Not the day I planned!

As I mentioned yesterday, I was meant to be doing a Facebook live with Steve Mann to help launch his amazing BBC Maestro course.

But instead, I was hooked up to an IV drip getting pain relief. And even though I've done Zooms from some pretty unusual places (hairdressers while getting my hair done was literally a highlight!). But St Peter's A&E didn't have great wifi and to be honest I was still in my pjs when the ambulance took me in and I do have standards. (They weren't even my best pjs).

In the last 30 plus years as editor of Dogs Today I've seen so much progress in dog training methods - but at so many points, I've really despaired at terrible dog trainers being fast-tracked onto the telly!

Media types often see entertainment value without asking 'does this actually work' or 'will people get bitten if they try to do this at home?'.

But, when BBC Maestro were looking for their expert for dog training, thankfully they thought about it much more deeply. They picked a genuine genius - someone who doesn't have to adopt an eccentric character or follow someone else's script.

Steve is the real deal. He doesn't wrap up his totally sensible logic with unnecessary psycho babble, he doesn't appear to have a hungry ego to feed, either - he just tells you what you need to do to improve your relationship with your best friend the dog.

And he really, really does actually properly love dogs and want you to succeed.

Genius. Someone whose love of dog training is not just a calculated career move. The quest for understanding dogs was in Steve's DNA from a very early age.

The BBC Maestro courses are all beautifully shot and with the dog one there's bite-sized nuggets of total wisdom from a man who has spent his entire life honing his craft - never stopping learning and listening to other voices - and then making his own mind up.

Media types, I may have said this before, but I would love there to a Top Gear type show about dogs.

Steve would be just be perfect. Just saying. In the current version he'd be the presenter that actually knows about cars... you know the one, not Paddy or Freddy - Chris Harris. The presenter that grows on you by being an expert in something other than his own career advancement.

At Tailwise we'll be encouraging all the puppy parents to watch. Many of the super breeders already buy a copy of Steve's best selling book to give to every new owner - the Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy Book.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone who is getting a dog read a brilliant manual that made it simple? Or a Mann-ual... see what I did there?

But the course is like having Steve sitting in your front room or coming with you to the pub.

Tailwise is all about making outcomes for puppy owners much more positive, helping them find breeders that will literally do everything possible to make sure their pups have the very best chance of being beloved pets at the centre of someone's world.

So many Tailwise breeders are now using those precious first eight weeks of life to pre-train their pups so that they transition into their new homes much more smoothly. It is the future I am sure. Pups should always go from one loving home to another.

Let's get rid of the shed puppy farmers by just making them redundant. Why would you choose to have a pup that is battery farmed?

If you could get a pup that has been born out of mum that is loved for all her life, that is reared to be ready and willing to learn and love their new family...

Oh, and pre-housetrained! That's probably the deal breaker isn't it?

As a new owner you just need to learn some dog skills so you can take over the excellent work of a caring breeder/trainer - so much easier that trying to correct a ghastly start in a loveless shed.

With Steve's help and a great start from really caring breeders, I think we'd have very much fewer dogs ending up broken in rescue, fewer pet owners feeling wretched because their puppy dream turned into a nightmare.

Steven Mann has not been one to run after fame and media, but I am predicting the media will be running towards him when they take a look at this new course. (He does have amazing tips on recall!)

Steve Mann's BBC Maestro course went live today. Click here to get your copy.

If you'd like to interview Steve, message me and I'll put you in touch. No, you don't have to talk to his agent. He's a real person. How refreshing.