Dog education
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Kaija, a three-month-old puppy, carefully foots her way up a ladder-like structure and, when she reaches the top, she trapezes her way to the end of a suspended plank.
The tiny Yorkshire terrier then runs down a slope and into her owner's safe arms before she sprints into a tunnel-shaped pipe for another adventure at the Pelham's dog fun park in Ta' Qali.
Meanwhile, Blossom and her brother Prescott, two English cocker spaniels, have a go at climbing a wooden slope with their new friend, an English setter.
Clearly, just because dogs are man's best friend, it does not mean they do not enjoy four-legged company too.
"Dogs in Malta need to socialise more," says Marlon Howes, as he explains what inspired him to open the fun park last month.
Mr Howes, a professional dog trainer, set out to provide a space where dogs can stretch their legs and have some fun in a safe environment.
Dog owners can take their pets to the park during opening hours and enjoy a cup of tea as their dogs make friends with their peers and play on a 14-piece agility course.
"People can leave their pets here while they are at work or they can stay and socialise with other dog owners," Mr Howes says.
Mr Howes, an Englishman, moved to Malta with his wife, April, about three years ago.
On arriving here he opened a professional dog training school which he named Pelham, after his golden retriever with whom he won the British championships for the gundog society in 2003.
After training dogs for about 20 years he is now offering his expertise in Malta where he holds one-to-one training sessions with dogs and several courses for puppies and adult dogs.
His school has some 70 members, and he is very grateful to them since it was his clients who first suggested he open up the agility circuit, used for training, as a fun park. Mr Howes immediately liked the idea and opened the doors of the park to the public.
Anyone can take their dog on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sunday's between midday and 5 p.m. against a fee of €5 an hour. The rest of the time he is running dog-training courses.
His next project involves opening up a pug club where people who own the small popular dogs can enjoy the park, that will be open exclusively for pugs for an hour a week.
For more information call Mr Howes on 9944 9644.
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27 Comments
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James Formosa
Jan 11th 2010, 09:18
@ M.Debono - It's obvious you don't understand the difference; between a dog and a tiger, between a pet owner and a circus trainer or between a home and a circus. For that reason I can't tell whether you're talking from your mouth or your...... Mr.Howes invited you for a coffee and chat... I think you should accept as you have a lot to learn. Too many ppl who know nothing about dogs or dog training blurt all sorts of rubbish.
M. Debono
Jan 9th 2010, 19:28
@ Steve Compagno
If you read my comments, I never said that I'm in favour of training animals for circuses, or that I go to circuses.
All I said is that training dogs is no different, and if you should protest against training of circus animals, you should do the same for dog training.
If you saw the video, at one stage the trainer was literally pulling the dog by the leash down the slide - is that called positive re-inforcement training???
Pelhams Dog School
Jan 9th 2010, 19:09
Thanks to everyone for your interest. As most of your have observed we are trying to create a happy environment in which to train dogs AND THEIR OWNERS to be sociable and non-agressive. If anyone has any concerns regarding ours methods please come along at any time for a coffee and a chat to observe for yourselves. Thanks again Malta for all your support.
Isabella Peresso Fiorentino
Jan 9th 2010, 18:23
U hallina minnek M Debono.
As for you Mr Magro, I too have to tollerate human noise day and night which is simply ubearable - mobile discoes, DIY freaks, construction noise etc etc. - also day and night. So perhaps we should start with a national school for humans to behave appropriately, but then we know that this would be a failure don't we.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 9th 2010, 18:22
I love watching birds in their natural habitat and could never understand why people keep them in cages then one day a friend gave me a Green Checked Conure and a Cockatiel in a cage when they were still very young. I opened their respective cages and both came out to stand playfully on my head. I left their cages open and allowed them to roam around freely and would return to the cage to drink eat and sleep. I very patiently started training them to speak and do some minor acrobatics rewarding them each time they respond. Charlie and Dexter had become extremely friendly also with other people, they both sing, throw away kisses, talk and dance. A ‘good morning Charlie’ never misses and they both give us a kiss on the lip before they go in their cage for the night. Surely I can’t be accused of cruelty to our feathered friends. We love them and they love us, God bless them.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 9th 2010, 18:07
@ Ray Buhagiar: Oh, I agree!!!!! 100%!!!! I am passing through something like that, at the moment. I have already spoken to the person in question and nothing materialised. I am afraid of speaking to him again for fear that he would get rid of the dog! X'taghmel!
steve compagno
Jan 9th 2010, 17:06
@ Debono --> Let's give you an abc lesson: If a tiger is a WILD animal then it is savage. Now, if you want to TAME a wild animal's instincts, do you
1. use the same WILDNESS/SAVAGENESS?
2. use less WILDNESS/SAVAGENESS?
3. use MORE WILDNESS/SAVAGENESS to overcome the tiger's wildness?
For your info Debono, even though they're born in CAPTIVITY (names says it all but anyway), they have what is known as instinct.See a tiger in a cage - walks up & down (the small space) because when it's not sleeping (as tiger's usually do coz they're cats) - they hunt. Can they hunt? No - cause they're in Captivity so that mr.Debono can munch on his popcorn while watching them in a circus.
Ray Buhagiar
Jan 9th 2010, 17:00
@Franco Farrugia
Very Well Said; We Need Dog Owner Education, desperately.
Lesson No1. When your dog is continuosly barking on your roof top or balcony, it means that your dog is not happy and bored sick of of its misery.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 9th 2010, 16:52
@ M. Debono: Quote: ' ...everyone knows this is crap.' >>>>> NOW you know what you're talking about!
Karl Calamatta
Jan 9th 2010, 16:12
@M Psaila.........It is nearly opposite of Mosta Cemetry.
