How often do we hear a dog owner insist that, 'it's okay, he's friendly really and only wants to play', as their dog charges at you, jumping up and smearing you with mud and slather? Oh what joy!!

'He won't hurt you' is another term of 'reassurance' and now we have a new one to add to the dreaded excuses for bad behaviour; 'My puppy has been socialised, so it's your dog's fault'.

I was made aware of this when a gentleman, taking our 'Foundation Course', asked me how he could stop his 7 year old dog from snapping at the puppies who were rushing up to the him and leaping all over him.

This responsible owner, who prevented his dog from approaching others until familiar with them, had been subjected to this on more than one occasion and as the puppy owners insisted that their puppies were justified in trying to jump all over any dog that they chose to, it was the responsibility of the other owner to punish their dog for any retaliation.

What was remarkable was this kind gentleman's reaction to my saying 'How ever will a puppy learn good manners, if owners fail to show them what is unacceptable, and rude behaviour?'

I recall when I took my beautiful Sasha to London to meet publishers, all of who wanted to produce my books. Sasha travelled with me on the train, her first time, she sat patiently in the courtesy car, sat politely in the boardrooms, as discussions went on and happily trotted alongside me as we made our way from place to place, even though she had never walked around a town before.

Once at the offices of HarperCollins, Sasha again sat contently by my side, when one of the team members announced that she had brought her dog along to make friends with Sasha and before I could say a word the door was opened and a yellow bundle of fur bounded in and landed on my lovely girl.

Sasha gave the loudest of growls and snapped at the abuser, which sent a shock wave around the room and the assembled group began to ask why Sasha was so nasty. I took a deep breath and pointed to the yellow peril now seated quietly by the door and asked which one of them would appreciate being attacked in such a way, going so far as to replicate the young dogs behaviour with the company press agent, who reacted in a perfectly natural way by putting her hands up to protect herself, to which I pointed out that dogs are not equipped with hands to do this.

There was a brief silence and then the Director said 'Wow, I never thought of it like that, why on earth Sasha should have to accept such an onslaught? I know I wouldn't' HarperCollins have been my publishers ever since and the young dog learnt a very valuable lesson in life.

The teaching/learning for any animal is an on-going process and great care should be given in this essential educational journey and we all need to know how to respectfully be in the company of another, especially a stranger, whether human or canine.

It will always be the responsibility of the puppy or dog owner to take charge of any situation that is faced, show due respect and consideration for all others and that way your puppy will grow up to be loved by others too.

Jan Fennell
11th May 2011