17/01/2023
Could not have said it better!
I think it is completely accurate to say the dog training industry is in a complete state of emergency at the moment. I don’t think this is an exaggeration in the slightest.
The vast majority of dog trainers, in the USA at least, are using methods that are scientifically inconsistent with a dogs overall well-being and welfare. In the scientific community this is not a controversial statement. Even though it might seem like it here.
This doesn’t mean dog trainers who train this way are bad people. In fact, virtually every one of them is a person who loves dogs and wants to better their life. But it does mean that there is a lack of VERY BASIC scientific understanding of learning theory BIG TIME in the dog training industry.
The perception of the public is that particularly dogs who have issues with aggressive behavior, that those dogs should be taught with physical aversives to resolve these issues. The science is very clear on this. Everywhere humans have observed how animals learn from us, we have found physical punishment to be counterproductive in lieu of the alternatives that focus on a more proactive and appropriate approach.
If you are one of the people who really feels that aversion is necessary in dog training for whatever reason, allow yourself to think critically on the matter and please ask yourself where your views of dog training originated. Did they come from a scientifically valid source? Did they come from a relative? Did they come from a dog trainer who uses physical aversions frequently in their training approach? Where did THAT trainer get their understanding of dog training?
How often are you trusting your instincts over science? Consider how culture and various roles, particularly those related to gender, influence how our dogs are trained. For example, do you view your relationship as a partnership or a hierarchical relationship?
With the tiny bit of influence we have in this industry, it is vital that we are on the record very clearly for all to see on this issue. It is by far the most important issue in dog training.
Finally, as mentioned in the video, please keep in mind that the burden of proof lies with the party making the claim. If one is to make the claim that aversives are necessary in dog training, they must provide the scientific data to support the claim if they are to be taken seriously. Simply dismissing the data I provided, even if valid, would not be sufficient evidence. Furthermore, such a scientific finding would turn learning theory on its head and would be brand new science…
(If you have no idea what I’m talking about, see my previous posts or click here: https://youtu.be/BWM_gHMQaUQ to watch my latest video. This is the most researched and solid effort Bree and I have ever made to present the science in a neutral fashion as it relates to how we train dogs. The information is wide ranging and detailed. Please watch the whole video.)
Please spread the word and let us know your thoughts in the comments ❤️
