Jan Fennell

Jan Fennell, "The dog listener", is an English dog lover and dog trainer who applied the insights of Monty Roberts into horse behavior to the behavior of dogs.

Her training method is based on the belief that dogs, being descended from wolves, have evolved to fit the social model of the pack - an ordered hierarchy with a clearly-defined leader. Dogs are unable to understand any other social model, and when co-opted into human families as pets still see themselves as pack members. Fennell argues that most inappropriate dog behavior arises if the owner does not consistently signal that he or she is 'pack leader'. This makes the dog anxious: it cannot conceive of a leaderless pack, and so if its owner abdicates leadership the dog has no option but to try to take on the 'alpha' role itself. In the attempt it may become aggressive, as it tries to assert dominance, or sometimes acutely stressed.

Fennell's method, called Amichien Bonding (from the French 'ami', meaning 'friend' and 'chien', meaning 'dog'), emphasizes learning the signals by which dogs recognize leadership, and using them consistently so that the dog perceives the owner as 'alpha' and itself as subordinate. It can then trust its owner to take decisions and will become contented and relaxed. Fennell does not believe in physically dominating or chastising the dog.

Books

• The Dog Listener
• The Practical Dog Listener
• A Dog's Best Friend
• Friends For Life
• The Seven Ages of Your Dog

In addition to her books and DVD, Fennell has her own TV show explaining the understanding of dogs and demonstrating successful interventions, currently playing on Animal Planet on Friday nights.

External links

• janfennellthedoglistener.com
• "The Dog Listener". Woman's Hour (BBC Radio 4). 2 September 2003. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2003_35_tue_02.shtml. Retrieved 2009-06-29.