20/02/2025
There is much criticism and sometimes aggression from some training and behavior groups that argue and believe that physical punishment works and dogs need to be 'corrected' when they do a behavior we do not like, without even showing and teaching the dog what we DO want! Working with an aggressive dog is tough, and there are NO quick fixes. Does shock, prong or other aversives work? Yes they do. Should they be the #1 thing a trainer uses to train your dog to stop doing a behavior? Never! If someone punched me in the arm (doesn't matter how hard, but for arguments sake let's just say it hurts a little) every time I ate a cookie, of course I would stop eating cookies! But if I LOVED cookies, would I put up with the punch? Yep! Then what happens...the punch gets harder and harder until the pain is too great and the cookie becomes less and less appealing. And I'd start to hate the person who was punching me. If a very aggressive dog keeps lunging and barking at something or someone, fear free or trainers who follow the LIMA protocol will create a behavior plan to physically change the brain of the dog (yes, it is proven by brain scans and blood tests-look it up!) by conditioning. It takes a LONG time for adult dogs, and it's not as quick and showy as a prong collar or shock collar result, so the TV shows don't have many programs with R+ trainers. It's not 'throw a cookie at a dog that's attacking you and see how that works'. That's self defense...not even close to what we are talking about. So the if you want to ditch the prong or shock (e-collar) please look up a behaviorist or trainer to guide you in the most productive and humane way to train your pup!
🔻On paper - everyone can state they are a positive reinforcement trainer.
❌But when you look at their online content, photos, videos, hear them make certain statements, you realise the reality is very different.
🙁I know what red flags in dog training (and related) industry are and how to look out for them. But does an “average” dog owner know this too ? The answer is 🅝🅞. People assume that if the label says “X” that’s exactly what it is. But it’s an easy trap to fall into and ultimately your dog will pay the price.
First red flag 🚩
Anyone who uses (can be checked on photos, videos, and content posted) prong, shock, choke collars .
⭕️These are simply abuse tools, which cause pain & discomfort and are the furthest thing from positive reinforcement trainer/ force free training.
Look carefully through content, zoom in on photos & videos, make sure there are no hidden monsters like the one in photo below (from another “dog trainer”).
Second red flag 🚩
❌They make statements like “your dog needs to know you’re the boss”, or “dogs need to learn their place”. Dogs these days are all companion dogs (as even working and gun dogs are now more companion dogs then ever). Their “place” is as equal members of the family, and should be treated with respect they deserve.
Third red flag 🚩
No verifiable dog qualifications listed. These are all easily verifiable online these days, so if one is listed - you can check if the body awarding it exists, you can check members directory for individual trainers. You’d be surprised how easy it is to check this. Saying “I’ve worked with dogs for 20 years is not impressing anyone anymore, especially if you haven’t invested in professional development (which is absolutely necessary in any field), your knowledge hasn’t kept up with ever changing science and methodology.
The list of 🚩 flags can go on ….
🟢Can you identify any other red flags that would concern you straight away? 🟡
Relationships are built between dog and owner! Member of the IAABC & APDT. Insured.
