Dog listening

Has anyone used a dog listener or dog listening technique when training their dog?

Holl

I think you'll find that the amichien method of bonding isn't a method of training, as I've read several of Jans books and spoken to her in person regarding her method.

You'll find its more about bonding with your dog and enforcing you as leader. She does offer some methods for basic obedience, but these are identical to standard reward based training.

My mother employed a behaviourist who uses this method, to assist her with a rescue ESS who was on his 5th home. She found it very helpful and the dog has improved a lot. If you want to PM me I'll send you the link to his site.

I have to say my experience of the Jan Fennel technique was really bad. It made things 10 times worse but I do think it depends on the individual dog and whether you are trying to solve a specific problem. I will never go down this route again, but that's just my opinion.

Have a look on the Jan Fennell website and see how long it takes to do the course! Remember those 2 weeks include business lectures etc. Then have a look at the APDT site and see how much work goes into qualifying. Who would you trust with your baby?

its all horses for courses. The amichien method seems simplistic, but thats because it really just follows the 'common sense' method of dog ownership. There isn't much thats different or technical. It does depend a lot on the ability of the owner and trainer to get the methods across though (something which the books dont do well, IMO).

As for APDT, I've found their ethics great, but their methods unreliable. And their stand at crufts was little more than a gift shop. Even speaking to them about wanting to join as an instruct didnt give me much hope.

BIPDT, on the otherhand...more information than I could throw a stick at.

The chap my mother used was a retired police dog trainer who was superb. He wasn't relying on just 2 weeks of crash course to resolve her problems, but 25 years of hands-on experience. The "Amichien Method" simply gave him a label to attach to his style of training which he had been using for decades. I'm not promoting this chap but just pointing out that the length of the course may not always be relevant.

I think if you get refered (as we did) through the Jan F website then you are likely to have someone come see you who has only done the amichien training and nothing more.
The lady who came to see us was very nice and supportive but the method itself, applying it completely and totally, is virtually impossible (to explain, as well as to do). She also didn't understand my dog and his needs. It's a bit of a blanket method and doesn't take into consideration individual dogs characteristics and needs.
I'm sure there are other people (not listed on her site) who use this technique but alongside other methods which are more effective and do-able.

This is true of the Barkbuster Franchise as well. However there is a huge difference between people who are already qualified and experienced, like the gentleman you know, and others such as the lady in my area who has simply the Dog Listener course and advertises herself as a specialist with aggression or the Barkbuster guy who traumatised a JRT by hurling a chain when it barked and turned it from a nervous dog into a biting dog
There are good and bad out there and unfortunately the bad ones can do a lot of damage.

I would run a mile from anything Jan Fennell related.