Yesterday my 11 year old son told me: "Mum, there is a great new programme on CBBC <Children's BBC>, it's called 'Who let the dogs out' and it's all about training dogs. I think you'd love it!" I was a bit dubious as it was on CBBC, but Benjamin insisted that I watch an episode (he informed me that they are shown every Wednesday at 5.15 pm but the 3 episodes that's been shown already are all on BBC iPlayer. Very well informed kid!!) so we all sat down to see what it was about.

The programme started with an American man talking so at first I assumed it was an American show. Not so. I've never heard of this trainer before, a young American called Zak George, but it was definitely set in the UK.

Each week is similar. It starts with children coming to audition with their dogs, in X Factor style but with just the one judge. Those that have dogs that are already used to being trained and who have a good bond with their owners are the ones they look for, and in each episode 3 are chosen. The child owners are all around 12 years old, and the breeds of the dogs vary a lot. Once the 3 have been chosen, they are told what trick they are going to be teaching their dog. In the first episode it was teaching your dog to ride a skateboard, and moving it along by the use of a paw. I was still dubious, expecting the worst -until they started talking about clicker training, explaining how it works (although it wasn't really detailed enough) and when the training started this Zak George made many points of saying that the children have to make it fun for their dogs, they should use really good treats or a favourite toy as rewards, they must never force their dogs as if they do they will get scared and will not enjoy it, and above all they must show their dogs how much they love them. They then get shown how to teach the trick, get a couple of weeks to practice it at home, and then there is a competition to see who has managed it the best. Interspersed with this are various YouTube clips from all over the world showing dogs doing various tricks.

I have to say I was impressed! It was all fun, all sensible -it made all my kids (and even myself) sit there and discuss which one of our dogs would be the best one to try the various tricks with. I can't understand why on earth the BBC didn't use this Zak George for the One Show as a) he knew what he was doing!, b) he was very nice to the dogs and the children, and c) he was young, good looking and good on TV, so a perfect fit I'd have thought!

Having watched a couple of episodes Benjamin said to me "I knew you'd like it! Now you can tell all your friends so they can watch it too!" so this is what I am doing!

Sounds good - perhaps you should inform the One Show!

Not seen the CBBC show yet but I have heard of Zak George before, I have him on FB and have enjoyed some of his You Tube videos.

I've seen his youtube vids before and think he had an american dog programme called superfetch where he taught peoples dogs cute tricks (I'm pretty sure thats right but I'm often wrong!).
I thinks its a great idea for a show! I'll have to watch it and try training the trick at home if I can find a skateboard, see how I fair against the kids on tv :)

I know one of the children that took part in this show and she is a very talented dog trainer in her own right.

Great that this is being shown on TV, just a shame that a lot of people that could benefit from it won't watch it.

I have seen zac george on u tube, he is good.

I thought he was very good with the kids, giving them tips and encouragement and not talking down to them.

I've seen it too; I was delighted when he was telling kids about how you should always show your dog you love them and respect them, and to never push them into do anything or make them feel scared; I wish everyone would take that advice! I liked that it was using clickers too, and you saw the results.

Watched it I thnk a couple of Saturdays ago and yep he's the type of trainer that the BBC should be showing!

One of the young handlers from my breed is on that, but not with a dog of our breed. She has been on TV before (Crufts) with Peter Purves. You'll remember her as the one where he turns to the camera and says 'and in her spare time she goes to school' :-)

Forgot it was going to be on so will look out for it.

I know who you mean, he's excellent,really good at communicating too! To all levels. I liked the episode where the kids taught the dogs to ride skateboards and the comp at the end. I also liked how the kids all congraulated each other, nice to see.

I thought the sameabout the one show as well. Such a mixed signal to send out really, kids get a good positive role model, adults get a completely negative one. Still at least the kids got the positive one, hopefully we will get rid of the negatives eventually if we keep pushing the kids the right way.

Interesting though on a different note how the kids always pick up clicker training quicker than the adults at group, and they don't abuse it either unlike the adults...or maybe that's just my group. Maybe I've just discovered why the kids get the nice guy...us adults need more authority!

I have raved about Zak elsewhere, he is BRILLIANT - his enthusiasm and unashamed passion for what he does and for dogs is really inspiring to watch and I am SO glad the BBC commissioned Who Let The Dogs Out.

He is also a REALLY nice guy 'off screen', and did a lovely vid for me/users of the forum I run a few weeks back within minutes of me emailing him to ask.

Top stuff and he is JUST what positive training, and dogs, needs!