For as long as I can remember, dogs have been part of my family and my life. So, it was only natural that, when my wife and I bought our first house together, we should also get a puppy. We were lucky to share our lives with Brynn for 11 years and, although we were devastated when she died, we knew that our home was not a true home without a dog. We have since shared our lives with three other rescue dogs, each of which came with their fair share of behavioural issues!
Having always been fascinated by our canine friends, I wanted to learn as much as I could about them. Why, for example, did some dogs listen to their owners attentively whilst others – including most of those I remember from my own childhood – were dragged down the road on walks and would run off in the opposite direction when called?
While I became a qualified dog trainer, studied dog psychology and worked with dogs at our local rescue centre, there always seemed to be pieces of the jigsaw that did not fit. Recommended training methods all seemed to be based on dominating dogs rather than living in harmony with them.
Dog Listening
Every so often, if you’re lucky, you’ll experience one of those ‘light bulb’ moments when a new idea just slots into place and changes how you see the world. For me, reading ‘The Dog Listener’ was one of those moments; in the book, author Jan Fennell wrote about the relationship between domestic dogs and their wolf ancestors, and explained the world from a dog’s point of view.
I simply had to find out more and that research, in turn, led me to complete the Canine Communication Foundation and Advanced Courses taught by Jan Fennell in Lincolnshire. Not only did that open the door for me to become a qualified ‘dog listener’, but I was also able, with my wife Nicky, to set up Completely K9 – where, in addition to day care and grooming services, we provide one-to-one Behavioural Consultations.
During the last few years it’s been really fulfilling to help so many people with their dogs – especially since, thanks to a mass of often-conflicting advice and information, many owners had given up all hope of ever having a problem-free dog. Time and again, dog listening has provided the route to a happy, stress free life with man’s (and woman’s) best friend.
Completely K9 is based in the Midlands. For a no-obligation chat, please call 01455 283456, 07972 626576, or visit www.completely-k9.co.uk.
