Talking Dogs with Graeme Hall

Graeme Hall talks through how to help your dog settle in various scenarios, including when you’re busy working from home, when you leave them alone in the house, and at night time. How long should you leave your dog by themselves? Should the dog be able to sleep out of their crate? How much should you interact with your dog during the day? The Dogfather explains that the answers to all these questions is always ‘it depends on the dog’. Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall helps a couple of listeners whose dogs don’t seem to be particularly interested in toys. First, an owner who wants to use a toy to teach his food-motivated rottweiler an ‘out’ command, and secondly an owner who would like her rescue dog to learn how to play. The Dogfather also wonders whether it’s important that every dog likes playing, or if some just never will, and that’s ok. Plus, why might brain games be just as – if not more – important than physical games? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall explains how dogs explore the world with the mouths and noses. He met spaniel Bertie on Dogs Behaving Very Badly; he was grabbing and eating everything from facemasks to fireworks. The Dogfather recaps with owners Jackie and Daisy how they taught Bertie a ‘leave’ command, and talks them through how to continue the training out on walks. A listener also has a question about her dog who sniffs obsessively out on walks. What will Graeme suggest to help combat this frustrating habit? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall talks about dogs who don’t like cars – one that barks and lunges when he’s near traffic, and one who bites and lunges when she’s put inside the car. The first is Old English Sheepdog Wilson, who Graeme met on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Owner Joanne joins The Dogfather to catch up on how she and Wilson have been getting on since their first training session, including talking about how different collars and harnesses have made a difference on their walks. The second dog is being fed in the boot of the car in the hope of creating positive associations with the space. Is this the right thing to be doing to help the situation? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall talks to owners of dogs that have very strong opinions about their walks. He catches up with Lisa and Linda from TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly whose German Shepherd cross Buddy would often just plonk himself down in the road on a walk and refuse to move. Graeme explains how he got Buddy moving again through the right body language, tone of voice, and clever use of the lead. The Dogfather also gives advice to a listener whose Weimaraner refuses to come back to be put on lead at the end of a walk. The secret might just lie in some of his favourite treats... Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall catches up with a couple he recently met on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Scott and Christy’s dogs Buzz and Roshi used to be the best of mates, but when they moved house the happy family dream became a nightmare. The dogs fought so much they had to be kept in separate areas of the house. Graeme began training by taking the dogs outside, so neither felt territorial... The Dogfather also debunks whether it’s possible to know ahead of time if two dogs are going to get on or not, and what your dog’s body language might be trying to tell you about how comfortable they are with another dog. Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com

Graeme Hall explains what dogs might be thinking when they experience strange noises and sudden movements that we as humans consider entirely normal. He hears from a listener whose dog starts barking when they drive through puddles, and asks if the owners are accidentally praising the wrong moments. The Dogfather also catches up with Annmarie who he met on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Her terrier Buster hated the hoover, so they had to break down all the movements and noises involved in cleaning the house in order to let him understand they’re not a threat. Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall recently helped an owner see the part he was playing in his deteriorating relationship with his dog. The Dogfather met Ray for an episode of TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly; Ray felt Welsh terrier Henry only had a problem with him, not his wife. He wouldn’t let him get out of doors and would nip at his shoelaces, but Graeme wondered whether Ray was acting differently around the dog and causing these reactions... The Dogfather also hears from a listener who feels the family Labrador is scared of her, but no one else. What advice will he give to build the dog’s confidence around her? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall met Leanne and her Weimaraner Tinkerbelle for the TV show – Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Tinkerbelle was incredibly clingy and affectionate; she had to be with her owner at all times ...Leanne even had to barricade the dog in the kitchen using chairs just to get some time alone in the shower! Now, he catches up with them a couple of months later to find out how they’re getting on, and offer more advice if you’re in a similar situation with your dog. Plus, he helps a listener whose dog adores her, but is very nervous with other people. Can The Dogfather help make this dog more confident with others? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com

Graeme Hall gets back in touch with John and Linda, a couple he helped on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Their spaniel Harris’ love of water was putting his owners in danger as they regularly had to climb into rocky lakes to get him back out. Together they discuss how they taught Harris to wait for permission to dive in, as well as the unusual method Graeme suggested to recall him from the water. At the other end of the spectrum, The Dogfather hears from a listener whose dog really doesn’t like water. Should he put the lab collie cross in at the deep end, or will a slowly slowly approach be more successful? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com

Amit Patel is known as Blind Dad on social media, but it’s his guide dog Kika who’s the real star of the show. Amit uses his online presence to show how Kika helps him navigate the world – popping to the shops, taking him on airplanes, and even mothering his young children. As Amit explains though, Kika is still a Labrador, and she’s very food driven, which has led to some very funny incidents of Kika leading Amit towards doughnuts and fish’n’chips... Plus, Graeme explores what all dog owners can learn from guide dogs, especially around reading their body language and being consistent in your commands. Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com.

Graeme Hall recently had an encounter with some cows that got him thinking about how to safely walk a dog in the countryside around livestock. Plus, a couple of listeners have found themselves having to wrestle sticks away from their dogs, so The Dogfather gives his take on whether dogs should be playing with sticks at all, as well as how to train a ‘leave it’ command. Finally, what’s the best way to deal with your dog rolling in badger or fox poo...? Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky pooch to talkingdogs@avalonuk.com