Talking Dogs with Graeme Hall

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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?...

Graeme Hall tackles two problems with dogs that bite. The first gets over excited when visitors arrive, and explores the new people by getting his teeth round their wrists. The Dogfather is clear he’s not being vicious, but he does need to be taught how to stay calm in exciting new situations. The second dog is chihuahua Hulk, who Graeme recently met on the TV show Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Owners Kathryn and Craig catch Graeme up on how their training’s been going since he left. They...

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...

Graeme Hall explains why finding our dogs behaviour funny at first could be paving a path for that behaviour to become a worrying obsession. On this week’s episode of TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly Graeme met sprocker Brodie who was obsessed with licking bald heads. Owners Carol and Kenny join Graeme to talk through how they stopped this behaviour. Plus, why do some dogs lick in the first place? The Dogfather also comes to the aid of a listener whose spaniel’s obsession with chasing shadows...

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...

Graeme Hall explains how to make your dog understand the difference between human food and their own dog food. He recently met Ilana and cockapoo Bailey on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly; Bailey used to snatch food out of people’s hands, steal food from picnics, and jump on tables hoping for some grub, but Graeme put some boundaries in place that mean Bailey can now calmly sit nearby when his family are at the dinner table. The Dogfather also gives advice to a listener whose whippet...

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,...

Graeme Hall talks through the principles behind helping get your dog over their phobia, regardless of what it is. To illustrate the point he catches up with Rachel, who he recently met on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Her Newfoundland Bailey was afraid of walking on hard floors after slipping as a puppy. He’s also a therapy dog, so they chat through the wonderful benefits for Rachel’s therapy clients of having him at their feet to stroke. Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send...

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...

Graeme Hall reckons German Shepherd Marvel was the most reactive dog he’s ever worked with. He lunged and barked at absolutely everything, both indoors and out. He met Marvel and owner Lorna for TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly, and now catches up with Lorna to find out whether the training he showed them has been fruitful. The Dogfather also explains why it’s so important to understand why your dog is reacting in the first place in order to train them out of it in the best way. Do you have a...

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...

Graeme Hall gets back in touch with Steph, who he visited on TV’s Dogs Behaving Very Badly. Steph’s Chalkie Coco was snapping at visitors to the family’s coffee shop, driving vital business away. Hear how a play pen and affection at specific moments helped calm Coco down. Plus, The Dogfather explains to a listener why a sudden death in a family might have caused their Dachshund to become snappy. Do you have a question for The Dogfather? Send Graeme a voice note and a video of your pesky...

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...

Graeme Hall catches up with Liane from TV show Dogs Behaving Very Badly. They reflect on how her boxer Woody used to behave – jumping all over visitors, darting out the front door, and stealing balls from her son when he was trying to play with friends in the garden. They talk through how they managed to calm this excitable dog by teaching him how to slow down and control his impulses. The Dogfather also explains how similar principles might help a listener whose speagle gets very excited...

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...