We ask the press office some difficult questions and they answer (some)...

... what they said was going to be in last night's show and what actually ran.... and some new statements from charities...


I emailed the press officer who gave us the last comment some further questions. I am holding over our editorial deadline as this is a breaking story and I can't let my editorial go to press with this issue still unresolved. Here's what I asked...

We obviously saw the instruction on last night's show to consult an experienced dog trainer before trying Jordan's methods at home. But it begs the question, why are you using an inexperienced trainer on your show when you advise others to be more careful?
There are so many qualified and experienced trainers you could have chosen.
It has also been pointed out that Wobbly Dog Productions lists two directors at Company House. Brian Klein (famously the director of BBC Top Gear) and a 21 year old called Jordan Shelley.
Can you confirm that this is the same Jordan Shelley? Extensive research has revealed only the briefest of sightings of Jordan in a dog context. We are told (unconfirmed) that he has done some fostering of dogs but had to hand two dogs back because he could not cope with them. How carefully was his experience checked before putting on air and exposing the British public to his methods. And how did he come to the attention of the BBC?
Also, has the programme considered the very generous offer of Victoria Stilwell (presenter of It's Me or the Dog) to fly over from New York at her own expense to properly train Roxy as she is now very, very afraid for the family's safety.
Plus, with a now on-going investigation by the RSPCA into last week's show are you still sticking by the thread you have pre-filmed with Jordan Shelly?
We have catalogued forceful complaints from every major dog welfare charity and organisation (For eg The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Wood Green, RSPCA and the Kennel Club.)
Also we have collected complaints from  every high-profile dog trainer - many involved in other TV shows - It's me of the Dog, Dog Borstal, The Underdogs etc. Dog trainers from every aspect of dog training - not just one technique - the dog world is united on this.
We are still awaiting comment from Cesar Millan who is being advised about his name being associated with this very dangerous piece of television.
The two facebook pages calling for Jordan to be removed now have more than 2,000 likes in only a couple of days and your own facebook page is quite obviously under siege.
We know of a dog being put into rescue after the owner tried Jordan's method at home and another where a child was bitten and the dog put to sleep.
The 'don't try this at home' message obviously came too late for both these dogs.

So in short, considering all the above - is the BBC still continuing to stand by their unqualified and inexperienced 21 year old self-taught dog 'expert'. And is he in any way related (business wise or otherwise) to a key BBC employee?

Many thanks
Beverley Cuddy
Editor - Dogs Today

I've had a email back to say they are working on their reply. In the meantime the following has appeared on the One Show Facebook page.

 Thank you to everyone who has shared their opinion on Friday's 'Fix My Dog' feature. We have been looking at all your posts and very much value your comments. We're hoping to debate this further on the show. More news on this topic when we have it!

I don't think a debate will sort it. I can't see anyone defending what Jordan did apart from the BBC press office!

And here's the reply to my questions - well some of the questions....!

Many thanks for your email, below is our response to your questions. We
do also urge you to watch the show tonight.

OntheBox a production company owned by Brian Klein who regularly works
with the BBC was contracted for the item by The One Show.  The One Show
had not entered into any agreements with Wobbly Dog Productions - which
we understand has only been set up for the past four months and has
never made any transmitted programmes.

Jordan Shelley is largely self-taught and has gained years of experience
in the welfare and care of dogs in the UK and abroad. Jordan works with
fostered dogs that might otherwise have been put down at his privately
run dog sanctuary, based at his home in north London. We will be
documenting that tonight and will clarify that he works with the dogs
brought to him.

We will be featuring other independent advice and opinions on dog
training in the programme tonight.

We have been in communication with the RSPCA and are engaging fully with
any enquiries. It has been made clear on the show that viewers shouldn't
try any techniques from the programme without seeking the advice of a
specialist.

