10/20/2025
💔The Truth About “Dog Trainers” And Why It Breaks My Heart 🐾
I get so many calls from people who have spent thousands of dollars and countless hours working with someone who calls themselves a dog trainer… only to end up with a fearful, anxious, or even aggressive dog.
Here’s the sad reality:
👉 The dog training industry is completely unregulated.
That means anyone can call themselves a “trainer,” even without education or credentials in canine behavior.
Recently, one of my clients showed me an email from a local “trainer” who instructed her to:
⚠️ Put a muzzle on her dog and keep him in a crate.
⚠️ Only feed him while wearing the muzzle.
⚠️ Stop giving the medications prescribed by her veterinarian and instead give CBD oil that the “trainer” was selling.
⚠️ When the owner expressed concern that her dog wasn’t eating and was losing weight, the trainer replied, “I don’t care if he doesn’t eat for four days, he needs to lose weight anyway.”
A prong collar and shock collar were also required.
The consequences of this advice were catastrophic. 💔
Not only is this unethical and inhumane , it’s dangerous.
This so called “trainer” was essentially practicing veterinary medicine without a license, giving harmful instructions that caused serious suffering. And sadly, this isn’t an isolated story.
I see the aftermath of these outdated, punitive methods far too often. These approaches don’t solve behavior problems, they suppress them through fear and pain. When fear is involved, trust is destroyed.
Here’s what real science and ethical standards say:
✅ The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) sets the professional standard for veterinarians and certified trainers.
✅ Their evidence-based position is clear: use reward based, positive reinforcement methods, not punishment.
✅ Positive reinforcement helps dogs feel better about their world, while punishment only teaches them to fear it.
https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf
To maintain my certifications as a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant and Certified Professional Dog Trainer, I’m required to complete 72 hours of continuing education. I stay current because dogs and their owners deserve professionals who truly understand how dogs think, learn, and feel.
If you’re looking for a trainer, please ask these questions:
🐾 What certifications or credentials do they have?
🐾 Do they talk about dominance, alpha, or being the “pack leader”?
🐾 Do they recommend prong, pinch, or shock collars?
🐾 Do they sell or recommend replacing veterinary medications?
If so, walk away.
Training should never be about control or fear. It should be about communication, trust, and compassion.