Chat Ed : Welcome to this evening's Faking It chat with Rob Archer! Rob is a management consultant who put his communication skills to the test when he tried to fake it as a dog trainer…
Rob Archer : Hello everyone! I'm here and ready to answer your questions…
Claire : WELL DONE 'THE BOBSTER!'
Pernilla : Well done Rob and Bobbi! The end was so touching it brought tears to my eyes.
Pernilla : After this experience, would you consider getting a dog of your own?
Rob Archer : Absolutely, but at the moment it's just not possible because I wouldn't be able to care for it properly, but if somebody is willing to look after it for me!… :)
Dana : Will you ever get a puppy? How has this affected your life?
Rob Archer : I'd LOVE to get a puppy. I'd need help with the logistics though! I've got some absolutely fantastic memories and some new friends (some of whom are human) and I think perhaps a lesson I have learnt is not to get too stressed about big challenges. And I've learnt to enjoy things that I'm faced with.
danielle : i have a 1 year old dog and finding it really hard t o control him when out for walks, how hard was it for you? and have you got any tips to over come it
Rob Archer : It was very hard for me! My tip is to keep persevering and to reward her when she does something good. Good luck!
ANDY GRIFFITHS : HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE CHALLENGE?
Rob Archer : A former colleague put my name forward to the director and then the lovely researcher gave me a call out of the blue and I decided to go for it.
Gill Brophy : Did the programme selectors give you any idea what you were going to do?
Rob Archer : They said “be prepared to use your communication skills at the consultants in a very different environment” and they also said I would be outdoors a lot and that was it.
ashley ross : what was your lowest moment?
Rob Archer : It was actually shown on the programme, when I had to go to that BBQ and they were getting me to dance in front of strangers - I wasn't very happy, so I took Bobby for a walk.
Angela : How easy or difficult was it adjusting to life as a Management Consultant again?
Rob Archer : Nearly as difficult as the transition the other way :) And it still is.
sarah kay : What do you think you learnt from Bobster?
Rob Archer : Erm.... good question! I learnt to approach everything with a light-hearted spirit, which is not what I usually do, and just to enjoy things as you do them.
Tatterdemalion : How were moves like the imitative roll and jumping through the arm loop to get the football taught ??
Rob Archer : By breaking down the moves into smaller parts and rewarding Bobby when she did something well. The clicker is a very useful tool to help you do this.
Claire : when it came to the end of the show, was it hard to say goodbye after all that time together?
Rob Archer : Incredibly hard, yes. It was awful.
lewis : your an absolute legend and i was absolutely gutted to see you part with bobster!how far do you have to travel to see her?
Rob Archer : Aah that's nice. It's a couple of hours I have to travel to see her. I have seen her a couple of times since the show.
DC : At the end it stated that you see Bob at the weekend is this not confusing for the dog and what do the real owners think?
Rob Archer : Bobby has such a calm and adaptable personality that she isn't fazed by my visits. In her owners' words she is 'bomb-proof'!!
Justice : What was the moment that made it all worth the effort??
Rob Archer : I can safely say that it was just...well there were too many of those moments to mention and the actual faking it itself was just the icing on the cake.
helen1 : It was amazing to see the transformation from you as management consultant to you as dog lover! Glad to see you found time for a woman in your life!!! Would you go through it all again now in hindsight?
Thwack : This may sound silly but did you ever feel that if you didn’t fool all the judges you would be letting bobster down??
Rob Archer : Yes no question about it helen, I would love to. Thwack - I did yes, and the mentors too, but we agreed between us at the beginning of the programme that we would give it our best shot and if our best was not good enough then to hell with them :)
Paula : Did you have any pets when you were younger? I tried to train my rabbit once.. it failed miserably!
Rob Archer chuckles
Rob Archer : Sorry to hear about the rabbit. Next time try a clicker and I did have a cat when I was very young - called Tuppence.
MI55FITNE55 : You were absolutely fantastic with Bobby, it would be waste for you not to be a dog owner at some point in your life! Do you think you will get a dog in the future?
