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Meg - 1979 – 1992 Nine National trials English team 1983 The first of our Main Line of dogs and the inspiration for MBCC |
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Barbara Sykes specialist breed is the Border Collie and she is renowned for her success in understanding and training collies and also in targeting and solving any behavioural problems relevant to the breed. But the TLC – Thinking Like Canines training technique is a general canine training programme and Barbara’s consultations and training methods are open to all breeds. 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. Barbara teaches without the use of check chains, titbits, haltis and toys. She helps people to gain their dog’s love, affection and good manners through natural body language and canine communication. Her methods do not include the recently introduced technique of ignoring dogs and their behaviour, nor does she shy away from problems with aggressive dogs. 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 her training programme. Nor does she say dogs should not be allowed on the bed, how could she when one of her own dogs, Hope, 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 are one on one tuition, include a training pamphlet and free after consultation advice during the training programme. We do not have formal training classes at Mainline but we do hold workshops for clubs, groups and organisations plus our own open workshops during the year please keep checking our website for dates and details. Barbara also travels regularly to clubs and organisations doing seminars and workshops if you would like her to travel to your area or club please contact Mainline for details |
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Endorsements I was home with the dogs all last week and from the first day out walking the techniques you showed us have worked a treat. I've walked him past loads of dogs and people and its been great, no lunging, no freaky behaviour, he feels safe. At home we've had a number of visitors and I've been practicing the new techniques, again its all worked well. Thank you for such a great consultation, we have seen many so called "experts" and we are glad to have finally found someone who understood the problem, understood our dog and understood what we needed. Thank you for your common sense advice, it has transformed going out with our dog. Millie is responding well and has stopped pulling on the lead already. She has almost stopped barking at the door and today when someone walked up the drive she got up and went to her bed without even a look from me! We have a long way to go but she seems a much more settled dog. Thank you I'm a great admirer of yours through your books and excellent magazine and have also attended a TLC seminar. Your advice on that occasion has made 100% difference to a 'problem' dog in my care. I had tried everything I knew in vain with him, but on following your body language techniques shown at the seminar, he is now a transformed character. He is a collie/German Shepherd cross and could do hyper for England!! I write this time because of the change in Tinker over the last few weeks. It dawned on me over a matter of days recently, perhaps even a week or so, that Tinker wasn't so nervous anymore. About 6 weeks ago I noticed that he wasn't so agitated, so highly strung, so keyed up. It didn't happen over night, but one day I realised he was just calm. When once he was frenetic he is now just plain normal, and most importantly for us in a semi urban environment, dogs or people we meet on our walks are of no concern to him. He loves playing with our nieces and nephews (who are all 8-15) and he has such a gentle mouth that its hard to believe. He is brilliant with visitors to the house and he doesn't chase lights anymore. |
