I've just watched the first episode of Celebrity Dog Training, with Ronnie Corbett, Johnny Vaughan, the girl from Eastenders and Julian Clary. What fun and what a good idea. We can all pick up some tips and see what results each method of training brings. How interesting they are doing it with dogs of all ages.

Loved it! How funny were Julian Clarey with Valerie and the Sergeant Major?!! :D All the dogs were great, Harvey especially earned my respect (and yours Tanni!! :)) and my two were glued to the screen.

Certainly could be interesting. I have to say though it did make me appreciste how well my two are doing in way of training! I thought valerie wasn't too bad, she was just scared of the sargeant major!

Hi,
I missed it!! When's it on again?

Sarah.

I think it is on again the same time next week. Today they introduced 4 dogs and owners, and next week they will introduce the rest. Certainly entertaining!

Thanks Lucyandmeg.
I'll have to set the video!!

Sarah.

Has my vote for being entertaining :D :D And as previously mentioned we all might learn a few things ...

Looking forward to next week with Linda Barker and her Mini Daxie who looks like a right little terror.

how cute was valerie ?!. but then again, i would say that !.

val.

I thought Johnny Vaughan and Harvey were just fantastic
he loved that dog so much it was so good to hear him stick up for the dog
by not focusing on what harvey couldnt do but he said he was a fantastic companion.
Poor Valerie I hope she copes alright,Julian is a bit of a tart with the sergant major isnt he :-)

Lol i think julian likes the authority that comes from the sergant major :D.
Fantastic programme will definatley watch it next week, as long is it is on in Orkney, if it isn't i will cry lol

Cordelia

Thought it was great. Certainly worth watching. Wasn't Harvey a great example of a good old fashioned British Bulldog? He had so much character. He also looked so fit and healthy. You could see he had Johnny Vaughan wrapped round his little finger. Quite obvious that they adore one another. Will watch again next week.

He has obviously forgiven him for crashing his car :)

Fit & Healthy I think not. Clearly you didn't see what I saw that a dog was gasping to catch it's breath. That's not fit & healthy in my book. :(

Jesse

there's always one isnt there!.:( :( :(.

Oh well Tanni. Guess we are in the majority!!!!!. Harvey didnt look ill or distressed at all. He seemed a perfectly happy chappy.

Well if you can't see it then it isn't surprising Bulldogs have got the appalling reputation for being unable to live a normal life. There is no way that dog was breathing normally nor indeed was 'happy', he was stressed, why else did he constantly lie down? Strange that the breed standard is now being altered in an attempt to prevent anything happening under the European Convention.

Jesse

That Bulldog was a lot fitter than many labradors I've seen ....

That Bulldog was a lot fitter than many dogs full stop.!!!!!

You must be referring to dead dogs then. Either that or you are bulling yourself mate. The dog looks cute, yes. It does not look capable of anything approaching real exercise however, and to contest otherwise is to deny the facts. Maybe if you ever get emphysema you'll have some understanding of what it's like to be a bulldog. :(

Bullster,Poodlebabe,Heroes,

I have read your replies, its all so true in what you are all saying, i always wanted a bulldog,this was before i witnessed a mating that that took place with my friends bulldog a few weeks ago, and all i can say is that it opened my eyes on the whole outlook of the breed,the female dog cannot take the wieght of the male and has to be supported while hes held on top of her (by the way, it takes 3 strong people to do this),and the male has to be held onto the female and if all that fails they are forced, i wont really go into much more detail with what exactly went on, but it was cruel to have to watch two dogs suffer and struggle in that way, doing what should come natural. It was wrong and it WAS interfering with nature, if people wish to interfere with nature in that way, artificial insemination would be much kinder for the breed. Women are not forced onto a man to make babies, if we were, it would be rape.
Im sorry to all you bulldog people out there, but there is not one thing that you could say to me, that would justify what i witnessed that day, and its a day that i shall never forget for the rest of my life. If the breed standard is being altered, it should be done in such a way that the breeders of these dogs dont have to enforce such lousy action to produce puppies. And the dogs should be bred in such a way that they are able to do what should come natural without help or having to struggle, i understand that assisting must take place to make sure no dog gets hurt, but come-on wake up !, holding and forcing both dogs down ? just to make sure that they produce ?
They should beable to do what any other normal healthy dog can do, im sorry folks but i just dont see it happening, i feel that i am not the only person that feels this way. And then seeing Harvey on this program, i thought of Daisy ( my friends bulldog ), and i can honestly say in my heart of hearts that they are not *normal* dogs, the bulldog is a prime example of the unfittest breed of dog in our world today, these is no other breed apart from the pug (which is closely related to the bulldog) that i can think of, that seems to have a struggle with everyday tasks of life, for a dog. I honestly belive that they should not be bred anymore, its as unfair as keeping a dog suffering through the tasks of everyday life through old age, alive, as it is to breed these dogs. There are always people that will defend there chosen breed to the death, i once thought all this about the bulldog, as it was a dog i always wanted to own, but sadly not anymore, i wouldnt have one now, even if it was from reowned breeders that offered it to me for free. Simply because of the events i witnessed that day.

