Channel 4 is to air features and formats pilot Train Your Baby Like a Dog this month.

The 1 x 60 programme explores a brand-new approach to parents struggling with their child’s behaviour: Training your child like a dog.

A leading advocate of this new approach is world renowned dog trainer and animal behaviourist Jo-Rosie Haffenden. Instead of telling kids what not to do, she believes in motivating and helping them to understand what ‘to do’. She’s tried it with her own child and now Jo-Rosie wants exhausted parents to turn their backs on discipline, and the naughty-step and instead embrace positive dog training for children.

Jo-Rosie comments “If everyone parented their child the same way we’re training our dogs, we’d end up with much more caring and compassionate human beings”. Our homes could be transformed from exhausting battle grounds into oases of calm.

In this programme, Jo-Rosie is working with 3-year-old Greydon. His daily tantrums and violent outbursts are making his parents, Jo and Garrett’s lives a living hell. She’s also test running her canine training techniques with 18-month-old Dulcie whose refusal to sleep in her own cot and nightly screaming fits are pushing her shattered mum Rose to breaking point.

The 1 x 60 programme is produced by Plimsoll Productions with Executive Producers Karen Plumb, Amy Joyce and Grant Mansfield and Producer Director Chris Williams. Commissioning Editors for Channel 4 Features & Formats are Clemency Green and Vivienne Molokwu.

Karen Plumb, executive producer and Head of Factual for Plimsoll, said: “If everyone trained their children like dogs, I honestly believe they would be happier, more confident and, yes, a lot better behaved. Train Your Baby Like a Dog is a must watch for any struggling parent.”

Train Your Baby Like a Dog transmits on Channel 4 on Tuesday 20 August at 8pm.