The field of dog training is highly regulated like healthcare and law. Before being allowed to put hands on dog and influence the human/canine relationship first hand, trainers and behavior consultants must hold a four-year degree, with two subsequent years of specialty training. Most become involved in an apprenticeship program before submitting to exams and certifying agencies.
Once they pass both theoretical and practical exams in their chosen area of expertise, they still must comply with annual continuing education requirements to maintain their licensing and be allowed work as a trainer.
This is a comprehensive list of training and educational requirements you must have to be a dog trainer. Image from PicQuery.
And this makes sense, because today’s companion dog is part of the family. He isn’t born knowing how to behave in our homes, so naturally, he’ll need a little professional guidance.
He’s also highly likely to bite someone or something in his lifetime. Statistically, he just will. He won’t, necessarily, do it out of aggression; he may get his tail stuck in the door or redirect when heading after a squirrel.
Most domestic dogs these days suffer from some moderate to severe behavior issue such as anxiety, fear, or aggression. Many are reactive behind windows or on leash. With the ever-increasing litigious nature of our society, it’s only reasonable that those called upon to counsel and correct these cases are so well vetted. A less-than-adequate practitioner could cause real physical and emotional damage, even financial catastrophe. An under qualified trainer could even cost a dog his life.
Just kidding!
In fact anyone, including your own dog, can call himself or herself a dog trainer. Today. Right now. You. You could do it. Right now.
Laughing? Me neither.
I see more prong collars today than I did five years ago, even after ten years of seeing their numbers dwindle. Image from dogappy.com.
And in some cases that’s not so bad. Some self-taught trainers are pioneers, critical thinkers, academics and superior technicians. Some of those are brilliant thinkers and teachers. While they do exist, these few are the unicorns of the field.
The sad truth is that most people who call themselves trainers have little to no formal education and spotty hands-on experience at best. The majority lack critical thinking skills and the ability to commit time and energy to continuing education. Some can train their own dog to an exceptional degree, thereby confirming their own breathtaking abilities with all dogs.
We are a field that suffers from inflated egos, fancy titles and strings of initials of little merit. We too often stand behind proud badges of obstinacy, touting, “we’ve always done it like this,” seemingly mistaking this for actual credentials.
And we do love to identify with which camp we endorse, not only in practice, but as the very backbone of our ethical and moral existence; positive, balanced, aversive, clicker, animal learning theory, sport, obedience, etc. Each of us more righteous than those guys over there.
And while all this is happening, we’ve taken our eye off the tennis ball, as it were, with dogs’ behavioral well-being and emotional soundness as collateral damage.
The Fall and Rise of Aversive Dog Training
Until five years ago, I witnessed a steady and constant decrease in aversive collar (prong/pinch, choke, and electric/shock/tap) usage over the decade prior, in direct correlation to the increasing civility of the human/canine relationship. Flat collars and martingales widely outnumbered prong collars, it was highly unusual to see an e-collar on a companion dog, and the old Woodhouse choke chain all but disappeared.
We also saw the emergence of new companies to supply humane alternatives to these antiquated devices, and they produced great products; harnesses of varying contact points, head halters, and flat collars made with comfort in mind.
This was no accidental shift; organizations dedicated to the humane treatment of animals (such as the SPCA) have provided information to the public for literally decades, and we, the hungry warriors against aversive handling and management of dogs gobbled it up and dispensed it, grassroots-style.
Esteemed universities, research facilities, and academics answered the need for scientific evidence to bolster this advancement, despite how reasonable it sounded to take metal prongs off dogs and stop shocking them for the sake of “better” behavior.
“A prong collar hurts at the point of contact, and it has measurable detrimental effects on the emotional health of the dog wearing it. Period. That’s why it works.” Photo from Vet Street.
At the same time, practitioners such as myself and my peers and mentors were continuing to advance our own skills and understanding of behavior to make sure we didn’t slide back into a culture where our clients were lead to believe they could only accomplish certain training and behavior goals by using harmful methods such as prong and e-collars.
