My name is James Conroy and I run the Canine Psychology Centre in Sherwood Forest, Notts, with my right hand dog, Bob. Click on Bob´s photo to read his sad story. I now have my rehab centre open, which was my dream. My pack is now 10 strong, including a Rott who was about to be shot, and a former death row staffie who is perfect now!

I am not a trainer - I´m a behaviourist. I don´t train dogs to sit and stay, I correct deep rooted issues like aggression, fear, phobia, anxiety - the kind of issues that make the owners´ lives a day to day misery.

A lot of trainers call themselves behaviourists, but trainers are like school teachers, whereas behaviourists are more like a psychiastrist or therapist!

I work with owners to help them understand the psychological needs of their and treat it as the species rather than the pet. This doesn´t mean we don´t still love them as much! We´re just giving them what they need to feel like themselves. I believe that without knowing how the dog thinks, it´s impossible to truly understand the dog. What seems like unpredictable behaviour, suddenly becomes very predictable indeed.

We as dog owners need to change how we see our dogs. We don´t have to stop loving them. But we must understand the importance of the pack. Dogs do not expect equality. Their minds are simply not wired up in that configuration. There must be a hierachy, a pecking order. Without it, a dog is insecure, and this can lead to problems. Once you have addressed pack structure, and have done everything necessary to ensure your dog knows you are at the top of it, the naturally occuring result will be a happy, secure, better behaved dog.

Dog training, traditionally, results in a dog doing as it´s told because there´s something in it for the dog - a treat, a toy, a reward of some kind. And this kind of training is invaluable and used a lot in my approach. However, it´s not enough on its own to sort out serious behaviour issues. Your dog will only do as it´s told while you and your treat are the most interesting things around. The second your biscuit or toy loses its value, because of another dog for example, on the other side of the playing field, then you will struggle to keep your dog´s attention! If you were the pack leader in the eyes and mind of your dog, then your dog will respond to you simply because of your position and the inborn hierachy that exists in dog psychology. It´s doing as it´s told because you said so. With my approach, your relationship with your dog won´t suffer. It won´t become cold or distant. You will actually gain not just the trust and the love of your dog that you already have, but you will gain the most important thing of all, respect. You will be closer than ever to your dog! And you´ll be happier, healthier and calmer!

For more about me, and my right hand dog Bob, visit www.c-p-c.ws