I've been training and working with dogs for over 15 years, and have been studying behaviour for the last 8 years.
I am a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and am currently studying for an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management.
I share my home with two rescue dogs, who between them had their fair share of issues! Living with them means I know what it's like to live and work with dogs that have problems. It has also made me appreciate how important the right start is for puppies.
CHARLIE
Charlie is the brindle lurcher on the left. He didn't have the best start in life, and after being attacked by other dogs one too many times he learned that the best way to deal with strange dogs was to bark his head off and scare them away.
He is the dog that convinced me that reward based training is the only way to go. When he started his problems, I sought advice and was told the way to deal with it was to use punishment. Not suprisingly, punishing him in the presence of other dogs didn't make him feel less scared, now he not only had to worry about what the other dog would do, he also had to worry about whether he was going to be punished as well!
Luckily I learned there is a better way of dealing with worried, barking dogs, and he's getting much better. He's dealt very well with the various foster dogs that come and go here, and loves to play with new dogs once he's been introduced properly.
LEN
Len is a rescue dog, who had been badly abused before coming to live with us.
He was very nervous when he arrived, frightened of people (especially people with sticks) and had a few snaps at us in his first couple of months. Fortunately they were just warnings, and once he learned he could trust us it hasn't been repeated.
It took a long time to train him, as soon as he knew something was expected of him he would get worried and shut down. Clicker training was the breakthrough with him, and he started to realise he wouldn't be beaten if he got it wrong.
He had several homes before he came to us, and he still get worried when he's left alone. As he's getting older, he seems to be getting more insecure that nobody is going to come home for him.
He comes into his own at puppy classes, where he becomes 'Uncle Len'. He's wonderful with shy, nervous puppies and will ignore them until they get the confidence to approach him. Many a shy puppy has learned what fun other dogs can be through him. His tail makes a particularly good toy, and he'll let puppies chew on it for a while if it makes them happy!
He's also great with bolshy, over confident puppies. He will tell them off for being rude, but always tailors his tellings off to the puppies. Less confident puppies will get a slight growl if they are rude, while the over confident ones might get a scary bark. It's really important that puppies learn how to behave around other dogs, when they're in the park they might encounter a dog who doesn't appreciate being bounced on, but isn't as polite as Lenny at telling them!