We had to get smarter, and better. And we did. While today my cases are far more complex and higher-liability than ever before, not once have I employed one of these tools, or anything more aversive, for that matter, since crossing over to humane methods almost twenty years ago. My cases are infinitely safer and more successful without.
Even after ten years of seeing their numbers dwindle, I see more prong collars today than I did five years ago. After such a steady and obvious diminishing, this contrast has been startling and has forced many of us to consider the reasons behind it. After all, the science hasn’t changed and long-respected organizations publicly denouncing their usage haven’t changed their position.
Still impetuous fledging and stubborn old-timer claim that prong and pinch collars are, actually, perfectly humane if used properly.
This is just our industry’s version of cries of fake news.
The Truth about Aversive Dog Collars
Science is beautiful because you don’t have to believe in it for it to be true. A prong collar hurts at the point of contact. It has measurable detrimental effects on the emotional health of the dog wearing it. Period. That’s why it works.
But don’t take my word for it, seriously, don’t. Check out AVSAB’s position on aversives in training. And most recently, Eileen Anderson used math to objectively explain
“Even the most complex behaviors can be treated without aversives such as prong and shock collars. A professional opposing this fact simply lacks the experience and knowledge to think his or her way out of a problem without using force.” Photo from Dogtra Collars.
And so why the slide? Why the arrested evolution, the reversal back into methods we happily left in the past as clumsy tools of yesteryear, accepting their place in history as stepping stones to which we will never return? And why the unyielding resistance to hard, cold, facts and public’s craving for training methods worthy of today’s progressive human/canine relationship?
The Trainers have a Training Problem
There are several contributing factors, but there’s one we’ve been especially reticent to admit; it’s the training community itself. It’s us.
There has been a surge in the number of professional trainers in the market, new to the field. Many are vocationally retrained, some are retired and on a second career. Some entered the field part time and maintain a full time job in a different field. Many of them take advantage of new quick certificate programs, many only requiring a day or two of theory. Some are a weekend with a hands-on component, some are entirely online. Nonetheless, each attendee is given the stamp of “completion” and title, “dog trainer,” upon completion.
This aversive shift has developed alongside the appearance of a population of professionals with minimal qualifications who’ve either self-identified as experts or are simply working under the title they’ve been given through one of the programs I mention above. I see few to no new trainers seeking apprenticeships with more established practitioners. I also have regular conversations with people interested in entering the field unwilling to slow down and get good. It’s just so easy these days to get busy and work now; social media ensures it as does the craving for quick fixes, fast dollars, seasoned by a cultural empathy deficit.
And so we have a landscape currently populated by novice trainers working over their ability technically, theoretically, and ethically. They exist in all camps, even positive and force-free. They don’t know what they don’t know. Worse, once they begin to find out, they dig in and refuse change.
New trainers in the force-free/positive community are failing dogs and sending them into the hands of more aversive trainers. Aversive trainers are having immediate but false success, as is the nature of punitive training. Owners don’t know to be more diligent than ever in selecting professionals to work with them and their dogs. Cue the spin cycle.
Finding our way back to positive training methods
There are professional efforts underway to address the issue and implement change in both positive training and traditional training. I remain cautiously optimistic that some of the organizations currently working on the matter will make good, actionable choices on how to improve the field again.
Image from Cristine Dahl.
But here are facts and tools all dog owners can use now:
- The most complex behaviors can be treated without aversive dog collars such as prong and shock collars. A professional opposing this fact simply lacks the experience and knowledge to think his or her way out of a problem without using force.
- You have the power, right, and responsibility to advocate for your dog trusting that the above point is true. If you don’t want to use an aversive collar and your hired trainer says you have to, find another trainer. Seriously. There are many of us out there.
- Be prepared to hear, “collars don’t hurt if they’re fitted properly,” and “they are humane if used correctly.” This is just bunk. Sail on.
