by Jan Fennell
I remember visiting them on a warm summer’s evening. To be honest, they had their doubts about whether my method could work. Fortunately, however, Kathy and Susie helped me prove my point soon enough. The fact that there were two dogs involved made little difference to me. From the moment I arrived in their home, I established my leadership credentials by giving out the simple, powerful signals that I always use. An hour or so after my arrival, the two dogs heard someone in one of the neighbouring gardens and bolted off to defend their fence. I let them go then, without shouting, I went to the front door and asked them to come. The owners watched, slack-jawed, as the dogs turned and ran straight back to me and the reward I had waiting for them. Needless to say the owners took the method seriously from that moment on.
The transformation was not going to be as dramatic as it had been when I called them to me of course. It takes time for an owner to realign his or her relationship with their dog. And they are not going to see results until the bonding process has succeeded and the dog has fallen into line. It is a question of consistency and patience. In this case, I also asked Kathy and Susie’s owners to approach the neighbours for their help. While they attempted to apply my ideas, they asked the neighbours to ignore the dogs completely. They were fortunate in having a group of understanding neighbours and soon both they and the owners were being rewarded. Slowly but surely, the dogs were drawn away from their boundary confrontations. Within a week Kathy and Susie were oblivious to the comings and goings next door. As the rest of that lovely summer wore on, both they and their neighbours got on with enjoying their gardens in peace.
Chapter 11
The Up-and-Down Game: Dogs that Jump Up
Some owners cope with dogs jumping up at them; some even find it endearing (these are usually the owners of small dogs!) However, in many cases, it makes coming home an ordeal: muddy paw prints all over clothes and groceries scattered on the floor are just two of the results jumping can cause. The worst aspect of this problem for me is the lack of understanding between dog and owner; neither understands what the other is trying to tell them, which is where I can help as a translator, if you will.
All the dogs I deal with are memorable in their own way but none of the pets I have dealt with is quite as unforgettable as Simmy, a fawn, mixed-pedigree cross between a whippet and a terrier. Simmy’s owners, a couple, Alan and Kathy, from Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire, called me at their wits’ end. They told me that Simmy’s particular problem was jumping up at people who came to visit their house. I knew jumping up was a particularly annoying habit in dogs. It took my first encounter with Simmy to illustrate quite how irritating it could be.
No sooner had I walked into the owners’ home than Simmy was bouncing on his hind legs doing everything he possibly could to reach my eye level. I had seen this in many, many dogs before, of course. What marked Simmy out as different was the sheer athleticism he displayed. He was no more than 14 inches in height but he could easily spring up four feet off the ground, trying to reach my eye level. What was even more impressive was the fact that he could keep doing it non-stop. (He was a perfect example of a crossbreed in that respect, blending the elasticity of the whippet with the sheer persistence of the terrier.) He reminded me of Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh books. Like Tigger, bouncing was what Simmy did best. His owners told me that he did this with every stranger that visited them and would persist whether they were standing or sitting. Needless to say it was both embarrassing and uncomfortable. The owners were visibly on edge. I knew I would have a hard job on my hands.
As I have explained, body language is one of the most powerful means of communication available to dogs. And there is no clearer physical signal than that which lies behind jumping up. Again we need to go back and look at the behaviour of dogs and wolves in the wild to understand the principles at work. Dogs use their physical presence to establish superiority. It is, of course, a trait we humans have too. If you don’t believe me, watch the body language of two boxers squaring up to each other at the beginning of a bout. Both are looking to establish some form of psychological advantage even before the physical warfare begins. Both are looking to send a clear message: I am in charge here, and I am about to show you who is the boss.
In the case of wolves, however, it is more than mere posturing. And it begins at a very early age. A form of jumping up exists among puppy litters. As they indulge in the routine rough and tumble that all young animals go through, wolf puppies place the top half of their bodies over the all important head, neck and shoulder area of their litter mates. Placing themselves in this position establishes an important signal that is repeated throughout their life in a pack. And again it is all to do with status and leadership.
Within the adult population of the pack, the Alpha pair use this physical domination to reaffirm their primacy. They go through a similar routine on returning to their pack from the hunt. By lifting themselves above their fellow pack members and arching themselves over the same crucial area of the body, the neck and head area, they are simultaneously demonstrating their affection for their subordinates and reminding them of their ultimate power. The message is plain: I know how to subjugate and if necessary kill you. Acknowledge my leadership once more.
To overcome Simmy’s problems, I would have to present him with some equally powerful language. In most cases, jumping up is one of the easiest of habits to overcome using my method. The key is to remember not to engage the behaviour in any way. So as the dog jumps up in front of you, simply step back then move away from it. If you are restricted by space or the dog is overly excited, simply use your hand to parry the dog and gently push it away. Make sure in both instances you do not speak to or make eye contact with the dog. Remember you must not pay homage to its leadership.
