1. What the Media is saying about Pam's books

2. The Dogs Must Be Crazy
(Media Reviews)

 

 

There are not many magazines and newspapers in South Africa that have not either quoted Pam, written about her work, or published articles written by her. She has also had many magazine columns and radio and TV chat shows.

Among the media who have reported on her ground breaking work are: Reader's Digest, Mail and Guardian, Femina, Living and Loving, Your Baby, You, Huisgenoot, Australian Country Living, Huisgenoot, London Times, Rapport, Die Burger, You, Your Family, Men's Health, Argus, Cape Times, Sunday Times, Community papers in South Africa, Europe and London, Star, Tribune, Australian Country Living, Renaisance, South African Country Living, (and yes - Scope and Personality!) Pam has also appeared on many radio shows, TV Magazine and Breakfast shows both locally and overseas, including Carte Blanche and 50/50, alongside the horse whisperer.

 

 

 

 

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Dog Language not Greek to this Dog Whisperer

Recent news item: Rapport.

Some of her grumpy clients weigh more than her, but Pam Whyte does not "have a scared hair on her head". Whyte, an internationally known dog whisperer from Somerset West, whose job is to rehabilitate problem dogs. It is her passion, according to Whyte, to see less behaviour problems in our pet dogs and for them to be better understood.

Amongst her many successful clients are 4 American pit bulls who attacked an adult male so badly that his leg had to be amputated. Another of their victims was nearly bitten to death after they gripped him around the neck. Today the four carnivores (potential people eaters) are as tame as lambs and according to the owners, after Whyte's work, the dogs have shown no aggression towards friends and family. How does she do it? She answers very quickly. "I think like a dog".

Even as a child she knew she was different to the others. "I can't explain how but I intuitively knew what dogs were thinking and saying. I could tune into their wavelength." At school already the children spoke of Pam's special talent. "Nobody was scared of dogs if I was close" she says, laughing, although she herself was nearly ripped apart twice.

Whyte, who has been studying dog behaviour for nearly 40 years, and is still learning every day, bases her observations on wild dogs and wolves."There are certain things that happen long before a dog is going to attack., which frequently do not involve any signs of outward hostility. I teach people to read these 'jungle' signs," she says.

According to Whyte it is a big mistake to try and turn dogs into humans, like give them waistlines. "In nature we are their prey. Dogs sum up their territory differently to humans and to live successfully with them we need to know how packs function as a team.

According to Whyte dog behaviour is also based on hierarchical principles and the owner must be seen as the trusted leader. Only then do dogs show loyalty, love and defense for their other pack members.

Whyte, a TV and radio personality and author, has written articles for the British Medical Journal and in organizations like the British Child Accident Prevention Trust, The Holistic Vet Association in California and addressed the French Guide Dog Association.She also helped after the war in Bosnia to train dogs to find land mines.

Whyte has observed that one of the greatest evils is a dog on diet.People are obsessed these days about how they look, and dogs then become an extension of their ego's. As a result dogs must also have the "right" shape these days. A lot of aggressive dogs are merely very hungry she says. People need to decide whether they prefer a properly nourished dog, or a child at risk of being attacked. Other problems like destructive behaviour and barking for nothing are also usually a result of the dog not getting sufficient food for his own individual needs.

Dogs can enrich our lives so much, but we need to learn more about the species before we can get maximum pleasure out of them.

Elise-Marie Tancred.
Cape Town.