On the one hand, it’s an ideal place to see lots of dogs in a very short space of time. This gives prospective owners the chance to meet with dogs that have caught their eye, and chat to breeders and owners to find out what they are really like to live with (the dogs, not the owners!). It’s also a shopping bonanza – if it’s linked with dogs you can buy it… from wellies to brooches, from books to sculptures: it’s an aladdin’s cave of temptation.

On the other hand, the show represents the very worst of human interference in dog physiology. Noses that are too short for proper breathing, legs and hips so badly affected by breeding for appearance alone that the dog can no longer run. The powers-that-be tell us that they are actively discouraging the horrible impact of inbreeding and breeding for looks alone, but this may be too little, too late for the dogs already affected.

So, this year at Crufts once again I will go with expectations of seeing this change in action – let’s hope I’m not disappointed.

Although there were some mixed results (and some mixed responses!) from those at the company that took part in the trial, overall the experience proved positive, with staff bonding and interaction particularly affected. Those cute babies acted as a colourful and cohesive influence in an otherwise potentially ‘grey’ working environment.

Of course, it got me thinking about dogs in the workplace. I have to admit that I was really surprised to find out that according to a survey from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 17 percent of U.S. employers currently allow animals in the workplace.

As I write, we have four office dogs (and two giant cats!) in residence – three of the dogs are mine and one – Bella, the lovely Westie, belongs to my wonderful PA Janice. Right now, all are snoozing quietly under our desks. (The dogs, not Janice!) However, I would be telling porkie pies if I said that every minute was just as serene. The combination of two terrier-crosses and one whole terrier does mean that they like to announce the arrival of the postman in the mornings, and any delivery man who steps onto the driveway. While this might be only natural – and sometimes useful – it can be a little embarrassing if we are on the phone to a client asking how to resolve their dog’s barking problems!

Having been allowed to bring dogs to work with me for most of my previous career – for example, at PAT-Dogs, and Dogs Today magazine, I can’t imagine ever working without a dog lying across my foot or right behind my swivel chair. After all, who would tell me when it’s time to stop and head off to the woods? Not many other ‘bosses’ do that!

I like the challenge that the on-the-spot questions bring, and also the way that it makes me edit and shape my answer so that it can be as quick and useful as possible – as well as easy to follow for the owner who really is going to go home and put the ideas into practice.

In one such lecture only a few weeks ago, I was talking about canine body language, but led by a question from the audience, I mentioned dog-dog aggression, and how difficult it can be to manage in a real-world situation. I referred to Grisha Stewart and her BAT methods and how it was important to always work with the dog ‘sub-threshold’ – that is at a level where the dog is not already reacting to the other dog, but can think and function in a cognitive way – not just an emotional one. Knowing that I specialise in aggression, the lady in the audience asked me if next time, we could do a whole day of using this method in a practical setting. The answer is both yes and no. Yes, we could, but no we won’t! Why not?

Unfortunately, done properly, watching good behavioural interventions work well can be a bit like watching paint dry! It takes time – lots of it. It takes repetition. And it takes patience, in bucket-loads. It’s a sad fact that the more dramatic the scenario, the less likely it is that the dog is actually benefiting – and, whilst I want students of behaviour and owners to have fun at workshops, the dog is always my top priority!

TV tends to show dramatic scenarios, and exciting ’15 minute fixes’ – but as we all know, this isn’t representative of real life! For this reason, I tend to fill my Masterclasses and lectures with video clips of real life cases, consultations, and dogs that I have filmed ‘doing their thing’. That way, us slow-coach humans can watch again and again. We can slow things down, pause and stop. We can discuss tiny nuances, as well as the bigger picture.We can watch at our own speed – which is, (as any dog would like to tell you!) painfully slow in comparison to our lightening-fast canine friends.

Sometimes life on film really can offer you more than the real thing.