TV personality Graeme Hall, affectionately known as the Dogfather, is back on Channel 5 with a new series of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly. The 59 year old has been helping dog owners manage their unruly pets and strengthen their bonds since his show first aired in 2017.
He even has an Australian spin-off on Channel 5 and presented The Dog Hospital, which provides a glimpse into Willows, one of the UK’s leading veterinary centres.
Before becoming a Master Dog Trainer, Graeme had a vastly different career at cereal giant Weetabix. Born and raised in Selby, Yorkshire, he attended the University of Hull in the 1980s before joining Weetabix as a graduate trainee.
Over the course of 21 years, he climbed the ranks to become an executive and Operations Manager, overseeing a team of over 200 people.
In 2007, Graeme took redundancy from his senior role at Weetabix, intending to take a short break before transitioning into management consultancy.
Graeme Hall from Dogs Behaving Very Badly at Pisces Country Park (Image: Keith Suffling/supplied)
reports it was his love for dogs and the experience of training his two Rottweilers, Axel and Gordon, that led him down a different path.
“I had two Rottweilers and set about training them. Then someone from a dog training company said something that changed the course of my life, ‘Why don’t you become a dog trainer? ‘I said, ‘Why?’
“He said, ‘Because you’re good with people’. That’s what hooked me, as he said it’s a combination of being good with people and good with dogs.”
FREE PUBLICITY PHOTOThe Dogfather, Graeme Hall, star of Channel 5’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, is bringing his wisdom, charm and puppy prowess to his first ever UK tour from April next year. (Image: neil reading pr)
These were the words that led professional dog trainer Graeme Hall to establish his own canine training business, The Dogfather, in 2008.
Since then, he has built a reputation that has seen him appear on Breakfast, This Morning, Jeremy Vine, Celebrity Mastermind, and Christmas University Challenge. Known as The Dogfather, Hall has trained more than 5,000 dogs since launching his business.
FREE PUBLICITY PHOTOAnimal trainer Graeme Hall, AKA the Dogfather, launching a new podcast called Talking Dogs. (Image: avalon)
Since then, he has built a reputation that has seen him appear on Breakfast, This Morning, Jeremy Vine, Celebrity Mastermind, and Christmas University Challenge. Known as The Dogfather, Hall has trained over 5,000 dogs since launching his business.
His website reveals that his services come at a premium, starting at no less than £875. However, he is currently not accepting new bookings due to filming commitments for Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly.
New episodes of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly are airing weekly on Channel 5 at 8pm every Tuesday.