Canine communicator

ONE of Britain’s leading professional dog trainers and behaviourists is visiting Bahrain this week, where he will offer tips on how to tame the kingdom’s naughty nippers, writes Kristian Harrison.

Steve Mann, 44, is the chairman of The Institute of Modern Dog Training (IMDT), which boasts 250 full time professional dog trainers as members. He also presents seminars around the world on topics ranging from Puppy Development to Aggression and Rehabilitation, sandwiched between appearances on popular UK television shows such as Who Let The Dogs Out, Loose Women and BBC Breakfast.

In anticipation of the ‘Evening with Steve Mann’ at the Dilmun Club, Saar, this Saturday, the dog whisperer based in Hertfordshire and London expressed his joy at his impending visit.

He said: “I’m very excited to come to Bahrain. The opportunity to bring modern dog training to the Middle East really means a lot to me and I’m really looking forward to seeing the country and meeting the people.

“It will be great to meet both owners and dogs alike as I love working with them equally. Both owner and pet are as important as the other in the relationship, and so when we get it right, life improves for everyone.

“In fact, over my career I’ve found that the dogs are the easiest ones to train; it’s the owners that need the most motivating! However, once that’s done, we’re onto a winner!”

Steve’s passion for dog training began in rather unexpected circumstances when he was badly bitten as a child. However, rather than avoid dogs or live in fear of them, it triggered an obsession to learn their behaviour and help them overcome their aggressive urges.

He explained: “Everything just clicked after that point, I was fascinated. I started ‘borrowing’ neighbours’ dogs to look after them and get to know them, while I attended as many local dog training schools as possible. Then 20 years ago I became a full-time professional and that has been my life ever since.”

Steve established the IMDT in 1999 and since then more than 400 trainers and behaviourists have passed through the seminars and courses that he has organised. Furthermore, he owns boarding kennels in Hertfordshire, along with training schools covering London, Hertfordshire and Essex that each attracts around 200 dogs per week for group classes centred on general obedience and fun.

His particular field of expertise is in aggression, which constitutes 80 per cent of his one-on-one consultations. However, he stresses that the process of making a dog obedient and allowing a loving relationship to flourish is not something that can be solved with a quick fix, but is something cultivated over a lifetime.
“Living with and training a dog is always a work in progress. If done correctly, ‘training’ is a lifestyle choice that both dog and owner should enjoy every day.
As soon as it feels like a chore (to either party), something’s not being done right and that problem needs to be addressed.”

Despite spending so much of his time with other peoples’ dogs, Steve still has time to look after his own seven, which are all rescues. They are Ash, a German Shepherd, Bella, a Labrador, Carlos, a Belgian Shepherd, Nancy, a Chihuahua, Pablo, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pele, a Greyhound and Spider, a Whippet.

l An Evening With Steve Mann, presented by Delmon Boarding Kennels, is taking place at the Dilmun Club on Saturday. The event will start at 7.30pm and tickets are priced BD20, which includes dinner. For more information and for tickets, call 17694066 or visit www.delmonkennels.com