I do think that Harvey seemed to be a healthy looking Bulldog compared to most of the Bulldogs I've seen, however, Bulldogs are not exactly a 'healthy' breed in the first place. I must admit that I am neither for or against Bulldogs, however I do believe that there is a definate need to improve the breed standard. I do not agree with Freddie that Harvey was a 'great example of a good old fashioned Bulldog'. The Bulldog that we see today has altered RADICALLY from it's original form and has been constructed solely for the show ring. Wouldn't it be beneficial for both the breed and the show ring if this dog was bred back to it's original 'British Bulldog' glory. This would I'm sure eliminate some of the health problems associated with this breed, and show what a positive impact breeders could have. I don't agree with other comments that the breed should be eliminated, just breed back to a healthy standard by selective breeding. I'm no expert but maybe selective breeding with Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs or Olde English Bulldogs or even American Bulldogs may bring this dog nearer to it's original form. (Although these breeds tend to have more agressive temperaments. However, maybe crossing with the British Bulldog may even out this problem in those breeds?).
There are good and bad examples in all breeds. Any breeding should be done ONLY if it is going to improve the breed.
I sympathise with what you witnessed, must have been distressing.

he constantly lay down because he was showing his utter indifference to the trainers commands!. he was certainly not stressed.:d :d .

I knew you'd say something like that you have to justify how they are produced somehow. You will never convince me that that dog was not suffering.
I bet anyone who owns other breeds had one of their dogs starting to gasp for breath and constantly lying down would have them off to thet vet straight away.

Jesse

get a life poodlebabe.

Tanni. Ditto!!!!!!

Has poodlebabe struck a nerve or something, lol. Too right.

Well today at Midland Counties i was watching the Bulldogs and i have to say how impressed i was with the majority ,i found myself pleasantly surprised at how much better they are looking a heck of a lot fitter and hardly any snortling it certainly looks to me that breeders are really getting their acts together and the breed is really benefiting , way to go bull dog breeders.

Looks like Poodlebabe and I are in the minority in thinking that the KC Buldog is nothing more than a crippled,cute looking toad of a dog.
What happened to the great heritage of a once great breed?
Watching a dog that has to lie down to try and cool itself is not my idea of an able dog. What is the average life expectancy of a KC Bulldog? Whats the % of C-sections as opposed to natural whelping? Why is a breed that was once a working dog now in the utility class?
Whats the average cost of vets bills per year?
Just a few questions for the defenders of cruelty
Cheers
Heroes

What have you got against dogs in the Utility Group, Heroes? It's a Group for those breeds where either there is no obvious 'job' for them, or their 'job' no longer exists. Leonbergers were in that Group for a while, as were Akitas (I know, because we used to be benched next to both breeds at Champ shows!). Dalmatians are there because 'carriage accompaniment' isn't especially viable in the present day!

Bulldogs are in that group because their 'job' of bull-baiting no longer exists. I'mm sure you can think of other breeds destined for Utility.
:)

Akitas still are in the utility group or at least they were on Sunday at Midland Counties. I think Giant Schnauzers used to also be in the utility group but are now in Working.

:D

I don't have a problem with any group....but I do have a problem with a breed that was once a working breed being down-classed to nothing more than a lap-dog.
Many examples could be raise based on you argement (as I am sure they could be raised based on mine).
Is the Bull Terrier (a breed that I own) still able to do a days work? Can its over sized head still allow it to go to ground?
Does a Bull Mastiff work in its historical sense? I think the answer is no. So why is it that the Bulldog has been down-graded to its present class?
Is it because it has been bred to within an inch of its life to amuse the breeder and to fit a miss-guided,mis-read standard?
Im my humble opinion ANY breed should have to give the impression that it could do the job of work that it was intended for.....I have yet to see a fat Border Collie, a crippled Doberman or a JRT that doesn't give the impression that it could do what it was bred for. Why should the Bulldog end up like a genetic mess that is incapable of breeding and whelping unassisted?
I think you may have guessd that I am not a slave to a standard. I do breed dogs and I always think that form should follow function. How many Bulldogs have been hip scored since the start of the BVA scheme? Well the SHOCKING answer is 16! How many dogs have I hip and elbow scored in the last 2 years? A very proud 6 is the answer. My dogs are heart,thyroid,sight and eye tested...before they are considered for breeding...and then they have to offer more than a cute face and a good pedigree ....
I just wish that a passion for a well bred dog would over take the desire to get a CC

