Play N Train K9, LLC

Play N Train K9, LLC Building the bond between owners and their dogs through reward based training, play and the use of g

10/07/2024

There are two openings in my upcoming Intro to Nose Work class. Held at the Fairgrounds on Friday evenings. I only hold this class once or twice per year. Message me if you are interested or have questions.

Well worth the read. I wholeheartedly concur.
09/16/2024

Well worth the read. I wholeheartedly concur.

Over the last few days, it feels like a firestorm has been unleashed. It’s clear that outdated dog training practices will no longer go unchallenged.

The release of a study using shock collars (cited below) has sparked unprecedented backlash and even made national headlines, and triggered a major reckoning within the dog training community. The study, seen by many as politically motivated, appears to have put dogs in harm's way to prove a point.

Professionals across the field agree that it should never have been approved by the ethics committee - and their fears were substantiated, given that every single dog in the shock collar group is documented to have yelped in pain while receiving shock collar “corrections”.

The outcry continues to build as more people in our field demand accountability and transparency. Reputations are being hit hard, institutions are facing scrutiny, and balanced trainers like Ivan Balabanov have been fully unmasked, revealing the harmful and outdated methods still being promoted under the guise of expertise.

This glaring evidence underlines what we’ve known all along: pain and fear have no place in professional dog training.

Let this serve as a stark reminder to those in our field who continue to promote outdated methods and deny the overwhelming scientific consensus. The community will no longer remain silent. The evidence is clear and we are moving beyond these harmful practices. Trainers who continue to use pain, fear, and intimidation in their methods do not deserve legitimacy in this field.

Ivan Balabanov, once considered a leader among "balanced" trainers, now faces intense scrutiny following his involvement in this study. It is now scientifically verified that 25% of the dogs he and his mentee worked with in the shock collar group could not be trained effectively, and 100% of those dogs yelped in pain.

This once again undermines the narrative propagated by many trainers who use shock collars and falsely claim that their methods "don’t hurt."

The reality is, the tools they promote rely on pain as a teaching mechanism, and better alternatives exist that teach dogs to comply enthusiastically without the need for fear or discomfort, and without the risks associated with using pain and fear to change an individual’s behavior.

For too long, the welfare of dog trainers has been placed above the welfare of dogs and the public. This has got to stop.

The campaign to expose outdated training methods, like those Ivan Balabanov will likely promote in his upcoming UK workshop, is gaining momentum. Even members of his own community are stunned by the facts that have come to light in this study.

This is not an effort to embarrass an individual but to stand up for the public and make it clear that the propaganda surrounding shock collars is just that — propaganda.

Below is a newly published article from Psychology Today that lays out the facts on the recent shock collar study. For those who think this is about social media “clout” or personal opinions, this article should clarify that our advocacy is rooted in concern for public and canine welfare.

I’ve always said, don’t take my word for it—look at the evidence. This article does just that: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/animal-emotions/202409/is-balanced-training-fair-to-dogs-or-is-it-a-cop-out

And here is a link to the study in question: Johnson, A.C., & Wynne, C.D.L. (2024). “Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs.” Animals, 14(18), 2632. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182632

Based on the reaction to this study, another major domino has fallen in support of aversive dog training methods. This so-called "landmark study" will likely be remembered not for the efficacy of shock collars, but for exposing the unnecessary use of pain in dog training as a legitimate strategy.

We are prepared to provide support and education to those willing to update their methods in the interest of public health and safety. But make no mistake—those who refuse to be unequivocal in rejecting pain-based methods will face increasing scrutiny.

The livelihood of trainers promoting harmful practices is not our concern when it comes at the expense of dog welfare and public trust.

The time to end the misrepresentation of science-based training and to uphold welfare and ethics in dog training is long overdue. We are standing together for a better future for our industry, our dogs, and their guardians.

06/07/2024

You go to a restaurant and you use your phone: it works the same way it does at home. It works the same way it does in the restaurant as it does when you go to the grocery store. You pass the phone to a friend, it will work the same way it does with you. Alone, at a party, even in another country, same response. If the signal is spotty you may not get as fast of a response, but you don’t wonder if your phone just doesn’t respect you or needs to be shown who is boss.

We’ve become so conditioned to machines and devices that just DO and respond the SAME way in every context they are put in that we often lose sight of the fact that animals, sentient beings, and ourselves, behave differently in different contexts and that’s completely normal and expected and part of life. I know I behave completely differently in a crowded party with strangers than I do alone with my best friend. I know that when I’m in pain or stressed or feel pressured my behaviors will be different than when I’m relaxed and comfortable. How I handle a conflict with a stranger versus my husband, in public versus at home etc etc, This isn’t new information, yet I find myself reminding clients this all the time. Your dog can be wonderful and love playing with other dogs off leash, but on leash in another context behave completely differently. This isn’t weird or bad. This is normal. Context will often change behavior, unless you’re a machine.

Your dog is not programmable, and even when we think they are predictable they can still surprise us. Your dog may love handling and enjoy you rubbing his belly on the couch, but absolutely panic and get defensive when handled and restrained at the vet. Different context, different relationships, different responses. This doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your dog, it means you need to work on coping skills in those particular contexts that elicit that response, even if that means management to prevent further escalation. The problem comes when we just assume because our dog is FINE in one scenario and context, they should be fine in all. They aren’t cell phones or laptops or cars.

