06/17/2021
Has a dog trainers suggestion ever made you feel uncomfortable? Read this!
Larkin’s first trainer was careful with his words. He didn’t say “alpha” or “dominance” or “punishment”. He brought treats. He was personable. But he also did things during that one hour that made us deeply uncomfortable, confused, and caused us to question ourselves.
As we tried to implement the plan our unease deepened. I began to feverishly research and realized that the person we trusted and let into our home was bringing us to the precipice of causing irreparable harm to our puppy. When I shared this with my partner, he said, “F**k this, we’re not doing this anymore. Why even bring a dog into our family if we have to treat him like this?”
I know I’m not alone on this. I know so many of us have been there. So many of us have stood in front of a trainer wondering, “Is this OK?”, “Is this safe?”, “Does that hurt?” So many of us have watched our dogs’ personalities change, their spirits shrink, their behaviors diminish in front of our eyes.
And so many of us have heard the assurances. “Hurt? No! It’s JUST like a mother dog correcting her puppies”, “What shock? This is S-T-I-M. See, feel it, it’s barely a tingle”, “Oh, this is just to get their attention, we’re communicating”. The assurances are swift and well-rehearsed and may make us feel silly for questioning in the first place. And yet, that little voice deep inside remains.
Listen to that voice. Trust your gut. Real training doesn’t need a PR team. When being given a training tool it shouldn’t be followed up with a disclaimer that even though it looks painful, it’s actually quite benign “when used properly.” You shouldn’t’ have to hear assurances that something you‘re about to do to your dog “doesn’t hurt.”
Good training feels…good. Good training is fun. Good training is uplifting, empowering, meets you and your dog where you are, and brings out the best in you both. Whether you’re working with a puppy, an adolescent, or an adult dog with behavior challenges, training should never hurt or make you uncomfortable. Trust that. And trust yourself, you and your dog deserve it.
[ID: A brown dog is standing on a wooden crate on a beach. His head is turned to his left, his mouth is open, and his ears are flopping in the wind.]
