In light of recent events with a certain aversive trainer hitting the news. I would like to put forward a few questions.
In what modern dog training school do they teach you to use aversive methods, such as e-collars, prong collars, choke collars to "train" your dog?
In what modern method of scientific dog training study does it specify that forcing a dog to do your bidding by physical abuse (choking, leash snapping, yanking, strangling, hitting, kicking, and shouting) is a valid training method based on science and decades of research?
In my very humble opinion, I see no trainer that uses these methods to have any valid professional dog training qualification whatsoever and they seem to be self taught with methods from the pre 1930s, with zero knowledge of neurobiology, operant conditioning, sociology, genetics, endocrinology, physiology, domestication & evolution, cognition or emotion. *inhales deeply*
I'm really very interested in the people who use these methods often, and would like them to show me their certification from the educational organisations they learned this from. The ones with real professionals, that are spouting that these are worthwhile methods using the LIMA (least intrusive, minimally aversive) or PRAMA (Positive reinforcing and minimally aversive) principles. Who are they? I'll happily contact these organisations for a chat about it and share my findings with people if they are interested in the response I get.
Training like the "Dog Dangler" as hes been so affectionately known is abusive, dangerous and downright irresponsible. Social media has a lot to answer for in him having such a large following. He shuts down dogs, paralysing them with fear and learned helplessness. He shows the before and afters, and only recently has he got so confident he showed the inbetweens. This is where he got called out. Its truly horrific to watch. I dont recommend it if you are a dog lover.
Some people say that positive training or force free training doesnt always work for aggressive dogs. Sure it does, it just takes a lot of work, understanding the science behind it and putting in a lot more effort and skill, than it does to press a button on a shock collar control device and call that "training". What happens when you take the collar off? Is it still trained?
So many questions. So many debates.
Thats all I have to say for now.
Heres a happy Fennel to help with any trauma i've caused you during this rant.
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