- Critically review the credentials of any person who dispenses behavior and training advice. This should include family, veterinarians, pet store staff, and even self-identified trainers with strings of letters behind their names.
- Confidently hold professionals and amateurs accountable; If someone knows the facts about aversives in training and still fastens a prong collar around a dog’s neck, he is resigning to hurt him to get better behavior. Knowing how much information is available supporting the detriment in doing so, he does so without the protective guise of ignorance or moral superiority. Say something. Do something. Advocate for dogs.
And lastly, remember there is truly only one tool more superior than any other in dog training and behavior modification; the human brain. You can hone it more sharply than any prong collar and wield more power with it than any volt of electricity.
Cristine Dahl is the founder the Northwest School for Canine Studies and author of the acclaimed book, Good Dog 101 She holds a CTC from the San Francisco SPCA Academy as a distinguished graduate, has worked professionally with dogs for almost 20 years, and has a BS in Biological Science from with a focus on the mammalian mind and brain.
Cristine has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) for her work helping doctors better understand the circumstances affecting dog bites to children and she is an active participant in animal welfare efforts in the state of Washington.
Love. Thank you.
What would you advise someone who has recently adopted a large breed dog who has been trained to the prong collar, is having leash reactivity challenges while in the prong collar (aggression toward other dogs) but is unable to be safely managed on a harness as of now? Thanks so much.
Where do you live? I may be able to find someone who can help if you’re in the Seattle area.
If you don’t live in the Seattle area, try this database of Academy graduates:
https://www.academyfordogtrainers.com/find-a-trainer
The prong collars are a large source of aggression. Dog pulls towards other dog, feels pinch/pain and thinks it’s caused by the dog he’s going after. Next time he sees another dog, he associates that with the pain and starts to lunge and bark more (with more aggression escalating).
Have you gotten professional help yet? If not, you probably might need it by now.
At the very least I would try a Front Clip harness (leash goes in Front of Chest, not on their back). Easy Walk or Freedom harness are a couple popular brands. This helps to take lots of the forward pulling power away from dog. It’s self-correcting because when dog tries to pull forward, it makes dog turn back in your vicinity.
The second tool to try is a Gentle Leader head collar. This takes time and patience for dog to accept, but very helpful. It’s somewhat like a bridle on a horse. It comes with helpful DVD. Do not attempt to walk dog in first couple of days while dog is getting used to it. Just give treats for dog not pawing at it.
Fabulous article. Thank you.
In recent years, some people have claimed that science IS behind the prong collars, and prove this by demonstrating how quickly they may seem to work. One large chain uses partial-prong collars, claiming they are far better. And they have all the certificates to prove they are right. A national training group just opened locally, and they bring young dogs in for a 7-week boot camp, conditioning them to their new and scientific shock collars. These are not the old ones that really hurt, but a new design that only tickles, so that’s now fine and very scientific. And, no, these are not novice trainers, but often well established and credentialed ones, and they seem to be winning.
And, while more modern and humane dog trainers often write about how wrong this is on facebook, they stay quiet otherwise and the only people hearing their arguments are the ones who already agree that prongs and such are not needed.
As for a prong collar hurting at the point of contact and having measurable detrimental effects on the emotional health of the dog wearing it, neither one is always true. Sure, both can happen, but if you state that as absolute there are many thousands of people who will ignore you as they know for a fact the statement is not true in their case. And I know Eileen Anderson, and her math is wrong.
But, one thing I believe is true: For any given dog, it is far more likely those implements will cause unneeded pain and distress than other effective approaches.
As for your comments about the failings in the force-free/positive-only community, I fully agree, and find that many of those people are the most arrogant and ignorant that I have come across, and they often refuse to believe they may not know something.
As for what can be done, I agree that some things have been getting considerably worse, and I don’t see a solution. Pet Paradise has their prongs, and Sit Means Sit their shock collars, and both are large chains.
