Sometimes not sleeping enough is good — like today when I need to just dive into a hard topic, and not waste time trying to find the exact perfect words.
The topic is dog trainers.
Brace yourself.
Bright Star Nova
I get it. When I started training my first Berner, I just did what the trainer said — after all, she was the dog trainer. What did I know?
That was wrong.
It turns out I knew a lot — about being kind and ethical and smart in how I train dogs.
But it took me a couple of years to develop the confidence to say, “no — ends do not justify means.” I still feel proud that I refused to pinch my dog’s ear to teach her to retrieve but I feel shame that I ever fell for the “power steering” argument for using a prong collar.
Shame, however, is not helpful. It can keep us stuck as we desperately defend our behavior, trying hard to manage the cognitive dissonance between what we know is right and doing the wrong thing because someone told us to do it.
Bright Star Capella
Authority is a powerful driver of behavior, responsible for all manner of unfortunate things, large and small. Consider, after all, the Milford Experiment. Good people will do shitty things to other humans — and dogs — when told by an authority to do it.
It has been decades since I read Don’t Shoot the Dog and discovered how to train dogs using the concepts of behavioral theory — something I know quite a bit about because of my professional life.
Moonshadow Buck
Armed with a clicker and a bunch of treats, I stopped teaching classes at a training center that continued to advocate what I was able to recognize as unnecessary and abusive techniques. I trained my dog — and then the next one and the next one and so on — using ethical, positive, effective training techniques.
It became a mission for me — to show that it is possible to have high achieving performance dogs without scaring or hurting them.
Zoey. Great-grandmother of the Bright Stars.
When Zoey died — and let me tell you that even after three years, writing that still brings the tears — I had no regrets about her training. I gave her the life she deserved — every single day. That means more than anything to me. Ends NEVER justify means in my book.
I walked out of an obedience seminar two years ago when the very successful trainer started showing humans how to abuse their dogs. Would she call it abuse? Of course not. But here is the criteria — try that technique on a human. If it would land you in jail on an assault charge, maybe it is not a good strategy for a dog either.
“Officer, it was just a bop on the nose!”
Moonshadows Titan and Hmmmm…
As I get ready to send these small lives into the world, I am terrified of what awaits them — things that I cannot control once they leave.
Like dog trainers.
Bright Star Mirak
Let me help you be smarter than I was when I started.
If the trainer says she is a balanced trainer, walk out. That is current code for I will pet/praise AND use techniques your dog prefers to avoid.
If the trainer doesn’t use food in training, walk out. Failing to use a primary reinforcer is a clue you are in the presence of someone who will use techniques your dog prefers to avoid. Before you leave, ask them if they expect a paycheck or if it is enough that people say they are doing a good job.
If the trainer says anything about dominance or a puppy trying to be the boss of you — a puppy who is LITERALLY 100% dependent on you — don’t let the door slam on the dog’s tail as you walk out.
If the trainer wants you to use a prong collar or choke collar (ahem, CHOKE), get thee gone.
A word about shock collars. They call them e-collars now because saying SHOCK collars sounds so — well — cruel. Besides, e-collar sounds kinda high tech and cool — like e-cigarettes and e-bikes.
Do e-cigarettes shock smokers? Do e-bikes shock riders? Nope. Can you imagine what would happen to sales if e-cigarettes and e-bikes delivered a shock to users?!
Do e-collars shock dogs? Of course. That is the point. Don’t be e-fooled.
If the trainer mentions Cesar Milan in a flattering way — skip the walking and run.
Moonshadow Andy
Unfortunately, it can be really hard to figure out whether the trainer is a “walk away” type or a safe one. Here are some ideas to help you sort that out:
Read over these Position Statements of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, including the one on How to Choose a Trainer. When we know better, we do better.
Look for these letters after the trainer’s name: CPDT; this is especially relevant for puppy training and pet manners.
If you want some help discerning whether the trainer is a safe one, feel free to send me info and I will do some research for you.
I offer this website as an example of what to look for in a trainer. How fortunate is Wildflower Buttercup that she lives with that trainer?!
Wildflowers Zeus and Buttercup
Trust me: I do not lose sleep over Buttercup — or Zeus, who attends training classes at that center and therefore, is both ethically and kindly trained AND gets to see his sister regularly.
There is no shame in needing to change and grow and learn new ways of doing things. In fact, I see recognizing and embracing the need to evolve and change as laudable.
Have an ethical day.
Evening Photos
Grandma Sparkle with the Bright Stars
Bright Star Sirius
Bright Stars
All Ten Bright Stars — one has his leg turned oddly but that is not how he normally is!
I imported some snow for them. This is Nova Jr.
Moonshadow Big T
Moonshadow Portia
Moonshadow Neil
Moonshadow hmmm…