Brandt Wilson : My roommate was asking for my advice on a better solution for handling dogs that were stressed and reactive while undergoing routine care at the vets. Dog bites can be - but don't have to be - an occupational hazard for a vet tech when trimming nails or cleaning ears of a family pet.

B.W.: Communicating with animals is essential to their sense of security. I knew from what my roommate told me that the approach of the vet techs needed tweaking and further development. It was about them creating a better relationship with their patients as well as discovering a way of understanding canine language. Dogs express themselves through body language, vocalization and voice inflection, touch and scent. By being patient, clear, calm and consistent you become the pack leader which builds and defines the relationship you'll have with a particular dog. This is good practice for the vet tech as well as pet owner.

WOOF Patrol: So whether a Pachyderm or Pekingese there's commonality?

B.W.: Sure. They need to have trust in you and be aware of what you need from them. If I'm pruning an elephant's nail it's no different - except in scale - in terms of communication. What my roommate shared with me is that the vet techs, facing off with dogs in the office, were doing their job. However, they were not developing relationships with their patients. If you stepped into a doctor's office and, without so much as someone saying hello, a needle was stuck in your arm, likely you would react negatively and have a bad experience. Consequently the next time you entered that doctor's office your previous experience would cause you to be both uncomfortable and on guard. It's no different with animals.

W.P.: A veterinary clinic asked if you would be interested in consulting with some of their clients who were seeking help with behavioral and training issues with their dogs. Can tell us more about that?

B.W.: I was asked to do a safety seminar at the veterinary office where my roommate worked. My techniques were being recognized and they made a difference. It was very rewarding. Shortly afterwards I made the decision to leave Marine World Africa USA which was then facing financial challenges and various other turmoil. The phone would ring and it would be another client or organization informing me that they had heard about me. They were asking for private consultation sessions. I've since worked with police K-9s, bomb and drug detection dogs as well as search and rescue dogs. And I do puppy socialization. Friends tell me that I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have a job like I do. I can't argue with that.

B.W.: The challenge for owners is finding the balance in your approach to communicating with your dog. Being excessively nice or the reverse - yelling and screaming at your pet - will not get your message understood.

W.P.: What's one of your most important goals when working with a client and their dog?

B.W.: To ensure that the dog is cordial in its greeting. For example, whether I'm working with a downtown St Helena shop owner and his dog or with working dogs from a nearby cattle ranch, I want to elicit from them a proper welcome. Their response needs to correlate with their owner's expectations within a particular setting or environment. The shop dog is often an outgoing dog that everyone loves. However there may be a shopper, delivery person or child that has had a bad experience with a dog. In that case we don't want the dog to jump on that person. So we work on that element. With a cattle or herding dog, there's a whole other scenario taking place. We want that dog to be as strong, willful, confidant and powerful as possible. If this dog jumps on you to say hello, it's not the end of world. In this situation we are working on a much more innate aspect of behavior versus just the social component. Structure and hierarchy are what working dogs respond to best. These dogs love to have tasks and stay busy and the more you ask from them the happier they get.

W.P.: What do you like most about living in Napa Valley?

B.W.: Aside from the temperate climate, living in Napa Valley is so much about the excellent food and wine. It parallels the relationship you should strive to achieve with your canine companion

W.P.: I know you value your privacy but I think there might be some folks wanting contact you.

B.W.: The best way to reach me is by email or phone (topdawgsnapa@yahoo.com or (707) 942-2208)

W.P.: Is it true you consider yourself more of a people trainer?

B.W.: Dogs are my medium. People are the ones that I coach and mentor. Top Dawgs Professional Training uses a layered approach that combines psychology, sociology and an understanding of hierarchy.

Photo credits: Brandt Wilson with Paco and Nevada © Heather McDougall