This is what we have sent to the BBC. Will let you know if we get a response.

I was appalleed by last nights programme. The dog Bis was obviously in a lot of pain with being hauled up and hung by his neck and then grabbed round his back end to be made to sit. No wonder the poor dog reacted in the way that he did. Very sad to see a dog man handled in this way. As a trainer of many years there are a lot better ways of dealing with these problems. This programme is very irresponsible to allow the public to believe this is the way to deal with aggression and to put any dog through what is hell for them, for 'entertainment'.

Hi Jumbuck, I have to agree with you. I felt there was more to the dogs problems that wasn't being considered. He was so upset at being pushed into the sit position, that I thought he must have severe pain. I found the whole thing very distressing.

I have never seen 'Dog Borstal' before and I was left thinking I didn't want to see it again either. That trainer F ing and blinding made me feel his methods had to be equally extreme. I don't rate the show at all judging on last nights offering.

Dawn R.

I didn't see this programme and have never heard of it.  However I am appalled to read Jumbuck's and Dawn R's posts.  A kelpie is a very intelligent, sensitive dog who is keen to learn.  Like collies, they WANT to learn!  If the BBC's trainer uses force and extreme language then he obviously knows nothing about dog training.  I am disgusted that the BBC (of all 'people') should want to promote this type of image to their viewing public.

This is the first one I've missed in a long time - and I'm glad I did Normally I watch them knownig full well I'll be yelling at the telly no more than a few minutes in, but I have to agree with my course tutor's thoughts on it - it's important to know what the general public are being exposed to so that when I start dog training, I'll know what needs to be re-taught, both to the dog and owners.

Having said that, I'd have been horrified to see this ep so I am glad I missed it, kelpies are lovely dogs and there's just no need to treat them the way that's been described.  Or any dog, come to that.  The trainer that got matched with this dog is Mic by the sounds of it - always effing and blinding - and he does irritate me.  Heck, the whole program irritates me - most of the dogs' problems are caused by the ignorance of the owners, and I certainly don't believe that a week is long enough to completely sort 99% of the problems out.  Definitely not with some of the methods used.

It was Robert that had the Kelpie, Mic had a rottie and Lynne had a collie. :-(

I see what I've done - read two posts and somehow mushed them together in my head :rolleyes:

I didn't see it this time, I've not watched it for a few weeks now. It sounds as bad as it used to be. Rob is one of the better trainers (and I bet that dog didn't have a full vet check, just a once over).

It really is totally disgusting. Jumbuck well done for writing - what is the address, please? I complained about the first series, may have to do the same with this one.

Also, have you seen this?

http://www.apdt.co.uk/press.htm

scroll down a bit for APDT view on Dog Borstal.

Also, this article, although not directly about DB, is very sensible:

http://www.apbc.org.uk/news_items/tv_behaviour.htm

Lindsay
x

If you put in dog borstal in the address bar and then click on the bit that comes up then click on series two that will take you to a contact email for comments/complaints etc. They don't actually give an address. I did get a confirmation from the BBC but I think that is what they usually do and then if they think it neccesary to reply to me I suppose they will. :-(  Maybe the more we watch and complain they will stop the programme or are we fueling there ratings making them think this is what we want to see. :-(

Thanks Jumbuck, will do that :)

I think watching does fuel ratings, one reason I'm not watching it now. Voting with my feet, sort of thing - and after all, most DBs are the same!
Although this one sounds particularly bad

Lindsay
x

This is the reply that I received:

Dear Mrs Redford

Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Dog Borstal'.

I understand that you are unhappy with the way the dogs were treated on the programme.  I appreciate that you feel that there are better training methods to use.

Please be assured that your comments have been registered on our audience log.  This internal document is available to the 'Dog Borstal' programme makers and senior management.

Feedback of this nature helps us when making decisions about future BBC programmes and services and your comments will play a part in this process.

May I take this opportunity to thank you again for taking time to contact the BBC.

It took me ages to get to the right screen but I managed to log my comment in the end - see if I get the same reply!

Here it is:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'Dog Borstal'.

I was sorry to learn that you feel the training methods used in this programme
were poorly chosen and dangerous.

I can assure you that all the trainers have many years experience of training
dogs and the borstal was set up and is run with full input from them. The
borstal was checked out thoroughly by a vet, as the well being of the dogs is
always paramount. 

Nevertheless, I do appreciate that you feel the training was excessive.
Therefore, please be assured your concerns have been fully registered on our
daily audience log.  The daily log is an internal document which is made
available to the 'Dog Borstal' production team and senior BBC management.

You may be interested to learn that background information on the trainers can
be found on the programme's website at:

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.

Saw the re run last night.  Although I haven't taken time to learn the trainers names, I think the chap who worked with the Kelpie was and is usually one of the most considerate ones. 

What did come across is that the owners were frightened of their dog.  The dog picked up on this all the time it unsettled the poor thing.  Regarding the forced sit, I recall a dog with cancer doing this as it was in real pain when it had to be folded up and forcing the issue only made it worse, furthermore he anticipated the pain and growled before being forced into the sit.  The trainer was trying, I think, to give the owners the confidence to work with the dog but the psychology element seemed to be all in favour of the humans.  I was really disappointed.  Clearly it was a dog with no boundaries and no real outlet for its energies.  In the follow up they seemed to be a little more confident but I wasn't totally convinced.

The methods used did seem extreme and I wonder if the trainer was told to do this rather than to use his intuition.