4 on The Floor Dog Training, LLC

03/07/2025

It can be tempting in our training to skip the little steps.

It’s great to have faith in our dogs but if we stick to small steps, it’s so much clearer to them what we want.

The result is getting to the end goal faster with a much more solid behaviour.

02/01/2025

Thank you Wholistic Pet! Even dog sensitive dogs deserve the chance to visit a pet store. If you have a dog sensitive dog, this is a great opportunity for your pup to enjoy a shopping experience.

Our first private shopping experience with Nova was a huge success, private message us to book yours today! 😍😍⁣
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01/29/2025

Do you have a dog reactive dog and wish you could bring him or her to a pet store? Wholistic Pet in Bedford NH is offering an opportunity to do just that. This is really exciting!

Message us about setting up your session☺️⁣
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12/07/2024

I'm tired of being told that my repulsion for punitive and aversive training is a lack of knowledge or skills. I'm tired of being told that my 7 years of studying, qualifications and experience working with dogs couldn't possibly stand up to the Facebook expert.
I'm tired of being told that force free training is limited and that it only works with some breeds. I'm tired of seeing friends and fellow force free trainers being accused of abuse because they refuse to defend those that would abuse dogs in the name of training.

I choose not to use aversives because I know how they work and their purpose. There is no magic or skill involved, it is designed to be unpleasant and its purpose is to intimidate, control and suppress. I choose to avoid punitive training because of my education and experience. Countless studies demonstrate the harm that aversives inflict and how they impact learning and welfare. Force free training is being used worldwide with a variety of species. If it works with gorillas, tigers and crocodiles, it works with any dog breed.
We will not empathise with abusive dog trainers because we do not want to give them a platform, whereby they can destroy even more dogs. We have plenty to learn from qualified trainers that do not compromise training ethics.

Qualified dog trainers shouldn't have to compete with trainers that only care about tik tok videos and forced compliance. Every force free trainer could use aversives with the same outcome. We choose not to because we understand the consequences and prioritise welfare and long-term results over followers and profit.

-Holly Leake

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09/14/2024

09/14/2024

Thank you zak George.

Public Letter to Ivan Balabanov

Dear Mr. Balabanov,

I am writing on behalf of many in the modern dog training community to address serious concerns regarding your participation and professional conduct in the study titled “Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs.”

The study revealed that 100% of the dogs in the shock collar group yelped in pain when shocked. The study notes, “We did not observe negative welfare impacts in the dogs trained with e-collars beyond presumably pain-induced yelps in immediate response to the electric shocks.” This confirms immediate distress caused by the shocks with 8 dogs in your custody.

Even more troubling is that 25% of the dogs in the shock collar group were removed because they exceeded the 20 shocks allowed, yet those attempts still failed to suppress their chasing behavior.

The details of the study indicate not only the infliction of pain but also ineffectiveness in a significant number of cases - even under controlled conditions led by “experts” like yourself. And somehow it was the two dogs who were shocked more than 20x in a session who were disqualified, and not the trainers who continued to shock the dogs until they reached the 20x threshold.

Your involvement in both shock collar training and the so-called “positive reinforcement” training groups in the study further raises concerns especially since the methods presented for positive reinforcement were not representative of established, humane training practices.

A modern approach involves marking a desirable behavior and reinforcing it consistently across different contexts, not merely “calling” a dog back with food.

The study's design misleads the public into believing positive reinforcement is ineffective by setting it up to fail without proper proofing and controlled settings. As a figure in the aversive training community, your participation in this study and its promotion raise ethical questions, especially given your awareness of the broader scientific consensus against aversive methods.

It is concerning that your involvement could mislead the public and dog guardians into believing shock collars are an appropriate and humane training tool.

The modern dog training community requests that you cease all public education efforts that promote pain, fear, and intimidation-based methods which are holding our industry back and which put the public at risk. Our understanding is that you have scheduled a workshop overseas, where based on your history you are likely to advocate for these outdated techniques. These methods contradict the ethical standards for dog welfare, especially in countries like the United Kingdom.

