Sit - a!

She hasn't been with us for nigh on 25 years, yet the image of dog training is still tweed skirts and jerks on the lead. Barbara Woodhouse raised the profile, but at what a cost - hers is the first name lazily wheeled out whenever the subject of canine bahaviour is discussed. Even the fragrant Victoria hasn't been able to change that.


But Ms W's legacy goes further, whilst she wasn't or isn't the only one. Why is it that we're so obsessed with making our dogs sit? Earlier this week I witnessed a really handsome looking Collie with a young lad who, upon getting to the edge of the road jerked back on the lead, and the hound duly sat down, looking really fed up. 


My partner teaches that the lead is merely an accessory, that the dog follows of it's own accord and that it's never subjected to jerks - moreover it's her clients' prerogative, but she doesn't necessarily get them to make the dog sit every time they stop. 


I went into a petrol station at the weekend where a young girl had a Staffy outside on a lead while her boyfriend went into the shop. She was gently, but firmly pressing on his hind quarters and he in turn wasn't too keen to place them on the ground. I probably looked a little longer than I should, but when I came out of the shop they were both happily standing still outside and she smiled at me as I went past. I'd like to think she received my message, most probably she was spooked by this old bloke staring at her.


I hope the your dog doesn't have to sit on the frosty pavement when winter finally arrives or I shall have to go round giving cold, stern stares to everyone.

Get these vicious animals off our streets!

Not my words, but the gist of a new RSPCA campaign to get at the real danger behind "dangerous dogs" - their "owners". The more we take the emphasis off the dog itself, then the more we are likelyto tackle the root cause of the problem. The idea of putting the dog down is not only unfair on the dog, it means that those in authorities think that the problem has been dealt with, or worryingly, they can tell us that, when quite obviously it hasn't.


The promotion of responsible dog ownership and accountability for a dog's behaviour is long overdue, we all make mistakes, but the prevailing view is that it's the dog's fault. Dogs are reactive, we are proactive - it's our fault, no excuses.

The President's Dog

It's an old news story, but one that came to mind when my Good Lady told me of one of her consultations a little while ago.


"Former French president Jacques Chirac was rushed to hospital after being mauled by his own 'clinically depressed' pet dog."


Apparently the dog became depressed at having to leave his "Presidential" lifestyle.


MGL had been to see a lady who was just about to have to leave her home of some 20 years and who was worried that her dog, a recent addition, would become depressed at having to leave familiar surroundings. Happily she was reassured that, when seen by her dog as a wise and competent leader, the hound would be happy to go wherever she went. 


The President and Mme Chirac need to spend more time on learning how the dog that they have decided to bring into their home thinks, and less of their pension money on barmy quick fixes. It didn't work anyway and the dog's no longer with them.