Behavioural consultations for all breeds and problems, including aggression.

By studying and understanding pack behaviour Barbara takes you on a journey into the dog’s mind. Many training techniques are based on a human perception of how a dog thinks and what it needs, rather than on the dog’s needs as a dog.

For example:

Why does a dog stop a few yards away when you call it to you?

Because it is thinking like a dog, it understands its own actions but cannot understand the human actions or language which are encouraging disrespect.

Why does a dog pull when it is on a lead but walk calmly when off the lead?

Because the handler taught it to pull, albeit unwittingly!

Why do some dogs have nervous aggression?

Because the human is not the pack leader.

Why is it wrong to ignore a dog?

Because a leader never ignores its subjects.

The TLC method of understanding and training dogs is without the use of check chains, titbits, haltis and toys. It helps people to gain their dog’s love, affection and good manners through natural body language and canine communication and does not involve ignoring dogs or their behaviour.

Feeding a dog after your own meal, restricting a dog to only certain parts of the house and not allowing dogs upstairs are not part of Barbara’s training programme. Nor does she say dogs should not be allowed on the bed, how could she when one of her own dogs sleeps on her bed. But she does insist that you explain to your dog who owns the house before you give it open access to it. Its all part of TLC – it is an easy, none complicated form of training, simple but it works.

Consultations include a training pamphlet and free after consultation advice during the training programme.

There is no miracle, overnight or guaranteed cure for a dog with bad habits, the old must be pushed to the back of the mind and the new must be taught. Without commitment and consistency the dog will always be a problem but with patience, and a willingness to understand the dog, it can become a respectable family member. A dog with good manners is easy to live with, teaching a dog good manners is not easy, and teaching a bad mannered dog is hard work but well worth the effort. All our advice and training is designed to help you to understand your own dog and its needs, training is the responsibility of each individual owner and each owner is responsible for their own dog’s actions.

We do not have formal training classes at Mainline but we do travel to clubs, groups and organisations providing seminars and workshops, plus we hold our own open workshops during the year. Please keep checking our website for dates and details or check our News and Diary Dates page for forthcoming events. If you would like Barbara and her team to visit your club for a talk, seminar or workshop please contact us for further details.