The Dog Listener book

[Clodagh]

Has anyone read it? A friend recommended it and so I’m giving it a go.
I’m slightly unconvinced. Some of it very sensible, I have never acknowledged my dogs in the morning especially now we have eight you just want them to get to the poo zone asap.
I’m not sure though that by just doing that and walking through doorways first you will immediately get excellent recall on a walk.
I am simplifying her writing rather a lot but she says, with her own dogs, it was a instant result when she changed the pack order around.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Not read it but I do say hello to them as I open the crates in the morning, although not by name, at that point. As you say, I just want to get them out. I do talk to them individually when we get outside but usually, as they come up to me, rather than me choosing the order.

 

[AmyMay]

My two get the full works in the morning ??‍?

 

[Dexter]

It is absolute nonsense with no scientific basis.

 

[Red-1]

I have never even heard of the book, but Heckkie gets full baby/mummy interaction in the morning. Crackers gets cordial greetings.

I am genuinely pleased to see them when I wake up.

 

[CorvusCorax]

With the young one I do talk to her a bit, but nothing excessive as she is naturally quite 'high'. The boys get fed before they do anything so it's all I can do to throw food at them without them shouting the place down
I think it's more to help very novicey owners who may unwittingly help create separation issues by over-doing helloes and goodbyes.

Silent treatment would be something I would do with a dog that had an issue and was in 'boot camp'.

Door thing I agree with but it doesn't = recall. Again, it is a big part of any sort of 'back to basics' training.
Mine were all in kennels last month and the girl who ran the place made a very astute observation about my oldest dog, she said he's the type of dog that if you let him barge past twice but then try and stop him the third time, you would have a fight on your hands and that is completely correct. He is very tuned in to what is 'fair' and if you let him away with something and then decide he can't do it later, he will take you up on that, because it isn't fair.
I think if you (anyone) put the rules in from day one, then you don't have any frustration, confusion or venting when you decide **you** don't like something any more and tell the dog it can't do the thing it has been doing for ages - and it doesn't understand why.

 

[planete]

It is an idiocy of a book. I put my copy in the bin rather than giving it to a charity as I did not want anybody to read it and think it was ok to believe her. If anybody does not know how to teach recall read "Total recall' by Pippa Mattinson. For an alternative viewpoint, see 'Don't shoot the dog' by Karen Pryor. I have never pretended to eat my dogs' food before them and they are unfailingly polite at feed time, with me and with each other. I have never cared about 'precedence' in doorways but they all know to stay behind me if necessary when greeting a new arrival for instance. A bit like children, getting respect and obedience has nothing to do with pettiness but a lot to do with consistent, good-humoured teaching and a thorough understanding of the way dogs learn. And I talk to my dogs when I have something too say to them, and sometimes they talk back, but that is ok too.

 

[skinnydipper]

Didn't she do all that nonsense of pretending to eat some of the dog's food before giving it to the dog?

Tip. If your dog shares your bedroom, you don't have to pretend to ignore her when you come downstairs on a morning.
She waits for me to finish in the bathroom, enjoys a fuss on the bed, then we come downstairs together - a lovely way to start the day.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We don't allow dogs upstairs!
She must think her dogs are really dim if she pretends to eat their food. They are brilliant at sussing out fakes, imo. I usually tell new arrivals, 'I don't eat your food, so you don't get to eat mine', if they show signs of thinking that they might be able to.

 

[P3LH]

With the young one I do talk to her a bit, but nothing excessive as she is naturally quite 'high'. The boys get fed before they do anything so it's all I can do to throw food at them without them shouting the place down
I think it's more to help very novicey owners who may unwittingly help create separation issues by over-doing helloes and goodbyes.

Silent treatment would be something I would do with a dog that had an issue and was in 'boot camp'.

Door thing I agree with but it doesn't = recall. Again, it is a big part of any sort of 'back to basics' training.
Mine were all in kennels last month and the girl who ran the place made a very astute observation about my oldest dog, she said he's the type of dog that if you let him barge past twice but then try and stop him the third time, you would have a fight on your hands and that is completely correct. He is very tuned in to what is 'fair' and if you let him away with something and then decide he can't do it later, he will take you up on that, because it isn't fair.
I think if you (anyone) put the rules in from day one, then you don't have any frustration, confusion or venting when you decide **you** don't like something any more and tell the dog it can't do the thing it has been doing for ages - and it doesn't understand why.

I am not convinced corgi number 1 isn’t related to yours. That’s her to a tee with the barging business, and over reacting to too much chatting!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Was the pretending to eat not the other one. Actress trained up to present a dog training show. Dressed like she was off to an S&M party. Was making a programme about working dogs and got badly bitten by a tactical K9 and was crying over it.

We were discussing this on Sunday re dogs getting fat off people's plates/being rude at the table...my dogs rarely if ever see me eating. My food is none of their business. The two boys who are retired and on benefits get their food put down and left alone. Similarly with the young one if I give her a Kong or a bone. It's their time.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I am not convinced corgi number 1 isn’t related to yours. That’s her to a tee with the barging business, and over reacting to too much chatting!