I absolutely agree with you. I also agree that one of the problems is that force free trainers, like ourselves, are often very reluctant to “make a fuss” among the aversive training community. I’ve talked to force free trainers who say “I don’t want to speak out. I think I can do a better job by keeping my head down and just training the way I do and winning hearts one at a time” or something along those lines. While I can see their point of view, unfortunately that means that in many cases the aversive trainers are shouting the loudest and longest and they are the ones getting the clients. They have a talent for self promotion and being able to convince the public that their way is fine and dandy, and that works for the reasons already stated. Because punishment of course works quickly to shut down a dog. the public sees it as the dog being “trained” which we all know will probably impress the client but only last for a limited amount of time. We also know that this punishment based training will most likely result in another behavourial issue down the line because of the fear and trauma the dog has experienced. It takes some time for that other behaviour to emerge, and then it might be that the client decides to seek another trainer who may not be aversive. I’ve had this experience many times. Quite often those clients have been to the same aversive trainer in my area. That trainer is extremely good at self promotion and marketing and is a “friend” of a large percentage of people that I know in the dog world. All those people love their dogs to death and it is always a complete mystery to me why they adore this trainer so. This trainer will put prongs on puppies and use shock collars. I recently had a client who had experienced this trainer putting a prong collar on a small breed puppy. That puppy’s behavoiur is now much worse. One of the problems is that people appear to be “afraid” of this trainer. People are reluctant to speak out and they’ve admitted so to me. I never name the trainer because that’s not professional and I don’t run that trainer down to clients who have tried that trainer and end up with me. I just show the client the better way.
I’ve also noted that on any trainer forum it is more often than not, the aversive trainers who are using personal insults and nasty language to get their points across. I have never felt the need to do that. I just quote the science and stick to facts. I remain polite. I once made a meme myself and posted it on my business fb page. It got shared a lot much to my surprise. Somehow it found it’s way on to aversive trainer forums. Those trainers mobbed my page and without exception, their comments were full of swearing, and personal insults to me. I remained polite the whole time. It went on for days. I even thought of deleting the meme, but then I decided not to. In the end I blocked all those people because I didn’t want my clients and followers to read such vile comments.
I am one of the people who speaks up. I feel it is my duty to speak for dogs because who else is going to? I do know many force free trainers who also speak up, but we all experience the same thing. My website says quite clearly what sort of trainer I am. It tells people what methods I will use and that I will not ask them to use a choke, prong or shock collar. I find some trainer’s websites don’t state clearly their methods and so for clients, it’s a bit of a lottery. I urge all positive trainers to make it quite clear right at the start, the methods they use.
The article here mentions getting apprenticeships with established trainers. That’s easier said than done. I tried extremely hard to do that. I wrote to every positive trainer in my area and asked if I could be a volunteer so no pay involved and learn from them. Most of the time I got no response, or a negative response. They were all too scared that I might end up learning from them and steal their business. Eventually after a long time and much perseverence on my part, I found someone. I spent a year with them and they were my mentor for the trainer’s course I started. I did learn a lot from them. But I have never once stolen any of their business. That would be unethical and dishonest. In fact I do refer people to them sometimes. They sometimes refer people to me. So it’s a good relationship.
What makes me really angry is that I believe quite sincerely that in most cases, I have more education about training under my belt than most of these aversive trainers. I am betting if you asked them about their continuing education, they would not be able to tell you much. I’ve spent days, hours etc attending seminars, workshops, 4 day conferences. I’ve watched countless webinars, read books, watched DVDs and done online short courses. (In fact I have online 3 courses waiting for me to get round to them at the moment). I have also lost count of the dollars that I’ve spent. I’m looking forward to attending the PPG conference in April and an SPCA symposium in June.
I constantly post articles about positive training and reasons to use it. I post about the science. I post my opinions as well. All the time, remaining factual and polite.
If I continue to get lambasted for posting my opinions about aversive training, then sobeit. Sometimes it seems exhausting, like wading through treacle when nobody seems to be listening. But then, sometimes, you get someone who has an “ah-ha” moment and understands what you are trying to say, the science behind it, and it’s all worth it. 🙂
I’ll be sharing this article on my business fb page.
