After 38 years of working with problem dogs, Roger Mugford knows enough to arrive armed.
But the holster on his belt contains only a tiny cylinder of compressed air and an empty cooldrink can with a couple of pebbles inside.
His weapons of choice have tamed animals ranging from pavement specials to Queen Elizabeth's corgis, and they were in action again this week at the World of Dogs and Cats at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, where Mugford - one of the world's leading canine psychologists and behaviourists - was a star attraction.
Farmers Teresa and Gavin Trotter attended one of his sessions, hoping for an answer to one of the most common problems Mugford encounters: dog-on-dog aggression.
"We've got nine dogs, five of which stay at the house, and the two male staffies have developed a hatred for one another. One is 18 months old and the other eight months old," said Teresa.
"As he [Mugford] said, either we have to have one castrated or we have to get rid of one. And for us that's not an option, so we're just going to keep doing what we're doing and rotate them so they get time to spend with the family."
Aggression in a large group is something Mugford has dealt with many times, notably with those royal corgis. "It was a long time ago, 1984, I think. It was an issue of there were sometimes nine or 11 dogs together in a pack and there were big fights. [The queen] had been bitten."
At that time Mugford used an anti-rape siren to capture dogs' attention, but "they are horribly noisy and scary. This is much more subtle," he said, holding up the Pet Corrector, an aerosol that makes a sound like a snake's hiss.
"We talked a lot with Her Majesty about pack management and she knew very well what the social order was among her dogs. She didn't need a lesson on social hierarchies - just look at the British class system."
Mugford said the popular methods of denying social dominance and using reward-based training were enough for some dogs, but it's all in the subtleties.
His method involves payoffs such as food, a look, a touch, or kind words; and penalties, which could simply be looking away from your dog, or a sharp sound such as quickly expelling air between your teeth.
He disapproves of inflicting pain on the animals. "One of the best things to get is an empty soft-drink can and a couple of pebbles, and shake it. For many dogs that is a sufficient disincentive. We call it a positive punishment - it's an active stimulus."
With a background in zoology and psychology, Mugford has tried to change the way humans train their pooches. "I try to make the science of dogs' behaviour accessible to ordinary dog owners," he said.
"The hard-man approach appeals to some people but it's not a way to treat your best friend. The measure should always be, 'Would I do it to my child?' Broadly speaking, treat a dog like a child and you won't be far off because dogs, it turns out, think very much like us.
"There are no hard and fast rules in dog training, and dare I say in parenting, but I think the basic tenet of being a good parent is to be consistent and fair."
Mugford’s key tips
• Don't shout too much.
• Never use force.
• Remember that what you say and the way you say it, including your facial expression and tone of voice, are important.
• Most dogs are working just to get more of you, so removing yourself becomes an effective punishment.
• Use a longer lead. Many people believe that the shorter the lead the more control you have - but the dog then never learns proximity preference. A dog must learn that being beside you is good and being far off is bad.
• Keep your aggressive dog muzzled but on a long lead so that the dog can still explore while under your control. Ideally, use a muzzle that allows your dog to pant, drink and eat treats, such as the Baskerville muzzle.
• Carry a Pet Corrector in case your dog becomes aggressive, but also carry treats so that you can reward good behaviour and encourage your dog to make friends.
steenkampt@sundaytimes.co.za..