Corgis are just sawn-off GSDs

 

[skinnydipper]

Was the pretending to eat not the other one.

No, its her. With the help of Google I found this.

https://www.facebook.com/TheDogListener/posts/2250360438414448

 

[skinnydipper]

Good Lord. It seems I'm doing everything wrong. My dog and I enjoy an affectionate greeting when I come home.

"The reason we initially ignore a dog (time the greeting) is that in a correctly educated society leaders will let others know when they are ready to connect and knowing the rules brings peace , contentment and harmony."

https://www.facebook.com/TheDogList...oCMK36Vng9pHnFgeJg39iM5b9HWsp9PbbYdS9tfT6B4sl

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

No, its her. With the help of Google I found this.

https://www.facebook.com/TheDogListener/posts/2250360438414448

What a load of, well nonsense is the polite word!
Our dogs eat at set times, we eat when we are ready to do so. We watch the dogs eat and make sure that each individual is undisturbed. They watch us eat, if they wish to do so but are not allowed to sit near, or beg and are never fed from our plates. They do occasionally get left overs in their own dishes as part of their meal. And if they go out for our lunch/breakfast, they get a small amount if bacon/chip when we have finished but they lie down quietly until then.

I am quite sure that every dog I have ever owned/fed would have known that i was eating grapes, rather than the meat that I had prepared for them, if I had been daft enough to bother with that 'tip'. Our dogs know perfectly well who is in charge, without anyone role playing!

 

[Clodagh]

I’ve nearly finished it now and it’s honestly brilliant.
Do the alpha stuff = brilliant recall but she also advocates using a long line and rewarding recall with treats . So that’s just training, not alpha bollocks!?
I love that all dog issues are solved by ignoring it first thing, second through doorways and ignoring on greeting. Fantastic, simples!

 

[Clodagh]

It is an idiocy of a book. I put my copy in the bin rather than giving it to a charity as I did not want anybody to read it and think it was ok to believe her. If anybody does not know how to teach recall read "Total recall' by Pippa Mattinson. For an alternative viewpoint, see 'Don't shoot the dog' by Karen Pryor. I have never pretended to eat my dogs' food before them and they are unfailingly polite at feed time, with me and with each other. I have never cared about 'precedence' in doorways but they all know to stay behind me if necessary when greeting a new arrival for instance. A bit like children, getting respect and obedience has nothing to do with pettiness but a lot to do with consistent, good-humoured teaching and a thorough understanding of the way dogs learn. And I talk to my dogs when I have something too say to them, and sometimes they talk back, but that is ok too.

I was going to pass it on but I think possibly bin would be safer.
I expect my dogs to treat me with the affection and respect I treat them. They do. I hope I’m in charge, although occasionally I wonder ?. I have whole conversations with my dogs. I thought that was normal ?

 

[druid]

I do the doorway thing but also you are only allowed through an external door or baby gate if called by name. "Not you" means no to crossing the threshold completely. Ditto kennel doors and the van or truck boxes, you come out when your name is said...ditto eating all bowls down and eat when your name is called...bit of a theme here actually

 

[Clodagh]

I do the doorway thing but also you are only allowed through an external door or baby gate if called by name. "Not you" means no to crossing the threshold completely. Ditto kennel doors and the van or truck boxes, you come out when your name is said...ditto eating all bowls down and eat when your name is called...bit of a theme here actually

I do that when we go for a walk, as we have to go up a flight of steps and through a gate onto the road everyone has to sit and wait and come through when called. I always thought it was an easy training opportunity! Also into and out of car but that is because Pen gets overexcited and goes for the others of its a free for all.

 

[druid]

Pretty much everything is a training oppertunity!

 

[Red-1]

It is an idiocy of a book. I put my copy in the bin rather than giving it to a charity as I did not want anybody to read it and think it was ok to believe her. If anybody does not know how to teach recall read "Total recall' by Pippa Mattinson. For an alternative viewpoint, see 'Don't shoot the dog' by Karen Pryor. I have never pretended to eat my dogs' food before them and they are unfailingly polite at feed time, with me and with each other. I have never cared about 'precedence' in doorways but they all know to stay behind me if necessary when greeting a new arrival for instance. A bit like children, getting respect and obedience has nothing to do with pettiness but a lot to do with consistent, good-humoured teaching and a thorough understanding of the way dogs learn. And I talk to my dogs when I have something too say to them, and sometimes they talk back, but that is ok too.

Ah, well I HAVE read the book by Karen Pryor.

Didn't she do all that nonsense of pretending to eat some of the dog's food before giving it to the dog?

Tip. If your dog shares your bedroom, you don't have to pretend to ignore her when you come downstairs on a morning.
She waits for me to finish in the bathroom, enjoys a fuss on the bed, then we come downstairs together - a lovely way to start the day.

Ah, my dogs sleep on the bed, so that is OK then!

Honestly? I used to train GSDs. Nowadays, I am well trained by 2 terriers, and I didn't see that coming ?

 

[Clodagh]

She waits for me to finish in the bathroom, enjoys a fuss on the bed, then we come downstairs together - a lovely way to start the day.

That’s a bit odd. Tawny sleeps upstairs and she’s in the bathroom with me in the morning ?