Just curious if I could follow your facebook page? Trying to continue my education learn others perspective, and have a network of people I can go to for advice.
Sure, anyone can join, thanks!
I’m sorry you are misguided enough to think that prong and other aversives can be used in a good way. Find me one expert that thinks using these aversive horrible devices is okay? By expert I mean someone with a doctorate in animal behavior. I’ll wait because there is nobody with actual science based education that will tell people to use these horrible devices. It’s no coincidence the most educated people in the field are all in agreement these aversives are not good to use.
As the article points out, just that something works is not evidence of scientific proof of its validity for teaching/training. Pain and force, if/when they happen to work, do so to the extent that they hurt and cause fear, NOT because they teach the dog anything. If you want to gather your own proof of that all you have to do is take the prong collar off of a room full of suddenly not-lunging dogs and see what happens. If they start lunging again, the prong collars taught them nothing.
So share with us some of that “science”.
If these special shock and pinch collars don’t hurt, then why do they increase or decrease behavior? What’s the ABC here?
“Tickling” is somehow going to stop a dog from undesired behavior or get them to perform target behaviors?
It’s my observation that you don’t know just how very made up and unscientific what you posted is.
Counter conditioning aversives to then use them to function as still aversives (a rose is a rose is a rose) does nothing but confuse the dog. These are not positive reinforcement and never will be no matter how you try to complicate and warp it. These are noxious stimuli. End of story.
It’s not any more “scientific” or doing a dog any favors. You’re simply adding more confusion so you can then claim to be using “science” to mislead and prey on clients who know no better.
And you’re pretty much aversive conditioning appetitives by sullying them this way. Which is incompetence and nonsensical.
No wonder you need to rely on these collars. You have no idea how to train with anything but these collars. While bastardizing the word “science” to misadvertise.
Really well written article! Now is the general public could get their hands on it. I’m sharing it now to do my part for that end!
Thank you!
Really good article, thanks for writing it.
Phooey! I use a prong collar on my 12-lb Jack Russell the few times during the week that he pulls like heck and I’m always afraid he will hurt his throat-nothing else works but a harness and I use that when he runs beside my bike. I also use a shock collar (set to 5 out of 100) at the barn because he will chase a horse if one gets loose and perhaps get killed or injured, and he will not stop for anything, except the collar. His older brother will hang from the tail, swinging back and forth. Maybe it’s the breed. I still take him there because it is the only place he can go off-leash.
He has been in obedience and rally training for years, and frequently wins. I use the prong collar in the parking lot of the dog trainer because he is so eager to get in and start getting treats that he just crawls with all his strength. He pulls less with the prong collar. Sharp corrections and changing direction multiple times has had no effect in his 5 years.
The only other instance where I would use the shock collar is if I had a dog who chased cars, but mine is never off-leash near any traffic.
Hi Linda,
Another great example in support of the issues raised in the article itself.
It’s clear you’ve weighed the harm of the collars against benefits and have chosen the pain as an acceptable part of your relationship with your little JRT. Knowing there are pain-free alternatives that work, that is certainly an owner’s right. Thank you for weighing in.
I am a +R trainer and I love great articles with proof! If someone claims something that is not true in this controversial subject, it’s going to get attacked and the entire article is deemed rubbish. So, that brings me to ask, where do you get these facts? I’d like to share your article, but I just can’t without some information.
“He’s also highly likely to bite someone or something in his lifetime be it a family member, stranger, delivery person, gardener, child, or vet. Statistically, he just will.”
Can you cite this statistic?
“And then, of course, most domestic dogs these days suffer from some moderate to severe behavior issue such as anxiety, fear, or aggression.”
Most domestic dogs…really? Can you show me where you came to this conclusion?
You do realize there are like 80 MILLION domestic dogs in the United States and you are saying that many will bite and at least 41 MILLION dogs have “severe behavior issues”, right?
