Dog listener gives sound advice

A visiting English dog expert says the owners of aggressive dogs should look no further than the mirror when deciding who is to blame.

Jan Fennell is speaking in New Plymouth tonight about her life as a "dog listener".

"Certain breeds attack certain people and certain people should not be dog owners," she says. "When dogs are treated badly, they will react in one of three ways - compliance, fear or the clever ones will retaliate."

"Some people want their dogs to be aggressive because they think that's clever but it isn't - it's stupid." She says putting a dog down after it bites someone is the worst solution and most dogs can be rehabilitated. "The human makes all the mistakes and the dog dies - that's not fair."

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"People like the idea of dog listening because it is about no fear and no pain," she says.

Miss Fennell is speaking at the New Plymouth District Council chambers tonight at 7pm. A donation made from ticket sales will go to Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

I saw Jan in Christchurch. She must have taken lessons from Marcel Marceau. She was animated, and a real pleasure to listen too! I just wish she spoke at the Christchurch City Council to teach them how to make laws and/or enact by-laws for the good of society...