I know this is hard sometimes to grapple with because predictable feels safer when it comes to animals. So unfortunately we often resort to training that gives us that predictably simply by suppressing any reaction at all. DONT move, don’t react, don’t do anything unless I say, immediately when I say. But that’s not healthy. That’s not a relationship, that’s a dictatorship.

Real relationships happen and develop and strengthen when you accept someone (this goes for people and dogs and all species) for what they are, who they are in all contexts and allow them the space to be that way and support them. Just as you would want yourself understood. What’s amazing is when you do that, you actually get MORE predictability in different contexts than less, because there’s trust between you now. It’s taken me a long time to learn that, and love the fact that they are animals, and I’ll never fully understand or know them and they will still surprise me. But, I’m here for the lessons and the journey.

05/13/2024

Hi,
My next manners class will start next Tuesday, May 21 at 6pm. This will be the last class until mid- September. I have one, possibly two, openings. Let me know if you are interested

Congratulations to Sabbath (poodle), Bea (corgi), and Murphy (Bernese) for passing their CGC last night after completing...
03/06/2024

Congratulations to Sabbath (poodle), Bea (corgi), and Murphy (Bernese) for passing their CGC last night after completing the Adv Manners/Therapy Dog prep class.

Train a trick challenge: Find a trick that your dog doesn't already know. Train it. Post video in the comments. GREAT wa...
01/14/2024

Train a trick challenge:
Find a trick that your dog doesn't already know. Train it. Post video in the comments.

GREAT way to spend a few cold winter days instead of venturing out for a walk.

Do More with Your Dog . Com has lots of ideas and training videos.

In the spirit of keeping things fun for both the dog and the owner, I’d like to suggest you train your dog to do tricks.

01/12/2024

Scent Work Class is cancelled tonight due to weather forecast and perilous driving conditions.

01/09/2024

Manners class and Advanced Manners class is csncelled (Jan 9)

How cute is Doug in his bear costume?
11/01/2023

How cute is Doug in his bear costume?

Would anyone be interested in the Advanced Manners class. This class builds on the skills started in the basic manners c...
10/31/2023

Would anyone be interested in the Advanced Manners class. This class builds on the skills started in the basic manners class and is a solid Therapy Dog prep class. You and your dog have the opportunity to earn the Canine Good Citizen certfication on the last night of class. $130 for 8 nights of class on Tues evenings. Let me know ASAP. I need a minimum of 4 students to run the class.

Really great article on dog to dog play. Well worth the read. Has video examples.
04/28/2023

Really great article on dog to dog play. Well worth the read. Has video examples.

An IAABC Foundation Publication

PlayNTrain K9 is now an approved AKC Fit-Dog Club. What does this mean? This means we will be having community dog walks...
04/04/2023

PlayNTrain K9 is now an approved AKC Fit-Dog Club. What does this mean? This means we will be having community dog walks. These can be applied to an AKC Fit-Dog title or you can join us, just for fun. More news to follow !

04/02/2023

Huge thanks to the volunteers who cam out yesterday ! The ORT scent work trial was a huge success, in no small part to you guys. Quite a few of the participants, the judges both commented on how much you did, and so cheerfully. You jumped right in without being prompted to fill whatever need you saw. Very much appreciated - Natasha, Allistar, Karen, Emily, and Jordan.

03/11/2023

Volunteers Wanted:
No experience necessary

I am holding a scent work trial on Saturday afternoon, April 1st and am looking for volunteers.
Incentives: your choice 1) $10 off any class or private session for every hour you volunteer OR 2) gas card ($5 for every hour you volunteer)
All volunteers also get NACSW volunteer form for future use with NACSW.
Trial set-up starts at 11AM until 1 PM (need 3-5 people to help with set up, putting containers together, check-in
Trial starts at approximately 1PM until 4PMish (need 3 people to be timer, Judges steward and container wrangler)

Let me know if you can help - bring a friend - it's more fun.
If you are at all interested in Scent work, this is a great way to see Novice dogs in action!

02/21/2023

Due to impending storm, Manners class is cancelled tonight (Feb 21).

One of the most common questions I get from clients....
02/05/2023

One of the most common questions I get from clients....

Dogs jump on people because they are excited, and want attention. Removing the attention removes the reward for jumping. Remember, even negative attention, like kneeing them when they jump, is attention. So if the dog jumps, it’s best to ignore them in that moment and then devise a training plan t...

Newest blog post
01/29/2023

Newest blog post

Training new skills often follow the same path. Once you understand the steps, you can often devise a new game plan for training new things with your dog. Step 1: Get the behavior Often times, we lure the dog with a treat to get the behavior we want. For example, if I want to train my dog to circle,...

Congratulations to our AKC STAR Puppies, Ziggy, Leo and Ruby
01/25/2023

Congratulations to our AKC STAR Puppies, Ziggy, Leo and Ruby

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17th Street Fairgrounds
Marshfield, WI
54449

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