Hello JM,
I’m surprised by the content of your comment if you are, in fact, a professional dog trainer, and are at all a part of the professional landscape. These things are basic awareness and like any evolving field, we’ve far surpassed the need to produce stats for common knowledge as they are well known and more novice readers can do their own research if compelled. It’s a bit like citing an anatomy book to indicate the flappy thing at the end of the dog is his “tail.”
If you disagree with these points, that’s one thing and your right. If you choose not to share, also your right and easily accepted. But it continues to remain the shame of the industry that even a small percentage of self-claiming practitioners of R+ methods are stuck in the spin cycle of dissecting the kiss behind a keyboard….a luxury to debate the merits of not hurting dogs instead of actually helping them.
~Cristine Dahl
Oh my gosh, yes, and thank you Cristine! Wish I’d had the thought to say so when one of my articles was recently shredded by the same type of silliness. Your article is right on.
I cringe when I see prong collars on dogs. Especially sweet dogs. Not necessary! I’m not a dog trainer, but my two dogs are or have been Pet Partners therapy dogs. There’s a reason why Pet Partners won’t even allow martingale-type collars. It shows that your dog is trained and you are able to handle your dog without aversion.
I believe that most people who use prong collars don’t know how to correctly use them. I attended a conference where the late Dr. Sophia Yin was the speaker. She demonstrated the lack of skill most owners and many trainers have when implementing a prong collar and discussed the damage to the dog’s neck and emotional stability if used incorrectly.
My motto is why would I want to shock or hurt my best friends? If I can’t control the dogs I have, I should perhaps look for a different breed. And I have two rescued pit bull mixes. They are very strong. Fatter flat collars or harnesses work excellent, along with leash training.
The saddest story I can relate about a prong collar is the sweet, yellow female Lab I saw at the dog park whose collar was embedded in her neck. I almost cried. The owners didn’t have a clue there was anything wrong.
Thank you for your comments. I’m glad Pet Partners doesn’t use them.
My Aussie is highly reactive on leash. I adopted him @ 10 months and he had received little, if no socialization in the shelter. I use a prong collar, currently. I have taken classes while using halties, leather collars & a harness. Nothing works, really, not even the prong collar. Be cause I fear the possibility of him injuring another dog, the prong gives me the most control.
I understand fully the way folks start using collars, and our own industry can be much to blame. The content of the article and included studies address each of the points you mention and their invalidity. As an owner, your dog needs you to take a moment to read thoroughly and advocate for him. Great things can happen!
i always try all the other collars first with lots of training, but I have had two dogs that needed the prong collar because they pulled much too hard and were large breed German Shepherds. They almost immediately respond to the prong collar and because it goes all the way around the neck, it is less likely to hurt their throat. Also controlling them is with a lighter movement side to side. I also have used the E-collar for off leash when hiking, but only on the vibration mode and the beep mode, never the shock. I chose this instead of using a clicker. I see nothing wrong with the E-collar when used this way as many hunting dogs can get focused on a prey and are too far away for a clicker or command to be heard. Each dog is different and I personally feel that people who are so critical of both the prong collar and the E-collar have never used it themselves to see that it does not have to hurt the dog. Prong collars can be purchased with rubber tips as well, but if one puts their arm through it and pulls up they would see that it does not hurt. People often fear the unknown. Everyone I know who uses both says the same thing.
Hello Jesgrate–
An excellent example of the arguments posed in the article itself (has to be fitted correctly, for example) and an indication why we continue to need educate against that position.
I hear the sounds of the rhetoric of the trainers who promote prong collars and other aversive equipment. For example, choosing any of the options you mentioned “instead of a clicker” or because of being “too far away for a clicker…to be heard” shows a misunderstanding of how these items actually work. Whoever told you these things has mislead you and thereby done a disservice to you and your dog. A clicker is not for controlling your dog nor calling your dog back to you; it is a training tool used, when training new behaviors, for letting your dog know he’s gotten a behavior right, and that therefore, positive reinforcement is following right away. In other words, it’s a tool to help you help your dog learn quickly, happily, and painlessly. Combine a tool like a clicker with some good R+ (positive reinforcement) loose leash training and R+ recall training–with hand signals for distance–and you would not need the meany magic collars when you are out with your dogs either.