Kind regards
The BBC Press Office

We've heard that vet Joe Inglis (@Joethevet on Twitter) will be on the couch tonight and there will be a short film of Catherine Gillie from Dogs Trust.  But a debate is not what is needed here. What is needed is for the One Show to do their research before they appoint an expert to tell the British public how to train dogs.
This should so obviously be a qualified and experienced person to show people how to train their dogs safely of whom there are hundreds probably thousands more appropriate to choose from!
How can someone at 21 have 'years' of experience. And I asked further questions and 'the sanctuary' isn't licensed or run as a business. The dogs are fostered - in that, they explained, he takes them in to his home and then gives them back to the families.
And this segment was offered by Brian Klein's production company with Jordan already in place? I asked how Jordan came to Brian's attention as seemingly no one in the dog world had ever heard of him before and was told through Jordan's fostering work. Which he does from his home in North London.
No wonder the BBC are in no hurry to drop this item! It would seem the appointment of an unqualified, inexperienced unknown dog trainer is becoming more understandable by the minute!
Let's recap - an unqualified, inexperienced dog 'expert' being investigated by the RSPCA, complained about by every credible organisation and charity - a man that encouraged the general public to approach snarling dogs with their feet gets the full support and protection of the BBC press office
I asked the direct question - is Jordan Shelley's slot continuing?
I was told - he's on the show tonight.
The implication being that they'll decide after tonight's show airs.
I asked about Victoria Stilwell's offer and was told it wasn't in my question... I read it back to them and they thought she was offering the family not the programme... how confusing? Either way had they passed it on, seems not.
I reiterated Victoria would like her very kind offer considered.
So who have the BBC considered to be the independent behaviour experts who will be debating Jordan's ability tonight? The APBC? A lecturer perhaps, from a university that offers 'qualifications'?
No one I can identify so far, perhaps it's a secret.
Dogs Trust are on a pre-record. @Joethevet says he's on the sofa but the press office didn't think he was but they sounded slightly despairing that there were lots of things they didn't have answers for. But they couldn't tell me any of the other names either as it was all still being edited. Turns out there was no one else - just the ones we knew about already.
The press office said we'd talk again tomorrow (now today).
I don't think anyone is going to be happy unless the BBC drop this segment. Let's encourage undeniably charismatic Jordan to actually take some qualifications and go on a few courses and in a few years, who knows, he may make a really great dog trainer.
But at the moment he's in been put in the spotlight too soon and it's not just his trousers that are fashionably at half mast... at the moment he's hideously exposed for not having the skills or the training or indeed the judgment to tell Britain what to do with their dogs.
Thank you to poster who left this as a comment:
"According to the record at Companies House, both Jordan Shelley and Brian Klein became Directors at Wobbly Dog on 5 November 2010 (perhaps a prophetic date, given the ensuing fireworks!). Perhaps the BBC researchers need training in basic web skills, as well as dog behaviour studies, as this information is readily available through Google: http://bizzy.co.uk/uk/07431473/wobbly-dog-productions I cannot see that the fact that the item comes from sister company On The Box makes any difference at all - the bottom line is that the BBC has accepted and presented this young man as an expert, without undertaking any due diligence to establish his qualifications for the title."

Latest:

Here's a link to last night's one show - 10 mins in....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007tcw7

And just added at the bottom new post-show Dogs Trust statement....

Commentary on last night's One Show:
Catherine Gillie from Dogs Trust making perfect sense but edited around some very glamorous shots of Jordan at home in his 'sanctuary' in his back garden. It all made little sense to be honest. They tries to edit back a case history about a dog that Jordan fostered - but it was all so brief you saw a dog arrive, be put in a run with some other dogs and put on a treadmill as a cure for something or other... yes, more muscles, great idea. And Catherine saying  in effect no, never do what was done on film under any circumstances.
Jordan seemingly thinking the VT wasn't saying anything personally about what he did the week before but was saying reward is better than dominance says he likes the Dogs Trust and that he respects them, and rates their 'methods' like he likes cheese sometimes but most days he prefers steak.
But we all saw Dogs Trust saying what Jordan did was dangerous and ineffective.
Perhaps nobody had the heart to tell him - but we got no reaction.
No moment of realisation that it was he who did the thing everyone is upset about and that he might be just a little out of his depth.
Matt claimed Jordan had learned from the criticisms but I couldn't read that in his body language.
And in the VT after five weeks a very grateful owner picks up her dog and says how fantastic Jordan is. And later leaves the dog with Jordan again when she goes on holiday, so he must be a really great trainer.
We don't see the before or the after or how he achieves whatever it was he was doing - but we are told it is achieved using reward-based training so that obviously makes everything okay.
But that stuff he was doing in show one, that wasn't another flavour of dog training. That was just bad.
Back in the studio things felt tense. Matt Baker genuinely seemed mortified. Joe Inglis the One Show vet had an uncharacteristic tremour in his voice.
Jordan was publicly cast out of the One Show family. No longer the One Show's dog trainer - now just someone they were following - but why? Joe says very accurately that, sadly anyone can call themselves a dog trainer.
Well precisely.
Will that be the end of saga?
Jordan achieved something in his short media career - he united every faction in the dog world. It's an accolade of sorts.
We await further news.

