By animal lovers, for animal lovers.
A lifetime of experience, and another of study.
Meet Fur N' Fun!
We are Victoria — aka Vic — and Arnaud — aka Frenchy.
We are the authors of the best-seller "Dogs Do What Works", a manual for dog professionals willing to learn Behavioural Modification, the creators of the HEART initiative that campaigns for a more ethical industry and for the promotion of humane training that takes into account the emotional welfare of dogs; we are also the founders of the AFCBC, and members of the Pet Professional Guild. We are also active members of the IFDT (Initiative for Force Free Training).
We were what is now called Behaviourists long before it was even a thing, and we have been promoting science-based, force-free, pain-free and fear-free training since the late 1980s. Between us we have almost half a century of Canine Behaviour experience and have worked with close to 10,000 dogs.
We both were born animal lovers, so on top of making a living helping dogs, most of our free time is spent caring for our pets — all sorts of pets! We share the same philosophy that animals should not be treated as tiny human-like creatures but according to their own nature.
Cordelia the Boa is much, much stronger than me and really could hurt me severely. However because I treat her as a snake and not as a poodle, she enjoys her time chilling outside the vivarium and is puppy-tame, despite her 9.5ft and 19kg.
Advanced study, deep understanding and humane respect of the fundamental needs of animals, supported by a lifetime of experience, allow us to happily enjoy the company of what has become, over time, a pretty wide variety of numerous pets. There are over 30 animals and about 10 species currently living at home.
Most are rescues, a few were born here, but all — even the most skittish ones — have come to understand that home is a safe, pet-friendly place. Not sure Cinnamon the African Pygmy Hedgehog is so keen on human kisses though, but she does not look fazed.
This diversity has given us a unique perspective and a solid, educated grasp of the "big picture", as well as extensive canine behaviour knowledge; yet we are still researching, studying and enrolling in self-training on a daily basis.
The favourite game of Mocha the staffie was to chase wild rabbits — his innate prey-drive towards small wildlife was exceptionally intense. After an adequate Behavioural Modification Plan (no aversive training, no shock collar) he goes along just fine with Rafa the lionhead rabbit. That is the beauty of science and reward-based training.
If there is an animal in the area, whatever it is, we are drawn to it, and for some reason we can establish a relationship within instants. Some people have a gift for music or mechanics — we are animal people. This is what we do, what we love, and we wouldn't want it any other way.
We participate in activities with virtually any pet, from dogs to spiders to birds of prey. All animals can be trained to some extent, and as we have seen over and over, all animals can be trained without force, pain or fear.
If a bird — genetically designed for extreme prey-drive — can be trained reliably for recall using only treats, it will be very difficult to convince us that any dog needs a prong or a shock collar.