You make some good points. However, I have never seen a decrease in the use of aversive collars. I think it depends on the area of the country you live in. Here in America’s heartland and midwest, for the past 25 years that I’ve been training dogs, 10 professionally, these tools have been the rule rather than the exception. In those 25 years, my knowledge of dog training has grown tremendously, but I still see the people who I was taught by 25 years ago using the same aversive tools and methods, while poo-pooing force-free methods such as clicker technology.
There are dog training schools that teach students how to use these aversive collars, despite recommendations to the contrary by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and others, and many people are getting into dog training, with little to no experience or education, having only trained their pet dogs using these tools and methods.
The time for licensing is overdue. Hillsborough County in Florida has instituted requirements in a first attempt to regulate dog training. I believe, and hope that other jurisdictions and states will follow.
Thanks for your thoughtful article. I am a reward-based trainer in Melbourne Australia. We have similar issues here. When I started out 30 years ago, choker chain correction and praise was the standard dog club method. Prongs and e-collars were not used. I was an early advocate of positive methods, whether lure-reward or clicker. We experienced a huge growth in interest in dog training, and in recent years there has been a huge increase in the number of dog trainers making a living from training or running businesses. There is no regulation. There are vocational courses and of course an increasing number of on line courses, hooks, DVDs and seminars available. So on the one hand there is more training, and better methods. At the same time there has been a backlash of very active promotion of “balanced” training, advocating aversives, use of prongs and e-collars, and use of head halters for negative reinforcement, following increased internet communication with the US. So the dog training wars are alive and “unwell”. I wish .I could say let’s just look at qualifications and evidence, but these are generally lacking or misleading. My passion is to increase the skills of reward-based trainers. While there is harm being done by aversive trainers, there is also a problem with positive trainers with beginner level skills, not dealing effectively with problems such as Reactivity, which we see a lot of.
Anyway, it is very difficult. My nephew lives in Seattle. I am coming to the US in October. If I stop over in Seattle, I would love to catch up.
Great article! Just curious where you are that dog training is so regulated as mentioned in the opening paragraph? Where I am any one can a “trainer”. No regulatatory body at all. There are some associations trying to set a standard but nothing that must be followed. It’s long over due and I’m sure it will come but progress is slow. Thank you!
I have a problem child that I rescued. When he went through the second round of training, I was desperate. The first round I did with him WITH a trainer. This was after I had exhausted all efforts on my own. I have years of rescue and horse training experience and all founded on positive reinforcement. This guy, though came from so much abuse and was hardened from a shelter life.
When I looked for help, it was almost impossible to find someone that did not use prongs or shock. I find it disgusting and would never use either. He is still difficult but so very smart, lol. I will win though because I love this little boy so much – or at least I think I will. ?
I’m glad he’s doing better. If you’re located in WA I may be able to find a positive reinforcement trainer. Let me know if you need one.
I want to start by saying thank you Cristine for writing this article.
I have also seen an increase in the number of people purchasing aversive dog collars where I work (at a pet shop). I actually am located near you, in Bellevue, and from my conversations with people there is at least one dog trainer in our area that advocates using aversive dog collars in his classes. If I am going to write a brochure/pamphlet on this subject like my mentor suggests can I cite your article? Also, thank you for having up to date, working, resources in yours. It was surprising how many articles on this subject use links that spit out a 404 code.
I am currently working toward my AKC dog training certification but I do not feel like it is enough. I noticed that you had mentioned apprenticeships in your article. Are there any other resources you would recommend? (I also work on the weekends so I sadly cannot take your course in Seattle)