I have heard some stories that have troubled me a lot. Stories about people who have paid hundreds of dollars to have their dogs trained only to see them half strangled and abused by instructors.
Looking into the owner’s eyes and seeing their pain was an extraordinary experience. I was touched by their pain and outraged by the lack of care the instructors showed at the same time.
Who gave these instructors the right to inflict pain on someone else’s pet? The dogs in their care who attend dog training centres are not security dogs; they’re not sniffer dogs or dogs that are trained to save people’s lives. They’re pets. But not just pets.
This is an example: “My dog was jumping up at me and barking at the other dogs in the class. It was only the second time I’d been and my dog was just excited. The instructor yelled at me and said my dog was ‘out of control’. I felt stupid and I was embarrassed in front of the others. The instructor took my dog and walked off with it. She didn’t call it by name because she explained it wasn’t her pet, although I wasn’t sure what she meant by this. Then she gave my dog such a harsh correction that it yelped in pain and she yelled at the dog. She said that I shouldn’t worry because it wasn’t actually pain the dog was crying about it was only surprised and it was just complaining and whinging. I stood there horrified, as I’m sure were many of the other people participating in the class. I paid hundreds and hundreds of dollars to join this class but when I got home I was so ill I couldn’t go back. I know my dog is not perfect but he didn’t deserve that at all.”
Sound familiar?
If this dog was attending my class it would have been treated very differently. I would have suggested that the owner command the dog into a sit and reward with firm strokes down its back. I would have recommended that the owner not pat the dog around its face or head or use a high voice as these actions will only excite the dog more. Patting a dog firmly down its back has a calming affect on the dog.
If the dog jumps up again, they the owner would just pull his or her hands away – re-command and then reward. I would have ignored the barking for the first few weeks because I know the dog would settle down. I would also have kept the dog busy, engaging it mentally and physically so it wouldn’t need to bark. If the barking was becoming a nuisance I would have asked the owner to take the dog for a walk around the ring again to distract the dog until it settled down. The dog was just excited and yes excessive barking can be a nuisance but the dog would have stopped in time once it learnt that it was safe and once it has started to work and do something.
We can’t expect a dog to be perfect from the beginning and do exactly what we want. I teach obedience and agility and I see that most people don’t give the right commands or complete the exercises exactly the way they should so how could I expect the dog too?
These dogs play a crucial role in providing companionship, joy and added health benefits to all members of the family. It has been officially documented over and over again that owning a pet will reduce your risk of heart attacks and increase your mental well being. I could write enough anecdotal stories myself about this very subject to cram the internet!! All pets, not just dogs, play a very important role in the community.
At Messy Pawz Dog Training we advocate a gentler more patient way of training dogs. We are not soft or weak as some instructors may think (and I’ve heard comments of this nature from them). I own large dogs that are very strong but I do not need to dominate them and get them under my control.
Instead, I have built a relationship of trust and respect by patiently guiding and rewarding my dogs. They look to me for direction and leadership. They are confident dogs that are well behaved and relaxed.
I am firm when I need to be which involves me using a louder, gruffer voice. I don’t hit them (they probably wouldn’t feel it anyway) and I don’t punish them with pain or discomfort. If they don’t do what I want, they don’t get the reward.
It’s not hard and in fact it’s an easy method of training. I am in fact quite relaxed. I don’t want to be yelling or running around hitting my dogs. It isn’t part of my nature.
Instead, I just enjoy being with my dogs and other people and their dogs. At my training centres we have fun in a relaxed atmosphere that encourages mutual respect, confidence and calm leadership. Children are encouraged to participate under their parents’ guidance.
Dog training should never be about pain or suffering, domination, power or control of one species over another. It should be about spending quality time with your dog; enjoying each other’s company and meeting people who share your interests in an environment of respect and trust.
Messy Pawz Gentle Dog Training Methods
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