That I do agree with, but how many times on here are people advised to call in a behaviourist.

all to often. I have yet to meet someone who had there problem solved by one.. though Im sure YS said years ago she used one and it worked....

I hate to go into my views on it all.. as I know there are a few behaviourists on the forum...

I totally agree with you Shona, but you can't reason with stupidity

P.S. Bryan went past 3 dogs yesterday without barking - one Westie ven barked at him and he paid no attention, didn't even look at it

ah.. hes a work in progress... you are getting there with him though.. if you think back a while you couldnt have passed one dog without him having a good old ding dong at it

Hm well his Illusion collar/lead is a slip lead with a stopper used on most of the dogs, this is pulled up under the ears at the top of the neck where there are many near surface nerves, it is then fixed very tight & kept up with a collar that is fixed at the top & bottom of the neck. He then olds the slip lead making it look as if it is loose around the dog's neck, but it isn't & constant pain is caused by the tight noose under the ears. It is this pain that ensures the dog shuts down & appears "calm submissive". If the owners have pinch collars or chokers on the dog then he uses these in the old fashioned way(including putting the choker up under the ears & pulled tight)

Instead of listening to his "spiel"switch off the sound & watch just the dogs & their lack of expression after he has"cured"them

The Alpha Roll has no place in dog training & does not exist in the wild or domestic Canidae packs. Mothers do not roll their puppies they will pin them down with a paw or their mouths gently, puppies are allowed massive privileges by adult dogs & in essence when they cease to be puppies the corrections occur by the other pack members & the young dogs learn quickly.

We really keep our dogs in perpetual puppyhood to some extent-they never leave the "pack"to set up their own pack & be alphas themselves. Also they do not set out to try to dominant humans, they behave like puppies through their lifetimes to some extent & can constantly try to push the boundaries they have had set-this is way quick fixes like CM do not work & dogs being creatures of habit need consistancy & not bullyboy treatment

I think lots of people have jumped on the behaviourist bandwagon, but I have had a good experience with a behaviourist, who was recommended to me by the local ringcraft class. Ellie, the GSD that I walk had some issues and her owner asked me if I could help her find someone to help, which I did. Her methods are kind and calm and it really has workied a treat for Ellie.

Shaking rattle bottles and squirting water would have made Ellie worst IMO, but this particular behaviourist knows her stuff and treats all cases as individuals, which I'm sure many don't.

There are probably as many bad ones as good ones though. we were just lucky to get someone on personal recommendation. She came out twice, for a couple of hours each time and charged £50.00 a visit, which I don't think is excessive.

the thin slip bit

Me too...or me three!

The pressure of a gentle leader is on the face, around rhe muzzle in the same place as you would put a calming band....

No it isn't when fitted properly the calming band is high on the neck not on the face, there is a part that goes around the face and it's far from calming it actually sends most dogs into a frenzy trying to paw it off, or they constantly shove their head between your legs to rub it off