We saw a number of problem dogs, including a Great Dane with fairly severe on-lead dog aggression, a dog lunging at traffic and a dog which displayed aggression towards its owners
husband whenever he walked into the room. Step forward Emily-Jayne Blackwell, eminent Bristol University dog behaviourist with her sack of treats. We saw that the owner of the Great Dane had to part with her other dog (result!) and undergo a ridiculously incremental process of desensitisation towards other dogs. Ditto the other two cases, with the frankly laughable (no pun intended) method of dealing with the Scottie’s aggression towards the owner’s husband, by laughing at him whenever he entered the room! I kid you not!
All three cases were revisited apparently months later judging by the change in clothing and background scenery and minimal improvements had been made. Interestingly none of the re-visits, showed the dog in its original location of problem behaviour, which suggests that the problems still existed to a significant degree. Otherwise, why not have film of the lady’s husband coming into the room whilst being greeted in a friendly manner by the dog? One can only assume too, that these were the best results they achieved in the many cases they must have looked at. Worrying!
If I were dealing with any of those cases, I would expect to be able to empower the owner of the traffic-lunger, to be able to walk safely and with control over her dog, within hours
not months. I would expect to be able to achieve similar results with the other cases too, as should any dog trainer/behaviourist with good levels of experience and expertise. Whilst there are always dogs who are beyond significant help with their behavioural issues, these are very much in the minority and in my experience, represent less than 5% of all problem dogs.
I come back to my concerns voiced elsewhere on this website years ago, that there are too many behaviourists with no real background in dogs and their training who are quite happy to talk the talk, but not walk the walk. In the cases in this programme, it appeared that Emily-Jayne the behaviourist, had no practical involvement whatsoever with the dogs in question, other than devising a plan without helping the client implement it. There was no film of her actually working with the dogs and clients and there are too many behaviourists who operate in this manner.
If it were possible to learn how to deal with a dogs behavioural issues by theory alone, then everyone could simply rely on books or the internet. People need to be shown how to do things, not told how to do things. No amount of video cameras, fancy drawings or laughing at your husband, will make your badly-behaved dog better! It might not do much for your husband’s behaviour either!
Readers, there is no substitute for practical experience combined with knowledge. If your behaviourist turns up at your door looking like they have no intention of setting foot outside your house with your dog, be concerned!