Regards
Heroes

Hi Heroes
<<I do have a problem with a breed that was once a working breed being down-classed to nothing more than a lap-dog.>>

It sounds as though you are saying that the breeds in the Utility Group are all lapdogs! Surely not!

Well if that is the only thing you have to say about my post the I guess it hit the mark.

You'd need a big lap for an Akita!! :D

Have you looked up what "Utility" actually means? ;)

And what mark are you aiming to hit? (I don't own or breed bulldogs, so it's no good trying to bait me about them!!)

I think I'm really going to hate the guy training Johnny Vaughans dog. Did you see the disgusted shake of the head he did because the dog didn't know 'down'? Why should he? If the owner doesn't want a dog that lies down on command, then I don't think he should have to teach it. And he certainly shouldn't be ridiculed for not wanting to!
Being a celebrity, and seeing that there are cameras there I'm pretty sure he could stick up for himself, but what about in the real world with a young woman and a sensitive dog like a whippet? How much damage to you think that idiot could do to both of them?
He's a bully, and he's got his work cut out for him with Johnny Vaughan!

Jo

Did you hear him talking about Harvey crashing his car when he was on The Kumars last week?

He apparently got into the drivers side and sat on the accelerator pedal and drove it into a skip or something !

£15K's worth of damage and couldn't claim it on the insurance as Harvey was not a named driver :p :D

lol. think johnny got over a point we bully owners have been trying to say for months now. they are mega stubborn.....they love sleeping.....they are fantastic with children. who couldnt look at that face and fall instantly in love??!!. johnny's trainer hasnt a hope in hell of learning harvey to do anything he doesnt want too. and THATS why we love them!. also i reckon the girl from eastenders and her dog are gonna be hard work. lol.:) :).

Got the impression that the girl from Eastenders was afraid of Buddy. She certainly didnt look natural with him. Things will possibly improve for them both as the weeks go on.

yes she nearly jumped out of her skin when he leapt on her. lol. and i laughed when she was running after him saying no buddy no....but not actually doing anything to stop him even tho he was on a lead!.

i think Harvey looked gorgeous, what a great dog and so much character, i had to laugh when he laid down when doing recall as if to say "i can't be bothered" :D lets hope the bulldog goes from strength to strength :)

After last nights programme I think the Bulldog will be seen a little differently than we are usually used to. He certainly did the breed no harm whatsoever. Who could fail to be totally entranced by him. He was a credit to the breed.

I think it will be very interesting seeing all the dogs, celebs and trainers "progress" over the weeks. I thought allthe celebrities were really nice, they all did seem to really love their dogs. All the dogs had very definite characters, and it was really entertaining :)

Can't believe it is on for 6 episodes - Sarah Fisher is on next week, with TTouch, that will be interesting to watch :) The only trainer i wasn't too keen on was the guy training Harvey, he seemed very negative, no praise for Johnny Vaughan, no "that was good, needs polish" but "your timing was out ". I was very surprised to hear he specialises in difficult dogs, blimey, how on earth does he do that, doesn't seem capable, but still, we shall see ;)

I thought Ronnie Corbett was great with his dogs, but he has to presumably train the two of them! I don't usually vote on this sort of programme, but may have to this time :) :D

Great fun anyway, roll on next week

Lindsay

Buddy was gorgeous, and a perfectly normal if loony choccy lab.he's just like milo when he was a baby and amber is ten times more boisterous than that now.

lol

I wanted to watch it but sadly I forgot it was on :-(

aawww poor cath :) its on next sat at 7pm and you will see all the owners and dogs again during the series :)

Never mind Cath, another 5 episodes to go :)

Lindsay

i have to comment on the grunting and snorting of the bulldog.
We have on that goes to training and he is lovely he loves on the floor and grunts and snorts and when playing he does the same.
I am sure if Johnny was concerned he would take the dog to the vet. After all he is a loving owner and cares very much for his dog.