd not come across it before or heard it mentioned.

Each episode basically highlights 3 dogs with bad behaviour problems. These 3 dogs and owners are then supposedly taken to a disused air base in Suffolk for a week. Well, from the footage it looks as if the trainers only spend a couple of hours with the dogs and owners over maybe 2 or 3 days.

The show features 3 trainers Lynn Davies and Robert Alleyne and Mic Martin.

As a viewer and dog owner I want to see the problems that are highlighted actually solved so I've learnt something or can see that no matter how bad a dog may appear it can be sorted and bought into line with good leadership and training. That wasn't always the case in this episode.

I'll continue to Sky Plus it and see if it's worth continuing to watch.

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