19/12/2024
If we’re still training the same way in 20 years, it means we’ve learned nothing.
The first dog the public ever noticed me training was a blind German Shepherd named Ashley. I was 15 years old and volunteering at a Humane Society when they called the local news. A reporter came out, took my picture with Ashley, and wrote a small article about us.
I was basically famous! No one asked for my autograph, but I knew they knew who I was: the kid with a dollar bill sized feature on page eight of the third-biggest publication in my corner of New Milford CT, where I lived at the time. "But Ben, I thought you were Australian?" I am, but like the dog you adopted, I'm also a mutt.
That was exactly 20 years ago. Yes, I’m 35 now. No, I’m not kidding. Yes, I look older... shut it.
When I first started working with dogs, different tools and punishing methods were the norm. These techniques had been trusted for decades, and every trainer knew how to use them. But that was 20 years ago.
Today, I still see trainers and handlers using techniques from the 1920s (seriously) as if we haven’t learned anything new. Their argument? “If it ain’t broken” or “Well… science.” The word “science” gets thrown around way too often to justify outdated or really any methods. Even though it's not actually science. But if you say the word, people will believe you. And sure, it’s true—if you apply pain to stop a maladaptive behavior, the behavior will stop. No animal, including humans, wants to be in pain.
But while it might seem like the method worked, the truth is that you’ve likely created more problems for the future.
Here’s an example: Your dog, Toby, is a big, exuberant black Lab who loves to jump on people. He’s not great at listening. Desperate to stop him, you get advice from trainers.
Trainer 1 says, “Just throw your knee up and hit him in the chest. He’ll stop jumping immediately.” So, you try it, and it works! Toby stops jumping because legs now equal pain. You feel accomplished and even start recommending the method to others.
At first, everything seems fine. But slowly, Toby starts to behave differently. You notice subtle signs—like a tongue flick, a yawn, or avoiding people’s legs. Over time, Toby becomes increasingly uncomfortable with legs walking toward him. Eventually, he starts growling, barking, and lunging at strangers. It happened so gradually that you never connected it to that “solution” for jumping.
Trainer 2 comes along and suggests a different approach: “Roll up a magazine and smack him on the face when he jumps.” You try it. And guess what? It works! Toby jumps, and you raise your hand, hitting his nose with the magazine. Problem solved, right?
Fast forward a few months. Toby’s still tenacious, so you’ve had to use this method several more times. You’re excited because the grandkids are coming over, and Toby is normally good with kids.
Your grandson gets out of the car and runs up to meet Toby. Toby seems excited too. But when your grandson lifts his hand over Toby’s head to pet him… disaster strikes. Toby snaps. Nobody can figure out why.
Behaviors are behaviors. For both people and dogs, a “band-aid” solution to a deeper problem will only lead to bigger issues down the line.
~Benjamin McGill, M.C.B Owner of GoodBoy.
The first picture was not the news clip, but one I took with my dog in 2009 "Who I also named Ashley, after the dog in the article". The second was taken a few weeks ago.
I look FANTASTIC! And as a Christmas gift to you, I wanted to share my gorgeous face...you lucky ducks 🤣