Dogs Trust have just issued a new statement:
Dogs Trust statement on the training methods of Jordan Shelley as featured on The One Show- 22 September 2011

Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity appreciated the right-to-reply opportunity provided by the BBC after the training methods of Jordan Shelley were featured on The One Show on Friday 16th and 22nd September.

However, we remain deeply concerned by the training methods used by Jordan Shelley. The main issues we have are:

• A dog with such aggression and fear issues should never, ever have had food taken away by members of the family. There was no regard for the safety of the family - using methods like this will only cause the dog to suppress the behaviour and there is a strong possibility that, when the opportunity arises, he will revert to the aggression.
• There was no consideration for the dog's emotional state and the motivation behind the behaviour - until these are redressed then you can never consider the behaviour to be resolved.
• Any other pet dog owner attempting these methods could put themselves and their families at risk of serious dog bites.
  

We continue to recommend that dog owners do not replicate the techniques used by Jordan Shelley at home and are pleased that The One Show warned viewers against this also; doing so could endanger both them and their dog. Instead they should seek a dog trainer who uses positive, reward-based techniques.

We would urge the BBC to seriously consider seeking and researching alternative advice on dog training for their viewers going forward.
 
Hannah Baker
Dogs Trust Press Office

PDSA statement on Jordan Shelley training techniques featured on The One Show

PDSA Senior Vet, Sean Wensley, says: “Whilst highlighting the issues surrounding problem behaviour in dogs should be viewed as a positive step, in this particular case, it was a shame that the techniques used were not the most effective or humane, and could potentially endanger human safety.

“Problem behaviour in dogs is an issue that, without question, needs addressing for the safety and wellbeing of dogs and people. The groundbreaking PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, published earlier this year, reveals that 165,000 dogs show aggression to people on a weekly basis.  This level is unacceptable, and is linked to the abandonment and euthanasia of thousands of dogs each year through no fault of their own.

“In order to improve such behaviour, PDSA only recommends the use of reward-based training techniques carried out by fully qualified and accredited pet behaviourists. By using the correct techniques, most problem behaviour can be overcome.

“Identifying the underlying reason for problem behaviour should always be the first consideration. The primary reason is often a lack of socialisation and training during puppyhood, but other issues such as separation anxiety, boredom or inappropriate training techniques can all contribute to behavioural issues. The PAW Report has shown that 4.1 million dogs never went to training classes within their first six months of life and 25% of owners who had their dog as a puppy did not adequately socialise them.

 “As a leader in promoting pet health and welfare, PDSA is urging owners who may have concerns about their pets’ behaviour to seek professional advice before the problem gets out of hand. In most cases, this should start with a trip to their local veterinary practice to rule out any possible underlying medical causes. For anyone with a young dog, they should, without exception, make a commitment to socialising their pet and training them properly. It’s up to owners to make sure that they provide the correct support for their dogs to prevent them from feeling anxious, scared or being aggressive towards others.”

 "I would like to express my concern about what I saw on The One Show last Friday.
"I am the National Post Home Support Officer, Greyhound Rescue West of England - and  qualified in behaviour work with dogs.
"Jordan Shelley is unqualified. He intimidated the small terrier into co-operating but he taught it nothing. If he had done that with alarger dog like a rottweiller it could have hurt him badly, people who copy him may get dangerously hurt. The BBC should be more responsible. Both Jordan and Caesar Milan are not properly qualified, they have not studied research into dog behaviour and are watchable rather than accurate. I am disappointed in the BBC's response to criticism from charities like Dogs Trust. Your response is to say people like it and are booking their dogs in with him. This doesn't mean he is good. You could show someone offering under age sex on the show and there would be plenty of punters but it wouldn't be morally right. Showing Jordan Shelly intimidating a dog with his foot isn't morally right."

Carol Baby
National Post Homing Support Officer
Greyhound Rescue West of England (GRWE)