Looking For A Dog Trainer?
Many dog trainers / whisperers claim to train non-violently – in fact, many methods are anything but non-violent. Animal welfare qualifier Dog trainer and behavioral adviser Petra Frey from Dogdialog gives tips on how to recognize a good and non-violent coach:
Common Violent Methods:
Kick in the kidney area
Use of a tightening collar
Force commands
leash jerks
Dogs scare
throw on your back
sibilance
How do I recognize nonviolent training?
Often, hidden violence is used. It is not important what the person says, but what he does!
Work on punishment means …
… just an inhibition of behavior
… no alternatives for the dog
… anxiety / frustration / avoidance behavior develops
… can lead to a mismatch
… may lead to defensive behavior or learned helplessness
Positive dog training on the other hand means …
… understanding the causes of the problem
… work on the cause
… development of an alternative behavior
… motivation, creation of positive emotions
… no mismatch is possible
Consequently, only non-violent positive training is safe training!
Tips For the Dog School:
Always stay with your dog!
Dog-human training is the focus
Knowledge of the dog owner
Command structure is purely positive
