My name is Martin McKenna and I'm also known as The Dreadlock Dog Man because every day, everywhere I go, I teach humans how to really communicate with their dogs. As you can see in my photo, I have a full head of dreadlocks, so I'm not hard to recognise.
Dog language really is an international language,since it's the one language used by every single dog on the planet.
If you keep visiting this blog site you'll soon become fluent in dog language. That's what this blog is all about!
Try really talking to your dog today....
Maybe you're sitting in a chair and your dog keeps demanding your attention.
To say: "Leave me alone now" in dog language, do this: Say nothing, instead, turn your head away from the dog and lift your chin a little. Cross your arms. Look serious about what you want.
Hold this position until your dog goes and leaves you alone. Totally ignore it. If you give a clear, firm signal your dog will go and lie down and maybe even sigh. Don't worry, it's not sulking.
It's responding to your clear signals and doing the polite thing in the dog world.
However, if you send your dog away and then start staring at it or talking to it, you're actually saying in the dog world:
"Come here and interact with me now."
As you can see - it's quite easy for us humans to send mixed messages to dogs.
If your dog does keep pestering you, see my next post on this blog. Your dog is understanding your signals alright, but at the moment it doesn't believe you have the right to tell it what to do. (We'll be changing that attitude, don't worry.)
Many dog owners think their dogs can be very stupid, naughty, silly or stubborn, when in actual fact, there's more a communication problem happening between our two very different species.
Learning dog language will dramatically improve your dog's behaviour. In the dog world you'll quickly learn that everything is said clearly and simply.
For example, in the human world if two humans come across a treat lying on the ground, there will probably be a discussion about sharing it out fairly.
In the dog world, life is pretty simple. The more dominant dog just says, "GRRR, MINE!"
***
If you would like to buy my book, you can buy it on-line at:
abcshop.com.au
It's called "The Dog Man"by Martin McKenna
(It was written in my pre-dreadlock days and has become an Australian best-seller)
17 comments:
I am about to stay with family who have a 1-2yr old female dog. I will be taking my 10yr old female dog with me. Apparently she attacks every dog that comes onto their property. Discussion regarding changing their behaviour might be touchy, as they have already expressed that this aggression is what dogs do naturally and so they won't tell their dog it is unacceptable. They are going to separate our dogs with a fence. I have your excellent book but can't quite develop a strategy for this one as she is not my dog. Any suggestions thanks?
Hi martin
I just wanted to let you know I read your book when my cattle x border collie "crash" was a pup. thanks to your techniques, we have had 9 happy years of adventures together. we have recently added to our family with a jack russell pup- both these breeds have a reputation for destructive and aggressive behaviour but both of our dogs are happy obediant and sociable dogs.
thanks for sharing your gift of understanding, before I read your book, crash was heading for the pound... 8 years later I'm so glad she has been my buddy all these years!
We got two beautiful black labradors from a litter in 2002. We eagerly purchased a number of books but found that only yours delivered results. Zorro still responds to the verbal threat of 'cold water'! Sadly we lost one from profound hip dysplexia before she was 1 year old but Zorro, is a wonderful, wonderful dog and a great friend to our three subsequent children.
We gave our copy of your book to a friend overseas but now need another copy for my brother in Sale. ABC Shops don't have any and say it's out of print. I just lost an eBay auction for one. Can you tell me how I can buy another copy?
hi~i am going to have a free golden retriever puppy from my friend... i am poor so i couldent buy your book but i really wanna now how to comunicate with dog so please email me and tell me the way to talk to dogs and the way i understand the dog please....my e-mail is:(bABy_pOOh42@hotmail.com)thank you very much...i am really sorry for troubling you...
Hi,
I'm desperate to buy a copy of your amazing book as a gift for a friend. I've tried everywhere but can't locate it any where as it's out of print. Do you know where I could purchase one from? Thanks for the great advice and insight.