Kittygirl : How did you overcome your stage fright of dancing?
oliveoil : Iwhat was the turning point with overcoming the shyness on the dance floor?
Rob Archer : Yes, but I probably need a wife first, Miss Fitness! I didn't really overcome my stage fright, I have resigned myself to ritual humiliation for the rest of my life.
Debra : Why didn' the programme show more snippets of you learning the individual tricks with Bobby?
Rob Archer : I'll ask the director, he's here with me…He says “time constraints” (with a very straight face).
anne parry : do you have anytips for calming your neves before you go into the ring?
Rob Archer : Erm.. Ooh blimey.. just tell yourself that you have got nothing to lose and remind yourself to enjoy it rather than be worried about it.
jamessonia : good luck for the future.....you have made a great deal of people think about stereotyping and just how wrong they can be with first impressions
Rob Archer : Oh well, that's cool.
Stevo75 : do you think bobby could fake it as a management consultant? Lol
Rob Archer : She would make a MUCH better consultant than I do.
annafromlondon : some management consultants are as hairy!
Rob Archer : Wise words annefromlondon :)
Rob Archer laughs
ChrisB : How long ago was the programme filmed?
Rob Archer : Chris the programme was filmed in August.
lizzie : were you pleased with how you came across on TV. Did this concern you before you saw it?
Rob Archer : lizzie, yes it did concern me and I cringed through a lot of it but basically I enjoyed the programme.
Angel : Do you think applying the training techniques you learnt with Bobby to the managers in your day job might be successful? Maybe not with the sausages!
Rob Archer laughs
Rob Archer : I was going to use that line! Definitely - I keep a clicker in my back pocket.
suew : I hope the person who originally mistreated bobby b4 she was rescued saw the programme and I hope they are ashamed of what they did to her!! What is your opinion of them rob?
Rob Archer : I have nothing but contempt for them, suew.
sarah : Good point Suew! Totally agree
Rob Archer : Donate to Battersea Dogs Home please everyone :)
cherry : You will soon get lots of ladies after the show, you're so sweet with the Bobby!!!!
Rob Archer : Giddyup! I hope so cheery...
Linds : Im thinking you'll receive a lot of female fans - are you ready for that??
Rob Archer : Yes, where are they?
simone : lol Rob
clairamarie : I think your gorgeous!
nic : Did it amaze you how clever Bobby could be? I once had a guinea pig who learned how to open his cage door!
Rob Archer chuckles, this is what we want clairamarie - I think you are gorgeous too! Well done on the guinea pig! Bobby never ceased to amaze me throughout the programme.
scaryjones : Had you seen the program before tonight or was it the first time you got a chance?
Rob Archer : Yes I had seen it before tonight.
Alis : what were the dog trainers like as people behind the scenes are the as competitive as the are stereotyped to be ?
Rob Archer : The dog trainers were quite competitive but one of the things I learnt is that that is good because it keeps the owners motivated.
Nina Best : What blew you away the most from this experience?
Rob Archer : Ooh, blimey... umm... Bobby :)
Glenghis : You really should do more television work with dogs, Rob.
leigh : HAs Faking it changed you life???
Rob Archer : Yes, it's made it better. I have a stack of brilliant memories, loads of new friends and access to dogs whenever I want.
dante : loved the way u and bobby interacted with each other it was a great show
Izzy : Well done Rob! I have a rescued Germand Shepherd and it's such hard work! You and Bobster are stars!!
carol : hi Rob, well done, great entertainment....... you did very well with your pooch.......
gillie : you were both brilliant - good luck Rob !
Chat Ed : That's it! Thanks for coming and talking to us Rob Archer!
bobbythedoggie : the future's bright, the future's furry!
lulu36 : Luv ya!!!
sarah : Gud luck 4eva xxxxxx
Shell : give Bob a hug from me
wales123 : xxxxx
jv : c ya
Nicoliavitch : :) xx
Rob Archer : Well done Izzy! And thank you so much for your kind words and glad you enjoyed it, I'll pass on your comments to Bobby.
Rob Archer leaves the room