As I have explained, Simmy’s incredible exuberance took even me by surprise. I did not, however, allow it to deter me from my normal opening gambit. As I walked into the home, I studiously ignored him. This took some doing I have to say. At times, he was jumping up and placing his face directly into mine. At this point I remember Alan became understandably upset. He reached out to grab Simmy’s collar, clearly determined to bring his dog to earth through force. I insisted, however, that he didn’t do this. The key, as always, was that I wanted the dog to exercise self-control. I wanted it to do things of its own free will, not to have its owner’s will forced upon it. I am sure it was a difficult urge to resist but he agreed. As Simmy continued bouncing up and down in front of me, I simply talked over (and sometimes around!) him, outlining the process I wanted Alan and Kathy to undergo. In a nutshell, I didn’t want them to join in the up-and-down game that Simmy was playing. Every time Simmy jumped up, the owners were responding. Every time they did so, they were acknowledging him: it had to stop.
I carried on talking to Alan and Kathy as we walked into the living room. As we did so, Simmy walked backwards in front of me, still bouncing away as he did so. It was an Oscar-winning performance if ever I saw one. And it was precisely what I wanted him to do. It was not long before his behaviour was changing, however. The cleverest dogs are always the most difficult to realign. They are constantly asking the question why? Why should I do what you say? Why can’t I carry on doing what I please? Simmy certainly fell into the smart cookie category. So when he discovered his behaviour was not getting any reaction he switched tack and began barking at me loudly. Again his poor owners were beside themselves with worry at the situation. But again I just ignored what was going on and refused to engage Simmy. At the same time, I assured them what we were doing would soon work.
After about fifteen minutes, Simmy’s batteries finally ran flat. He realised his attentions were not achieving anything and he sloped off into another part of the house. If we were fighting World War II then I had achieved the D-Day Landings. The most decisive battle had been won, but the war was not quite over. Simmy came back after about ten minutes. He had used his ‘time out’ to evaluate what was going on and decided to check out the
situation with another bout of bouncing and barking. This time the bouncing lasted for little more than thirty seconds. The barking lasted a little longer, maybe a minute. Faced with the same noncommittal response he went away again.
Simmy was going through a routine I have seen many, many times now. He had grasped that there had been a fundamental change in his environment. Each time he was returning, he was doing so in the hope of finding a chink in his aspiring new leaders’ armour. I have seen dogs do this a dozen times before giving up. Each time their energy levels drop a little. By the end they appear to make nothing more than a pathetic little whimper of protest. The key thing to remember is that it is only when this repertoire is over that you can apply the five-minute rule. Any attempt to get the dog to co-operate with you before then will be ignored.
Soon, Alan and Kathy were replicating my method, using all four elements of Amichien Bonding to establish their leadership over Simmy. In particular, they worked hard at relieving him of the responsibility when visitors came to the house. Here they used different options according to their guests. When an elderly grandmother visited, Simmy was kept in another room. When Alan’s brother came, he was briefed to meet Simmy at the door. In every case, however, if Simmy began leaping up and down, they left him to his own devices. At every turn he was given the same signal: it was not his job to deal with this situation. He should relax and get on with enjoying his life. No one was interested in playing the up-and-down game any more. Simmy soon got the message, as dogs always do. Soon Alan and Kathy’s visitors were greeted with barely a glance. Simmy’s bouncing days were over. I am sure he appreciated the rest!
Chapter 12
Non-Total Recall: Dogs that Run Wild off the Leash
The ability to recall a dog that is off the leash is perhaps the most vital that any dog owner can possess. It can, in some instances, make the difference between life and death. This is one of the key situations when it is vital that the dog sees its owner as a leader who is able to make important decisions and is the most experienced member of the pack.
Over the years, I have seen many instances where a lack of control could have proved fatal. One incident in particular always springs to mind. It happened one morning as I waited outside my doctor’s surgery. The building was near a large housing estate and a busy main road. As I waited for the surgery to open, I suddenly saw a Yorkshire terrier racing out of the estate heading straight for the road. The dog was being chased by a group of three children who were shouting and waving at it to no avail. Each time the dog stopped it looked back at them, as their shouts came closer he ran off again.
At that time of the morning the road was busy with fast-moving rush-hour traffic. I could see the dog was headed straight for the road. I knew I had to do something so I shouted to the children at the top of my voice. They must have wondered who this lunatic was, shouting and waving at them as if the world was coming to an end. They knew they were in trouble, however, and did precisely what I asked. The first thing I did was to ask them to stand still. I then shouted to them to turn around and run away back in the direction of the estate. To my relief the terrier saw this and came to a halt, only a few yards away from the road and the busy morning traffic. It then turned on its heel and started chasing back up the road in the direction the children had headed. It was a chilling moment. If they had carried on chasing that dog, I have little doubt it would have been run down in the traffic.
In that case, of course, I didn’t have time to explain their mistake to the children. By chasing after their dog they were participating in its game, and giving the impression that it was leading them. They needed to end that game and reassert some authority. I’m sure that incident was a lesson to them. In reality, getting the dog to understand what is required of it in these circumstances is straightforward. As ever, it requires a combination of persistence and presence of mind to make it happen.