 

[P3LH]

I was going to pass it on but I think possibly bin would be safer.
I expect my dogs to treat me with the affection and respect I treat them. They do. I hope I’m in charge, although occasionally I wonder ?. I have whole conversations with my dogs. I thought that was normal ?

and that’s why books and shows like these are so dangerous. From all your posts it’s clear yours know the score, but some of this crap could have you questioning as your ways, like mine, and others will deviate from the teachings of many of these trainers.

Every individual dog, individual breed, individual owner, and individual set up is so different. Even two of mine of the same breed as polar opposites, just like my last two of the same breed were too. I find they all cope and respond differently to different people, my bitch especially works out who’s a soft touch, who will give in if she’s resistant, who she can bully by being bolshy and who won’t take her crap.

How I am with the dogs versus how my OH is are almost polar opposites (she would have them permanently attached to her and with her at all times, talking the head off them and is a lot sillier with them - I like to give them a fuss and am happy to have them sprawled around the room or sofa, but don’t need them in my face all the time and don’t always want to be mobbed) yet they appear to be equally fond of us and equally respectful. The only time it was imbalanced was when our bitch was younger, as she is an genius overlord and worked out she could ignore my existence and still get her needs met by OH - that soon stopped and she is probably my biggest shadow out of them all. Generally, we are both equal in the pecking order despite being totally different.

Others would say they listen more to me and generally appear to know the score more/what I expect of them so don’t tend to actually ever do much that I need to intervene with or remind expectations over, which flouts both theories as I am neither a believer of complete alpha and complete control at all times, nor am I gushy/furparent/never pick them up for nonsense. OH would agree they give her more what I call nonsense, just trying stupid things to see if they can chance it.

I’m happy to let them do their own thing and be dogs without me intervening and interfering constantly, but expect them to do what I ask when I ask it. It really is that simple, and quite a basic expectation. They know what I want of them, and understand it well. Even madam. Sometimes I think some owners overcomplicate everything/and really want to feel liked/loved by their dog. I also think, as I’ve said before, lots of these celeb trainers have created a weird perception of owning a dog and living with it. Even the best trained are a) still animals and b) still have off days or time when they’re a bit of a dick. No dog is perfect, they all have their Achilles heel with things and will always have off times. That’s part of dog ownership, but a Disney dog from the 50s films has become the expectation.

 

[P3LH]

Ah, well I HAVE read the book by Karen Pryor.


Ah, my dogs sleep on the bed, so that is OK then!

Honestly? I used to train GSDs. Nowadays, I am well trained by 2 terriers, and I didn't see that coming ?

I had, and still have one, rough collies who walked perfectly to heel without leads their whole lives, would follow a quick gesture of a hand and know what it meant, were as serene as deer, mild mannered and never put a toe out of line. Then I decided to add something smaller and acquired pembrokes. And you all know what happened then. The naughty shetlands of the dog world.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Crumbs. Lots to unpack!

Mitch is left for food bowl, Goose is right-that was taught day one, so there’s no confusion/stealing. Bear knows to leave their bowls alone. I am able to move bowls/stick my hand in if needed, not that it ever is. I can take bowls away if needed-happened once or twice, but I don’t generally interfere when they’re eating. I can take stones/sticks/treats off them.

We (OH still does) ignore them getting them out of crates in the morning because Mitch was puppy pee pants, but that stopped ages ago. I speak to them, tickle Goose-not a morning puppy! My priority is getting them in the garden and I get out food. They’re in a routine of toileting, coming in for food, going back out for a mooch/more toileting. I don’t need to fake eating their food, that’s weird.

Theyre now allowed upstairs, but I make it very boring for them, no cuddles, just carry on doing whatever I need to do. The babies sleep downstairs in crates, Bear has the run of the house and often comes for cuddles in the morning.

 

[Sandstone1]

Its a fairly old book now, things move on and change. I remember that trainer being flavour of the month years ago but I like to think we have moved on since then!

 

[Clodagh]

Its a fairly old book now, things move on and change. I remember that trainer being flavour of the month years ago but I like to think we have moved on since then!

I did think nothing she said would do any harm, which is a plus.

 

[Clodagh]

I’m happy to let them do their own thing and be dogs without me intervening and interfering constantly, but expect them to do what I ask when I ask it. It really is that simple, and quite a basic expectation. They know what I want of them, and understand it well. Even madam. Sometimes I think some owners overcomplicate everything/and really want to feel liked/loved by their dog. I also think, as I’ve said before, lots of these celeb trainers have created a weird perception of owning a dog and living with it. Even the best trained are a) still animals and b) still have off days or time when they’re a bit of a dick. No dog is perfect, they all have their Achilles heel with things and will always have off times. That’s part of dog ownership, but a Disney dog from the 50s films has become the expectation.

Mainly they like to make you look stupid now and then, just to make sure your alpha ideals don’t get overcooked. ?

 

[Clodagh]

I finished it last night. It’s pretty harmless on the whole although I think some people might be disappointed if they didn’t get instant results.
She compared it to Monty Roberts stuff. I’m sure even after join up the horse needs to continue to learn how to deal with life.