Australians love dogs, and they’re on TV like never before. Network 10 alone has three programs about them, of which one should concern us all: “Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia”.
In it, “Dogfather” Graeme Hall makes house calls to pet guardians across Australia. The conceit is that Hall can fix dog behaviour issues speedily, with every challenge done and dusted in less than an hour.
But dogs and their guardians are not served well. Dog trainers and behaviour experts say that little shown is best-practice, 21st-century animal training. This matters because dogs with problem behaviours disrupt people’s lives and can diminish their own welfare.
Behaviour challenges can even make dogs homeless. According to RSPCA Victoria, behaviour problems are a major reason people relinquish dogs. Many Australian shelters are full of dogs behaving in ways their owners couldn’t manage.
Mr Hall is an agreeable chap who hails from Yorkshire. In a tweed waistcoat and natty cravat, he looks like he just stepped out of All Creatures Great and Small.
But in Britain, dog trainers are petitioning equivalent network Channel 5 to drop the show, with 14,423 signatures collected.
The problem with the Dogfather is his lack of knowledge. He gives ad hoc advice with no reference to the principles of how behaviour works. This should worry anyone who has a dog, because dog behaviour can be hard to understand and harder to change.
A TV show about canine problem behaviour is certainly needed. With over 6 million dogs in Australia, none was born knowing how to live in human society. As caregivers, we teach them how to navigate our world and become good canine citizens.
But many troubled pooches live in our homes.
Some have serious challenges manifesting as bizarre behaviours. The producers seem to have chosen these dogs because they make diverting TV – if you enjoy watching distressed dogs.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly began in 2017, with five seasons airing in Britain and now two seasons filmed in Australia.
When the show first aired, peak body for animal professionals, the Pet Professional Guild of Australia (PPGA), criticised the show’s ‘quick fixes,’ saying they create unrealistic expectations.
PPGA president, Sarah Campbell, said the show used “inhumane, outdated techniques” that display a “limited understanding of dog behaviour” and “don’t address the underlying problem.”
Considering the number of dogs relinquished – or even euthanised – because of behaviour problems, Hall’s advice to owners is alarming.
Take dogs with reactivity. In certain places or the presence of certain things, reactive dogs may snap, growl or lunge. It can be treated with gradual exposure techniques – much like a person can be helped with fear of flying or of spiders.
However, in this show, Hall tells dogs off, saying: “No!”, “Cut it out!” or “Behave!”. This is pointless, as he’s not first taught the dogs what he wants them to do or what “behave” means.
The Dogfather puts reactive dogs into situations full of things that frighten them. In one episode, Piper, a poodle cross, is forced to meet other dogs. After the Hall treatment, she seems to relax.
But this is actually “flooding”, a technique where animals are put into fear-producing situations with no possibility of escape. The result is behavioural shut-down – easily mistaken for calm.
Most worrying is the filming of the problem behaviour. In each segment, we see it multiple times.
Reputable dog trainers never do this.
Melbourne professional trainer, Toni Goodfellow said: “We try to not let dogs practice that [problem] behaviour at all.
“If they do, we know we’ve done something too quickly. We’ve put them in a situation they weren’t ready for.”
To top it off, the narration is so corny it makes Ozzy Ostrich seem hip. Deadpanned by Julia Morris, the scripts are big on alliteration (“the greedy Groodle”, “the mad Moodle”) and confected drama (“Has Graeme met his match?”).
Why the jocular tone? Having a dog with behaviour problems is no fun at all. It blights people’s lives and prolongs animal suffering.
These dogs aren’t behaving “badly” for fun. Some are suffering significant, canine mental ill-health. They’re trying to communicate their discomfort or fear.
Unfortunately, reputable dog behaviourists aren’t particularly accessible. They’re often booked out and they don’t come cheap. In addition, people must understand that behaviour modification can take months. There are no speedy remedies for troubled dogs.
The science of behaviour has informed animal training for 70-plus years. We know how to use conditioning to teach new behaviours and change unwanted ones.
When we take the time to do this, our dogs’ quality of life improves. Owners’ does, too.
We don’t expect anyone to do an Olympic high dive or become an engineer in 60 minutes. We shouldn’t accept Graeme Hall’s quickie dog solutions.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia offers scant credible dog training. It’s entertainment at the expense of people and dogs who deserve (very much) better.
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