I remember when I first began studying dog behaviour with trained professionals. I had to face a lot of uncomfortable truths about dogs and how they learn. These truths were presented with reason, facts, and proof. While I thought I knew something about dogs, I was wrong about many things I had learned from people who didn’t train dogs for a living, had never studied dog behaviour, and whose own dogs were very poorly behaved. A lot of what these individuals said about dogs was motivated by feelings, not facts.
I have been fortunate to learn from numerous talented trainers, and without their dedication and generosity, I wouldn’t be the trainer I am today.
Social media has its issues. As Mark Zuckerberg said on the Joe Rogan podcast, social media is a reflection of human nature. With the rise of so-called “force-free” or “pure positive” methods, we’ve seen a massive increase in dog behaviour problems throughout the industry. For the most part, force-free trainers rely on emotionally manipulative propaganda — particularly shaming. They shame anything that doesn’t suit or align with their ideology.
As a result, many susceptible owners have inadvertently rewarded unwanted behaviours through these “training techniques.” They eventually reach a point where they can no longer live with their dogs and are left with limited options: sedatives, surrendering them to a rescue or shelter, or worse — euthanasia.
I have written before about medicating dogs for behaviour issues and why it is unnecessary.
If you’re experiencing these problems, don’t give up. Instead, contact a balanced trainer who can demonstrate reliable training (such as a solid recall) that doesn’t rely on constant bribery and begging.
