'WALKIES' is the enduring phrase spoken by dog matriarch Barbara Woodhouse that will forever be summoned in people's minds at the mention of dog obedience.

'WALKIES' is the enduring phrase spoken by dog matriarch Barbara Woodhouse that will forever be summoned in people's minds at the mention of dog obedience.

No-nonsense Barbara in her no-nonsense pleated skirts captivated a nation of dog lovers with her school of tough love, showing that even the most awkward of canines could be brought to heel.

Dog Club in Marlow may not adhere to the take-no-prisoners approach of Barbara, but for the past 30 years it has been bringing thousands of Marlow dogs into line, teaching them their Ps and Qs.

The popular club, where membership has shot up over the last year, attracting people from as far as Amersham and Reading, has one founding policy - no dog is to be turned away.

Club chairman Ann Leonard said: 'In the 15 years I have been here we have never failed a dog. If they are boisterous, we start them in the car park until they can go inside and socialise with the other dogs. Even with the most difficult dogs we have got something out of them.

'We do a lot of work with rescue dogs, many of whom have had an especially rough start to their lives.'

Many heart-breaking stories come through the doors of the classes, held at Liston Hall, from dogs who spent the first years of their lives tied up in a shed, to those who suffered beatings.

Mrs Leonard said: 'There is usually a reason why a dog has a problem. It is understanding that problem and teaching the owner how to handle it. It can be difficult to totally remove some problems but there are many we do resolve. However we do teach the owner how to manage the problem.

'You get people who come in and say every time we go past a dog our dog barks and causes a scene but when you see them with their dog they hold the lead tight and are all anxious. The dog feels that tension and feels that mum is worried so I better bark as I go past.'

Mrs Leonard was keen to point out that the club, which stands by the watchwords 'praise, patience and perseverance', is made possible by a dedicated committee and group of volunteers, who give up much of their free time to run the group.

She said: 'If it was not for these people there would be no dog club. We have a strong membership and are non profit making. We don't pay our trainers or the committee. We all do it for the love of it.'

The club is part of the Marlow Community Association and recently put on an obedience show at the Marlow Millennium Carnival.

Mrs Leonard said: 'It went really well and I think everyone enjoyed it.'

As well as putting on the occasional show the club also collects for charity, giving up to £700 to dog based charities each year, including Dog Rescue in Stokenchurch, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Guide Dogs For The Blind.

Despite Mrs Leonard's long involvement with the club and helping to train other peoples' dogs she still describes herself as a relative novice, adding: 'You need to have reared many, many dogs with years and years of experience before you could call yourself experienced.'

Mrs Leonard may not describe herself as a pro but she and her colleagues must be doing something right as the membership at the club is ever expanding.

She said: 'Perhaps people are beginning to think more seriously about having a dog. If people want to come down just for a look to see how we run things they are more than welcome.

'It is a friendly group both from a people perspective and a dog perspective, and we have all ages of people from as young as 13.'

For more information call Ann Leonard on (01628) 521604 or Julia Osborne on (01494) 445004