06/09/2024
โ ๏ธ ๐พ๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ฝ๐๐๐) ๐ฉ๐๐
๐๐
Yesterday, I received the following email from a researcher for the TV programme *Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly*:
"๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ (redacted) ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค โ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ต๐โ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐ฆ) ๐ต๐๐๐๐ฆโ.
๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐คโ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐โ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐.
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ 10๐กโ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐.
๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐-๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ .
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐. ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐, ๐กโ๐๐ฆโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐ก๐ ๐ โ๐๐ค ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ !"
My first thought was to delete the email. I'm not a fan of Graeme Hall. I've watched a few episodes of his show, and in my opinion, he seems to make things up as he goes along, relying on outdated training methods.
However, I was puzzled. Was the โcravatโ unwell, and they needed a stand-in? I'm a nobody โ why on earth would they want to film me training a dog when there are so many high-profile trainers out there? Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to give the researcher a call.
I'm still in shock as I write this. The researcher explained that they wanted to invite me to Lytham with my Border Collie to "demonstrate" to Graeme Hall how I would train my dog not to respond to a phone ringtone.
Graeme would then take my training method and use it to teach the Border Collie of the family seeking help โ all while filming it for his TV show!
WTF ๐ณ๐ณ๐ณ
I decided to dig a bit deeper and reached out to the force-free dog training community to see if anyone else had experienced something this bizarre.
It turns out that many trainers had also been asked to attend filming sessions to show Graeme how to train dogs before the cameras rolled. Most reported that they refused because of his methods, but a few had shown him and his team how to train a dog, only to be dismissed without any credit for their expertise.
I then did some open-source research on "The Countryโs Best Dog Trainer," as the *Daily Telegraph* calls him. He has no formal training in canine behaviour or training. Heโs essentially winging it with the help of whatever trainers are willing to show up and assist him.
According to his website, he charges ยฃ875 per session ๐ค๐ง
Now Iโm not someone who normally criticises other trainers. I prefer to let my clients decide if Iโm the right trainer for them based on how I work with their dogs.
However, I couldnโt let this pass without making it public knowledge.
If you're looking for a dog trainer, please avoid this programme and this man. You have no idea whose techniques heโll be using week to week, and given that most qualified and accredited trainers want nothing to do with him, the quality of training youโll receive is questionable at best.
Instead, do your own research and find a local trainer who aligns with your own dog training ethics. Organisations such as The IMDT or APDT - Association of Pet Dog Trainers can help guide you to qualified & accredited trainers in your area.
๐ท๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!
