Humane Dog Training

I recently witnessed a punishment based training session in Frederick County, Virginia. First I was appalled to see a choke collar being used to force a 4-month puppy into submission. Then I felt physically ill as I witnessed deliberate actions to inflict pain on the puppy because this trainer deemed him to be headstrong and dominant. The trainer either ignored or did not recognize that the puppy’s submissive urination and licking were actually behaviors meant to appease, not dominate. And the puppy gave clear signals that he was stressed and frightened – nervous glances up at the trainer, ears out to the sides, yawning. By the end of the session the puppy did follow the trainer’s instructions, but at what cost?

If you are considering a trainer for your dog, begin your search with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. APDT provides the following advice on how to choose a dog-training professional:

1. Training your dog should be fun! A competent instructor will allow and encourage you to observe a class prior to making the decision to enroll. In a well-run class, dogs and people can enjoy themselves and have a successful learning experience. Look for an instructor who is approachable and encourages participants to have a good time. If space permits, an instructor should welcome and encourage all family members and others who interact with the dog to attend class.
2. A skilled class instructor will provide a clear explanation of each lesson; demonstrate the behavior students will teach their dogs; provide clear instructions and written handouts on how to teach the behavior; give students ample time in class to begin practicing the day’s lesson; assist students individually with proper implementation of techniques.
3. A skilled and professional trainer will encourage dialogue and be courteous to both canine and human clients alike.
4. You want to be comfortable with the training tools and methods used by the instructor. A skilled and professional dog trainer employs humane training methods which are not harmful to the dog and/or handler, and avoids the practices of hanging, beating, kicking, shocking, and all similar procedures or training devices that could cause the dog great pain, distress, or that have imminent potential for physical harm. You have the absolute right to stop any trainer or other animal care processional who, in your opinion, is causing your dog undue harm or distress.
5. A conscientious trainer will stay informed about innovations in dog training and behavior tools and techniques. Check to see if the instructor is a member of any educational organizations such as the APDT, and whether s/he pursues ongoing educational opportunities.
6. A good instructor will take care to protect your dog’s health in a group setting. Ask if dogs and puppies are required to be vaccinated prior to class and, if so, which vaccines are required. Make sure you and your veterinarian are comfortable with the vaccination requirements.
7. Current clients area a valuable source of information for you. Attending a group class gives you the opportunity to ask clients how they feel about their experience – if they are enjoying the class and feel their training needs and goals are being met.
8. Because of variables in dog breeding and temperament and owner commitment and experience, a trainer cannot and should not guarantee the results of his/her training. However, an instructor can and should be willing to ensure client satisfaction with his/her professional services.

Electrical shock collars are another punishment-based method used for both training and confinement. They go by many sanitized names – pet containment system, bark control training, electronic training collar. But let’s call them what they really are – electrical shock collars. In advertisements I have read statements that include "humane," "behavior correction," "builds dog’s confidence," "sharpens a dog’s skills," "harmless." In reality these are devices that are placed on a dog’s neck to provide an electrical shock to the throat area. This is anything but humane or harmless.

For many reasons electrical shock collars are a bad idea. Electronic containment systems are not fail-safe. Some dogs are impervious to the pain caused by the electrical shock and will cross the barrier to chase a squirrel or another dog. The collar can also malfunction or the battery may wear out and the dog crosses the barrier without any punishment. If you live close to a highway or busy street, the fact that you could not depend on your containment system to contain your dog could be his death sentence.

There have been cases of the collars causing serious electrical burns either through misuse or malfunctioning. A dog trainer shared a story of children using the remote control to shock their pet dog any time he approached them. The dog became neurotic and began snapping at the children. A friend who noticed circular patches of hair missing from a dog’s throat area shared another story. The dog wore a bark control collar while outside but was not deterred by the pain. He barked so frequently while wearing the shock collar that it burned away the hair on his throat.

If you are considering using a shock collar to train your dog, take a good look at it first. The prongs you see on the inside of the collar are used to inflict electrical shock to the neck. This is not training, it is punishment and it is cruel. Why would you want to intentionally hurt your pet because someone calls it training?

There is an excellent article in the June, 2009 edition of The Whole Dog Journal, a monthly guide to natural dog care and training that is available at Midas Touch. In the article Nancy Kearns describes how pain- and fear-free training methods are effective and enjoyable. She writes, " First, as a dog owner, you have to realize that a dog is a dog; he possesses natural desires – genetically programmed, most-likely responses to many types of stimuli. You are not trying to teach him about ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ nor about ‘obeying’ you. You are simply trying to modify his natural responses to make them more convenient to you. Positive training not only accomplished this goal but also has the side effect of giving the dog a strong desire to do the things you’d like him to do, increasing the odds that he’ll change his behavior in just the way you would like him to. Think of it as team-building!"

A local trainer I highly recommend is Cari Messick, CPDT, founder of FitHound Positive Puppy and Dog Training. Cari uses only positive training methods that are highly effective, as I have seen first-hand with my own German Shepherd puppy, Gustof.

Cari has graciously volunteered to make her expertise available to Midas Touch. If you have questions about your dog’s behavior or need some training tips, send us an email. We will forward your questions to Cari and will publish her responses on our web site.