Man’s Best Friend

Man’s Best Friend

(or your neighbour’s worst enemy!)

Some people can’t stand the sight of them, others are scared stiff of them. They can be noisy, boisterous and demanding. They require us to feed them, wash them, brush their hair and clean up after them. No, I am not talking about the two legged imps that run screaming and shouting around the supermarket but man’s best friend, his dog. The well behaved dog though brings comfort and pleasure to many millions.

I became involved with dogs while I was still serving in the Royal Navy. We bought our first house in Chawleigh, N. Devon in 1968 and this gave me the opportunity to obtain my longed for German Shepherd Dog (GSD) which we called Chico. He was a big black handsome animal with the most wonderful temperament, children often asked if he was a police dog! While I was away, serving Queen and country, my wife, Diane, had to take him walkies and that is where problems began to arise. Junior was still in a push chair and unfortunately when Diane wanted to go one way (usually ahead) the dog wanted to go another (usually at a 90 degree angle) and sniff what was in the opposite hedgerow.

We decided that the answer was to take him to dog training classes so we joined our nearest which was in Barnstaple, a mere 50 mile round journey! Our first class was utter mayhem as all the other dogs (and their owners) were beginners like us and with a little yappy Yorkie trying to pick a fight with my big black GSD we wondered what we had let ourselves in for. After our class we sat through the evening and watched the more advanced dogs train and when I saw about 20 dogs of all shapes and sizes, sit absolutely still, for 5 minutes, at one end of the hall while their owners disappeared out of sight at the other end I said to Diane, Chico will never do that. But he did, eventually, as he progressed up through the classes he too would sit still for 5 minutes while we vanished out of the hall. After a while we were persuaded to enter him in a dog obedience show where he was a right Wally and presented his dumb bell in the retrieve test to a spectator and then ran out of the ring with me in hot pursuit. However, 12 months later at the same show he won first prize in both the Beginners and Novice classes. My interest in dogs increased and on leaving the Navy in 1972 went into partnership with a lady (not my wife!) and converted a small holding in Bickleigh into a boarding kennels known as Chilton Gate Kennels, but is now the National Blue Cross Rescue Kennels. Over the years we have had more dogs, either GSD’s or Border Collies, all of them trained to varying degrees.

It is not necessary though to get so involved in order to train a dog to do the basic things like walking to heel, come when called etc. When I see some people with their dog straining on the end of a leash and pulling its owner’s arm out of the socket I think, go along to a training class and you will enjoy your walk much more. Training classes cost very little and are normally held once a week in the evenings for about an hour and average about 8 weeks in total. Dog training clubs are not there to train your dog for you but to show you how to carry out the basic exercises then you are expected to go home and practice them with your dog. They are also excellent places to socialise your dog with other dogs and people.

Dogs do not speak our language though many people will swear that their dog understands every word we say. It’s no good telling a dog to sit, come, stay etc. if it hasn’t a clue what you’re on about. It has initially to be shown, that doesn’t mean of course throwing a ball fetching it yourself then telling your dog, now, go on, you do it! The retrieve, for example, is a combination of other exercises such as sit, hold and come and should be taught before trying to get the dog to retrieve.

There are two important things about dog training. (a) It is easier to teach a dog to do something correctly from the outset rather than trying to break bad habits first, therefore, an early start with training in its life is recommended and (b) it is never necessary to smack a dog even if it has been naughty. I have on many an occasion seen, when a dog which runs off and doesn’t come back straight away get a thumping when it eventually does. This will make matters worse because the next time the dog does this it is going to be wary of coming back in case it gets another thumping. You have to bottle your frustration and praise it so that it associates coming back with praise and is more likely to come back quicker next time in order to get some more praise (we all like to be praised, even dogs).

Unlike humans, dogs do not bear grudges although they are wary if they have been mistreated. You can scold a dog but 9 times out of 10 it will then seek a cuddle or a pat and lick your hand. When I have had a bad day, the wife has been giving me unnecessary hassle and I feel as if all the world hates me I go to where all the photographs of my dogs are on the wall and look at the poem which hangs below them, which I reproduce here by kind permission of the Cinnamon Trust in Hayle, a charitable trust which cares for dogs of those who are too old and frail to look after them or perhaps their owners are too ill or even sadly, have passed away. No dogs are ever put down.

My Dog

You’re one in a million,

You're special to me,

Affectionate, Loyal,

And good company.

You’re there when I’m lonely

And life seems a bore,

You cheer me and offer

A comforting paw.

The look in your eyes

Say’s you quite understand

As you thrust a bewhiskered

Wet nose in my hand.

You never desert me

Wherever I go,

You’re a far better friend

Than some people I know!

I thank you by writing

This short monologue,

To my Faithful, Devoted

Companion, MY DOG.

David Hanson

“Jufair”