My wife and I just got a puppy a few wks ago. She is all about nipping. RRrrr. We looked at other dog vidoes online and they helped only a little. Then watched what to do if a puppy nipps and bits on your vidoe on youtube. Wow. Did this this morning and she stopped straight away and settled down. Thank you.
How do I get in contact with you ? My email is nikki_j_williams@hotmail.com
Hi,
Martin, The Dreadlock Dog Man here.
Sorry, but I lost the password to this blog - and let it slide.
However...
great news!
I have a new book called, "WHAT'S YOUR DOG TELLING YOU?" and it's being released 1st sept, 2011. You can order it on-line at HarperCollins Australia and have it delivered anywhere in the world.
This ground-breaking book was the result of some Youtube footage I took. See me in action communicating with rescue dogs on Youtube at: the dreadlock dog man.
Find me on Facebook and make contact at: www.facebook.com/martinmckennadog
for free tips.
Thanks so much for your support!
Bought the new book this book. Advice works like a treat. trying to find your Fb Page...
Cannot find your FB page! please post it on your blog. Thanks.
Any ideas folks.
My neighbor has aggressive dashhounds. She brings them to my house and they dominate my dogs, although my dogs are bigger, they are older and not agro.
She allows her dogs to have dominant behavior in my house letting them get on furniture, giving them treats, they whine, bark at my house mate..she encourages them as she seems to relate human emotions onto them and believes in allowing them to be comfortable that they will behave.
One of them did a poo in my kitchen yesterday, which I've yet to tell her about!
Without offending her completing and telling her to keep her dogs at home I would like to encourage my dogs to reclaim their space? How do I do this? Or what can I ask of her with her dogs at mine?
My neighbor has aggressive dashhounds. She brings them to my house and they dominate my dogs, although my dogs are bigger, they are older and not agro.
She allows her dogs to have dominant behavior in my house letting them get on furniture, giving them treats, they whine, bark at my house mate..she encourages them as she seems to relate human emotions onto them and believes in allowing them to comfortable they will behave.
One of them did a poo in my kitchen yesterday, which I've yet to tell her about!
Without offending her completing and telling her to keep her dogs at home, how can I encourage my dogs to reclaim their space? Or whats one simple thing I can ask her to do with her dogs at mine?
My neighbor has aggressive dashhounds. She brings them to my house and they dominate my dogs, although my dogs are bigger, they are older and not agro.
She allows her dogs to have dominant behavior in my house letting them get on furniture, giving them treats, they whine, bark at my house mate..she encourages them as she seems to relate human emotions onto them and believes in allowing them to comfortable they will behave.
One of them did a poo in my kitchen yesterday, which I've yet to tell her about!
Without offending her completing and telling her to keep her dogs at home, how can I encourage my dogs to reclaim their space or whats a simple thing I can ask of her?
My neighbor has aggressive dashhounds. She brings them to my house and they dominate my dogs, although my dogs are bigger, they are older and not agro.
She allows her dogs to have dominant behavior in my house letting them get on furniture, giving them treats, they whine, bark at my house mate..she encourages them as she seems to relate human emotions onto them and believes in allowing them to comfortable they will behave.
One of them did a poo in my kitchen yesterday, which I've yet to tell her about!
Without offending her completing and telling her to keep her dogs at home, how can I encourage my dogs to reclaim their space or whats a simple thing I can ask of he?
I have inherited my grand-daughters' very nice dog. He and I get on quite well, in a calm sort of way. He lives mostly outside, but spends the evenings inside with me, sitting in his bed. But if I cough - even just a clearing the throat sort of quiet cough - he immediately jumps up and comes over to stand next to me, stares up into my face looking very worried, until I say, "It's alright. I'm OK" then he goes back to lie down again.
I've never experienced this before with other dogs, and it makes me wonder if he detects that I have some dread disease or something? He clearly seems very concerned about me.
Mate - i just wanted to say i love you man! I heard your interview on ABC with Sarah and you were amazing. How you can be so full of love after what you have been through.. Love you so much Marty - you're the best
Beautiful illustrations
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