20/08/2025
QUICK TIP: I've been posting this for the past 15 years, as many of you know, but I will keep positing it until it is common knowledge.
If the trainer you are considering using falls into any of these categories, you should pick another trainer.
• If the equipment recommended for basic obedience includes or is focused on choke collars, prong collars, or shock collars.
• Trainers who ban head collars of any kind may rely unduly on force.
• If the trainer instructs you to manage your dog’s behaviors by pinching toes, kneeing the dog in the chest or abdomen, hitting the dog, forcibly holding the dog down against their will, constantly yelling at the dog, frequently yanking the collar constantly, or using prong, choke, pinch or shock collars or electronic stimulation.
• If the trainer believes most or all training is about encouraging the person to be “alpha” and teaching the dog to “submit”.
• If the trainer explains that most dog behavior, for example jumping on people, occurs because the dog is trying to be “dominant”.
• If a trainer recommends “alpha rolls”, “scruffing”, “helicoptering”, “choking” or any other painful or physical methods as a means of “training” or modifying behavior.
(Source:https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.dacvb.org/resource/resmgr/docs/How-to-select-a-trainer-vet.pdf )
*** The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB)