Eric Gahn
Jan 9th 2010, 16:10
I know a few people who can do with such a trainig too.
M. Debono
Jan 9th 2010, 15:59
@ Michelle Cremona
If YOU know what you're talking about, bring me proof of the circus currently in Malta harming it's animals,
WHILST I will bring you ample and enormous amount of proof of dog owners harming their dogs.
I will say it again, their is NO difference between training circus animals and training dogs.
If you want to protest against one, it is only fair that you protest against both.
Mark Vella Bardon
Jan 9th 2010, 15:33
Marlon Howes initiative is to be applauded. Dogs love comapny and play, it is part of their training ....
And yes, OWNERS too must be trained and Marlon is combining dog/owner training ... hopefuly people won't have the excuse to get rid of their dog simply beacuse they cannot train it.
It is essential that whoever adopts a dog has time for it
M Psaila
Jan 9th 2010, 15:23
Where exactly is it in Ta Qali?
Michelle Cremona
Jan 9th 2010, 15:04
@M Debono......i suggest you refrain from leaving more comments since you obviously do not know what you are talking about.
M. Debono
Jan 9th 2010, 14:15
Are you all sure that dogs are not punished when trained, and that circus animals are punished when trained!
Or did you all see a clip on youtube?
I would like to see a man punish a tiger when training the animal, and then putting his head in her mouth! That would really be entertaining!
Who are you trying to kid!!!!
Circus animals are captivity bred like dogs, they are trained like dogs, and when they are travelling they are put in cages like dogs (or a leash)
Can someone just illuminate me on the difference?
I'm not saying you shouldn't protest against circuses - just why circuses and not dog trainers?
Do not tell me wild animals are not meant to be trained, because neither are dogs!
And do not tell me circus animals are punished whilst pets/dogs are not because everyone knows this is crap.
Joseph Schembri
Jan 9th 2010, 14:14
Is there a mistake in this story when it is said that the payment for leaving one's dog there is 5 euros an hour? If I leave my dog there for a whole day that amounts to quite a sum. In the past I sometimes used a kennel to leave my dog there when abroad - the charges were much lower. But of course my dog hated being left at the kennels and I no longer do it.
Marie Therese Licari
Jan 9th 2010, 12:55
good to know. Getting a dog is a huge responsibility, and it seems that not everyone knows that every dog needs to be trained to act in a manner that is socially acceptable in this day and age. Training one's own dog establishes a very strong bond betrween owner and dog, provided that proper techniques are used. Dogs and owners enjoy it, and at the end of the day one ends up with a dog that can be taken anywhere, where the law allows, without fear of it being a nuisance to humans or other animals.
just for public information, obedience, agility and show ring training is also carried out by the Obedience and Agility Association, at the parking ground in Pembroke on different weekday evenings: http://dogtrainingmalta.org/schedule.htm starting at 7 pm
and also by the Malta Dog Training Society : www.maltadogtraining.com/ every Wednesday at the ta qali car park starting at 7.30pm.
may all dog lovers enjoy.
steve compagno
Jan 9th 2010, 12:53
@ Mr.Debono --> Shows how uninformed you really are! Elephants are made to stand on their two front legs when in reality it is the only animal in the world that cannot jump because of its weight. 2nd,to train elephants (most of the time) they use a stick with loads of hooks - yes,,,hooks! to push them back or bring them forward. These dogs are trained with what is called positive reinforcement - to make it simple for you to understand - they are given a reward (food pellet or a pat) when they do their training well. Same technique used to train police dogs. Same technique used to train you to do your homework well when you were a kid. Same technique that we still use today in every aspect of society: bad action, no reward but punishment. Good action, reward. Hope this is clear enough for you before you make sweeping statements. These dogs are taken care of - elephants are exploited for commercial use through pain and psychological torture.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 9th 2010, 12:45
@ Chris Reiff: Do not worry, Mr Reiff. We, who voice concerns and condemnation for the presence of animals in circuses, tend to be wise and thus ignore the sounds made by little people of the likes of M. DEBONO.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 9th 2010, 12:39
We need dog-OWNER education in this country, not dog education. Then, perhaps, dogs would be more welcome among people.
Jimmy Magro
Jan 9th 2010, 12:36
It would be appreciate if dogs can be trained not to bark all day. This is really a nuisance and no one seems to be able to take action. The law is there for nothing. The police are there for nothing. The Anaimal Welfare Department is there for nothing. They all consider a barking dog is acceptable in a civilised society in 2010.
I wonder whether this is part of the new wave of creative industries - that is to have dogs barking all day and night.
Maybe the open theatre propsoed by Renzo Piano can be inauragated by a festival of barking dogs since it seems to me there are so many lovers of dog barking.
For me I am looking into the Verona programme so that I can relax through the sound of a real orchestra.
B.Busuttil
Jan 9th 2010, 12:21
@M.Debono: Are you serious???!?!?!?!?!!
a sultana peregin
Jan 9th 2010, 11:38
this is how elephants are trained...do you see any difference in the methods used?
http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp?c=prbabbf09
M.Brincat
Jan 9th 2010, 11:31
@ M.Debono
There you sounded like a lawyer lecturing about kidney function. It's a totally different thing. Look up 'Positive reinforcement' on Wikipedia
Chris Reiff
Jan 9th 2010, 11:20
@ M. Debono I do hope you're sarcastic. If you aren't:
The difference between dog education and circus 'education' is that in dog education the animals don't travel around in cages, aren't hit when they do a mistake, and aren't maltreated in anyway. they get exercise and rewarded.
M. Debono
Jan 9th 2010, 11:08
Training dogs here in Malta!!! Isn't this animal cruelty??
The NGOs who attacked the circus last December, have a feast now!!
They can attack somebody on their own turf!
LOOOOOL