Talking Dogs with Graeme Hall Avalon Factual

Graeme Hall tackles a number of questions listeners have about dogs who like to use their paws. First up is a cross breed who absolutely loves digging up the garden. Her owner has made her a sandpit so she can dig there... but she’s still intent on making a mess of the grass.

Then, what does The Dogfather suggest for a dog who keeps flipping her water bowl upside down and causing a mess on the kitchen floor? Plus, help for an old Jack Russell who can’t stop gnawing at her paws.

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 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 like sharing things – particularly toys – with other dogs. First, he wonders if a spaniel who can growl when others try to play would benefit from learning some boundaries in other areas of his life. Then, he hears about a cockapoo who isn’t enjoying the company of the new puppy the family have brought home. Is the fact that he’s not neutered part of the issue?

Plus, people have to learn to share too... if your new partner comes with a badly behaved dog, how can you help them understand that you need to share responsibility for training?

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 the principles behind why we generally communicate with dogs both verbally and visually with voice commands and hand signals. With this in mind, he then helps two listeners who have deaf dogs. One can’t hear other dogs barking when he might be playing too rough with them, and the other can’t hear his own incessant barking. Given these dogs can’t hear verbal commands, those visual signals become more important, as does communicating physically through things like little tugs on the lead and stroking as a reward.

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.