Finbar and the gentleR way |
If we are very lucky, there is one dog which holds a special place in our hearts. For me that dog is Finbar, my first Irish Wolfhound. He is my inspiration. He came into our lives one cold February evening in 1996, when we collected him from DHL at East Midlands Airport. He'd left the breeder's near Dublin several hours earlier for what must have been a traumatic journey. The first thing he did, when let out of his crate, was run away - and who could blame him. It took six of us to catch him, such a handful was he. He had never set foot in a house, worn a collar, nor been on a lead. |
It had been some years since I’d had a dog of my own and, like many ‘new’ dog owners, I was very anxious to ‘get it right’. So, as soon as I could, I marched him off to obedience school. Thus began hours of walking up and down the garden, with lots of standing, sitting, staying etc until he 'got it'. And if he did, it was down to me; and if he didn't, it was down to him. It was not a happy time for either of us. Fortunately, I soon realized that this approach was getting us nowhere. Apart from anything else, learning should and could be fun, and this certainly was not. I discovered that when I barked orders at Fin, he appeared to hear the noise, but not the command. When I glared at him, he turned away and appeared to shut me out. But when I began to consider our interaction from his point of view, when I spoke softly, when I acted more respectfully, when my entire approach was more gentle, Fin’s response was amazing! He joined me in the learning experience and, often, led it. Walks, the prospect of which used to fill me with dread, now became a pleasure. He became an almost constant companion. I loved his company and he seemed to love mine. |
Sadly Fin died before his time, while he still had so much to teach me. For a time I lost interest in dogs, putting my experience with Fin down to the fact that he was simply very special. Time is a great healer, and my passion for dogs couldn’t be denied. I began researching extensively and found reference to experiences similar to mine in the writings of Turid Rugaas, Sarah Fisher, Patricia McConnell, Jean Donaldson, Karen Pryor and Alexandra Semyonova, to name but a few. This encouraged me to believe that what I had learnt with Fin, together with the many experiences I had with mine, relatives’ and friends’ dogs over the years, could form a programme of behavioural modification which might help other dogs and their owners. I had never used force on a dog, believing it to be at best unnecessary and at worst barbaric. I had found that by encouraging appropriate behaviour and ignoring the inappropriate, any dog could come to realize what was expected of him. These two principles form the basis of the process which I have called “The Gentler Way”. I have gained a number of academic and practical qualifications, which are listed below. I remain committed to further study of this absorbing subject and of these wonderful animals, because I have come to realize that just as I think I've learnt all I need, I encounter something that is fresh and new to me. I have come to believe that it is a brave person who claims they have 'got it', that they have learnt all there is to know. The only conclusion I have come to is that there is no conclusion to come to. |
Qualifications: Certificate of Advanced Canine Communication Certificate in Dog Handling Skills Diploma In Canine Psychology (with Distinction) Canine First Responder Canine First Responder Instructor Canine First Responder Course Director Understanding Dogs Better Instructor Clicker Trainer I am currently studying for an Advanced Diploma in Canine Behaviour Management Memberships National UK Therapists Register Institute for Animal Care Education (Student Member) |