As a practitioner of dog training, we urge you to reconsider your approach and align your practices with scientifically supported, humane training methods, consistent with the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and their international counterparts.

The modern dog training community stands ready to escalate public discourse and scrutiny if these unethical practices persist in the interest of public health and safety.

Zak George

We also acknowledge the involvement of Dr. Clive Wynne from Arizona State University as a co-author of this study. While Dr. Wynne’s academic standing is now under scrutiny due to his endorsement of research methods that caused 100% of the shock collar group dogs to yelp in pain, we remain focused on addressing the immediate welfare concerns this study raises.

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

09/06/2024

A dog reactive dogs number 1 priority is to feel safe. Safe in the presence of another dog and able to engage with their human. On the human end, learning to trust your dog is really hard. I know, I've personally been there. Reactivity literally changes what you do, where you go and the social dynamics of a family. This outcome was not even on our radar, which made it more special. This isn't the end all be all...we have work to do!

08/07/2024

This is a great video for parents and children that live with or are around dogs. Thank you Be Bitesmart for this video

Meet Charlie and his human, Alex! Together, they teach children how to be safe around dogs! Charlie the dog uses his body language to communicate to Alex tha...

07/20/2024

CULTIVATING CALMNESS

We teach our dogs all sorts of things, but maybe don’t realise that teaching “calm” is also an important behaviour that has so many positive applications for both us and our dogs.

“Calm” can be defined as the absence of agitation or excitement; a feeling of tranquility; serenity and peace. These feelings are so often lacking in both our lives and that of our dogs.

Besides teaching dogs to settle on a mat or in another place or capturing and rewarding calm behaviour, here are some other ways to promote calmness.

Scenting or sniffing is a really effective and simple way to promote relaxation. It lowers the pulse rate and creates feelings of wellbeing.

Chewing is another powerful relaxation tool. Dogs use the chewing to relieve stress, frustration or anxiety. Chewing has a calming effect on the adrenal-pituitary axis in the brain which triggers the release of endorphins. It’s like self-medication for stress or anxiety.

Relaxing music that is specifically made for dogs can also work well, especially with dogs that get over excited in a car or have storm or firework fear.

When playing an exciting, high-energy game with your dog, take frequent breaks before starting up again to help your dog wind down and become calmer.

Aromatherapy, ear or other types of massage are other ways to help create calmness.

Cortisol holidays are also really important after a stressful event to prevent trigger stacking and allow cortisol levels to return to normal.

Conventional wisdom says that the ability to remain calm is a character trait that most of us lack, but Neuroscience teaches us that remaining calm under pressure is not an inborn trait, but a skill that needs to be learnt, practiced and managed and this applies to our dogs as well.

07/20/2024

Frank is hanging out for a few hours today. He IS as sweet as he looks 😍

07/12/2024

What an Incredible discovery. This rivals what we were told about animal behaviors. There are many stories similar to this. Behavior is not black and white.

In the icy wilderness of Finland, an unusual friendship blossomed. A grey wolf and a brown bear, typically solitary creatures, formed a remarkable connection. This bond challenged the instincts of their species. Daily Adventures Together The female wolf and the male bear explored their home in Kuhmo...

07/09/2024

A Chuck it Duck. Dog approved!

07/09/2024

I said it before and I will say it a million and one times again

"Empathy above all else."

Truly seeing the world through your dog's eyes changes everything.

It's like fumbling in the dark and then turning on a light.

Having empathy not only fosters higher welfare for your dog but also enriches your emotional intelligence.

You will start to become more attuned to your feelings and reactions, gaining many insights into your own behavior—not just your dog's!

Traditional ways focus on teaching the dog what to do, but I focus on you.

Coaching, supporting and guiding you.

The biggest changes in our dogs happen when we learn WHO our dogs are.

Only then can we shift ourselves to meet them where they are at.

This allows us to grow together.

If you are looking for someone to guide you on your journey of growth comment HEAL to get the link for my private coaching platform.

I can't wait to meet and empower you! 💜