One of the more memorable dogs I have come across was a St Bernard called Beau that I was asked to deal with as part of my work on challenging dogs on Yorkshire Television. We all know St Bernards are famous the world over for their work in mountain rescues. With their trademark brandy cask around their neck, these remarkable dogs have saved the lives of hundreds of Alpine mountaineers, tracking stranded climbers in the most remote spots and helping return them to safety. It was probably just as well Beau was not working in the mountains, however. He was that rarest of the breed, a St Bernard that no-one could recover.
Beau’s owner, a lady called Heidi, had spent more time than she cared to admit chasing him helplessly around her local parks. No matter what she tried, she simply couldn’t recall him to her. She had now got to the point where she had given up on even trying. Whenever she and Beau went out on a walk he remained tethered to a long lead. She simply could not bring herself to let him run free any more.
As a responsible dog owner, however, Heidi knew this was far from healthy for Beau. Like all dogs, he needed exercise. I asked her to let him off the lead. He lumbered around the park like a giant tank. When the moment came to recall him Heidi’s efforts were as unsuccessful as she had told me. She called him six times then gave up. Heidi’s mistakes were common enough. At her home, I immediately noticed that she had food available for him everywhere. Out on the walk, she was following Beau whenever he was on the loose. In doing this, of course, she was paying homage to his status as leader. She was allowing him to dictate the rules of his own game.
Heidi had firstly to blitz Beau with signals, starting with the four main elements of the bonding regime. It was only by claiming control of her dog at home that she would be able to get him to behave as she wanted outdoors. Beau was basically a good-natured dog, and caught on quickly. It is a tough regime to maintain for many people. But during this period I ask owners to refrain from taking their dogs out until they are ready. Within two weeks, however, Beau was responding to Heidi’s calls to come within her house and garden. She had learned to praise his behaviour and he in turn had come to make a positive association with this routine. The crucial thing now was that Heidi reaffirmed the message she had been passing on around the home. She had to assert herself as the person who was going to lead the hunt. It was no easy task.
Beau was getting himself extremely agitated as she got the lead out. So I asked Heidi to calm the situation right down. I got her to place the lead on a table and walk away. The signal was clear: the dog had blown it, the hunt was cancelled. Beau had to realise the consequences of his actions. When eventually Beau calmed down, she attached the lead to his collar and led the way through the door. At this stage it was vital that she gained control of the walk immediately. So when Beau began pulling on the lead outside the door, I again asked her to dissociate herself from the situation. She stopped, turned around and headed back indoors. It took her three or four days before she could get beyond her gate. Beau’s persistent pulling meant the walk was constantly postponed. Eventually, however, he got the message and walked on the lead.
The key thing now was to reaffirm the benefits of the recall. I got Heidi to extend her lead even farther by adding a long rope to it. I then asked her to begin by extending the lead so that Beau came to a stop six feet away from her. At that point I got her to get him to come to her using food as a reward. Each time he did this correctly, she extended the lead farther, two or three feet farther each time. Beau responded to her request each time until the rope was extended for a full thirty feet. At that point I asked her to release him.
What I now wanted Heidi to do was to practise what she had been doing on lead, off lead. So I asked her to go through the recall process again. Her hard work back at home was soon paying off. Again, the lure of food drew Beau back to Heidi each time she extended the distance. Soon he was returning to her calls from a distance of more than fifty yards away. Within a month, Heidi’s walks with Beau had become the hugely enjoyable experience she had always wanted. Her days of chasing him high and low were over. He would come to her without fail. The out
come could not have been better. And what was more, Beau had become a fitter, healthier and happier dog altogether.
If I have learned anything during my time training dogs according to my method, it is that we must always be willing to improvise. The strength of the process I have evolved is its flexibility. It can be modified to suit all lifestyles. As I discovered training a German shepherd of my own, it can also be amended to suit the personalities of all dogs. I have always upheld that the more intelligent a dog the more resistant it is to change. Clever dogs are constantly challenging decisions within themselves. Whatever the activity, they demand to know why they are being asked to participate. It is, I believe, why the brighter dogs fall for my method like a stone. They grasp this is a situation that is of benefit to them and accept it readily.
There are few more intelligent breeds than the German shepherd. And there have been few dogs that have been quicker on the uptake than Daisy May, a German shepherd I bred myself. Daisy May was an irrepressible, hugely energetic dog and a real pleasure to be with. She had proved easy to train according to my method and had adapted perfectly to life within my pack. Then one day, out of the blue, she presented me with her first challenge.
I have always enjoyed taking my dogs out to local beauty spots in my car. One day I took them out to a bridleway in the countryside where they were let loose to enjoy themselves. When the time came to go home, however, Daisy refused point-blank to get back into the vehicle with me. I stood by the car, calling her to me. But all she would do was leap around endlessly, refusing to get in.