DOG owners can find out the secret to stopping their dogs leaving wet patches all over their carpets at a talk by one of the country's top animal behaviourists.

Ian Dunbar, founder of the Association of Dog Trainers and host of the television series Dogs with Dunbar, will be sharing his insight into dog behaviour with audiences at Worcester's Huntingdon Hall.

Dr Dunbar first trained as a vet and then an animal behaviourist, and has been talking on the subject for the past three decades.

"There have been so many changes over the past 30 years," he said.

"Thirty years ago the common practice was to let the puppies get away with anything and try and get rid of the bad habits when they were older.

"Nowadays, we train the puppies because good habits are just as hard to break as bad habits. People are turning to more proactive training."

Dr Dunbar began the talks in America and brought them over to England, but he says the treatment of dogs in the two nations varies dramatically.

"In America, a lot of the dog owners are suburbians and very few dogs actually leave the home," he said.

"In England, dog owners are better at taking their dogs out for walks."

Dr Dunbar's method takes into account the dog's point of view. Chewing, digging, marking and barking are all natural parts of dog behaviour, he said.

Through his talk he shows how to redirect the dog's basic nature into alternative and acceptable behaviour.

His method takes into account the thinking of a dog, such as the fact that they are social animals and shouting at them is a form of the attention they crave.

"If a dog is doing something wrong the most effective way to get it to stop is to ignore it," he said.

Dr Dunbar's talk, Dog Behaviour and Training Problems, is at Huntingdon Hall on Wednesday September 18, beginning at 8pm.

Tickets are £10 concessions £9 from the box office on 01905 611427.