I grew up on a farm in Canada. I’ve always had dogs. My dad was happy with this
because as long as he could see the dog he knew where I was! The dogs just lived
with us, no special training, no walks because they could roam on the farm with
me.
When I moved away for education and early jobs I was living in cities and for a
few years did not have a dog. Then a lost stray showed up and my life with dogs
began again. By now I was in England. So I got into the routine. Generally we bumbled along with the regular issues
that seemed to be related to dog behaviour – running away, not always coming
when called, barking if left alone But it didn’t happen very often so it didn’t
stimulate me to really consider what was going on.
I heard about Monty Roberts, the man who listens to horses. His non-violent way
of working with horses that caused the horse to want to be with him. I wondered
how you could communicate with dogs in a non-violent way. However, I did nothing
about it because my dog seemed reasonably compliant. He didn’t have any
antisocial issues. It didn’t occur to me that I might be putting him under the
stress of leadership.
Then came Buddy, who did not find my methods particularly note worthy. By this
time I was living in a village in Norfolk, with countryside and beach nearby.
I became desperate because he would run away for hours. He would chase anything
that moved and he would take it into his mind to have a dust up with some dogs,
not all so I could never relax.
I tried shouting, choke collars, harness and long line, bells on his collar that
would warn his ‘prey’ that he was coming. I had the advice of a behaviourist. I
became so desperate that I tried a shock collar.
All these methods and techniques made only a temporary change, if any at all.
Then I heard of Jan Fennell, the woman who listens to dogs, and the work she had
done. Something resonated with me. I was privileged to do the foundation and
advanced courses in Canine communication in 2007. We have lost our ability to
communicate with our dogs in a way that the dog understands. Jan has
rediscovered it. It is called Amichien® Bonding.
Learning this communication has meant changes for me. I had got used to
shouting, I had learned to become frustrated and angry. Now I have had to lose
those responses – they didn’t really work anyway. I am learning to be calm and
confident, without being a bully or setting the dog up to fail. This is my
journey. As I travel it my dogs are happier and more relaxed. I would say that I
had never known what it meant to see a happy, relaxed dog until I used Amichien®
Bonding.
People often comment on how I have “very nice dogs”. So, that’s how my business
got its name! |
