Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly's Graeme Hall: From boardroom to TV dog trainer and almost losing a hand in the process
One ferocious German Shepherd took a dislike to himDogs Behaving (Very) Badly’s Graeme Hall is almost a magician when it comes to taming unruly dogs.
The Supernanny of the dog world, he’s handled everything from ferocious mongrels to tearaway pups and greedy mutts.
In tonight’s episode, he meets Ziggy – a dog that has landed his owner with a bill for thousands of pounds after destroying his house.
It appears there is no dog out there that Graeme can’t train.
In fact, his motto is: “Any dog, any age, any problem.”
But how much do you actually know about Graeme, dubbed The Dogfather by fans? And how much does he cost to hire?
Graeme’s story is actually very interesting and one you might not expect, given the very normal job he used to have…
Dogs Behaving Very Badly: Who is Graeme Hall?
Graeme is best known for his starring role in Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly on Channel 5.
He was born in the market town of Selby, Yorkshire, in 1966 and will turn 60 years old this year.
At school, Graeme showed a talent for languages and he later studied Spanish at the University of Hull.
Surprisingly, Graeme did not have a pet dog growing up. He previously said: “We didn’t have dogs as kids because my mum and dad were both working people.
“My sister and I were constantly badgering them for a dog, and the answer was always, ‘It wouldn’t be fair because we’re not home most of the time’.”
Graeme Hall’s job at Weetabix
Once he had finished university, Graeme was accepted onto a graduate scheme at cereal giant Weetabix Limited.
In a career spanning 21 years with the company, he rose up the ranks to become Operations Manager. At his peak with the company, he was managing 200 members of staff.
Graeme was offered redundancy in 2007 and he left Weetabix. Initially, he planned to be a management consultant until he had another bright idea.
Graeme recently told Colson Smith on BBC Radio Leeds: “Basically, I worked my way up [at Weetabix] and was running the factories. I left with a package and thought, ‘What am I going to do next?’
“I was going to be a management consultant but I’d got into dog training as a hobby. And long story short, the guy who was the head trainer at the place I used to go with my two Rottweilers said, ‘Why don’t you be a dog trainer?’ And I said, ‘Err okay. Why do you think I should be a dog trainer?’ And he said, ‘Because you’re good with people’.
“I thought, ‘Oh, I didn’t see that one coming!’ And then his next line literally changed the course of my life.
“He said, ‘You can only change the dogs through the people. And I think you’ve got both sides of that’. Suitably flattered, I thought I’d give it a go!”
When did Graeme first break into TV?
With the seed planted, Graeme set about becoming a dog trainer the following year, using his Rottweilers Axel and Gordon for practice.
By 2009, he had qualified as Master Trainer with the Guild of Dog Trainers.
Graeme started working in his local area and word quickly spread. Dog owners couldn’t recommend him highly enough and his diary was filled.
Due to his success, Graeme caught the eye of TV producers. He made his small screen debut in the one-off documentary Dogs Behaving Badly in 2017.
Bosses were impressed and brought Graeme back for a full series, rebranded Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly, in 2019.
It was such a success that the eighth series of the Channel 5 show began earlier this month.
Who is Graeme Hall’s wife? Where does he live?
Graeme rarely speaks about his private life, using his social media for work purposes.
However, it is known that he was previously married to accountant Elinor Perry-Hall. The couple had tied the knot in a stunning ceremony on the beach in Sri Lanka in 2017.
They later held a lavish ceremony for family and friends back home in the UK, but it appears their marriage didn’t last the distance.
Graeme wrote in his column with The Times in 2023 that he was living with his new partner in Bicester, Oxfordshire. The following year, they were pictured together at Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre (Falconry UK).
The Centre shared the snaps on Facebook and wrote: “An interesting day! Today we met Graeme Hall (The Dog Father) and his partner Nikki.
“We got to spend the morning flying birds, having a good giggle and swopping tales regarding birds, horses and dogs.”
Graeme does not have any children.
Has Graeme ever been injured by a dog?
Graeme was once so badly injured by a German Shepherd that he could have lost his left hand.
He previously relived the gory tale, saying: “A German Shepherd I went to see had been re-homed and was barking very aggressively.
“They brought him in to see me and he just went for my left hand. He bit hard, at the same time the owner pulled on the lead. The effect was to rip it [my hand].
“It was off to A&E. I ended up in the operating theatre. The bites just missed a tendon and nerve and I nearly lost the full use of that hand. It was a close call.”
Since that shocking incident, Graeme has no qualms in muzzling dogs that act aggressively. He says he does still get “little bites here and there”.
How much does it cost to hire Graeme?
Fans can actually hire Graeme if they are struggling with their unruly dog. But it will cost you!
His Graeme Hall: The Dogfather website states that one-to-one dog training, “including phone and email support”, starts from £875.
Training will include a visit from Graeme to your home to see the dog in its natural environment. He will then explain why your dog is acting the way it is, give advice to resolve the issue and form an action plan.
Graeme’s consultations last around three hours and he asks for a £250 deposit when booking. But his website warns that available appointments are “limited” due to his very busy schedule.
Graeme does, however, promise: “121 Fees are ALWAYS guaranteed fixed price – meaning there are no nasty surprises or hidden extras and you probably won’t need a follow-up visit because as a 121 client you can call or email any time.”
What else does Graeme do?
Graeme has written several books about dogs and dog training, including All Dogs Great and Small, and Perfectly Imperfect Puppy. He also penned the children’s book, Ultimate Kids’ Guide To Dogs.
Now a household name, Graeme has appeared on celebrity versions of The Chase, Mastermind and University Challenge.
He is also popular Down Under too, having fronted Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia.
When is Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly on?
The new series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly began earlier this month. You can catch Graeme on the show on Tuesdays on Channel 5.
The next episode is on tonight (Tuesday January 27, 2026) at 8pm. The show is also available to stream on 5 player.
Paw-some!
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