Von Sismo Haus

23/01/2026

Force‑free training is often presented as the moral high ground.
But the reality is simple: every society, every system, every government relies on punishment to shape behaviour.

Australia is no exception. Break a law, and you face fines, penalties, imprisonment, or the loss of privileges like driving. That is punishment, and everyone accepts it as necessary.

We can change the vocabulary to “consequences,” “repercussions”, or “penalties”, but the mechanism is identical.
Boundaries only exist because something happens when they’re crossed. That’s not ideology; that’s how behaviour works.

So when a trainer claims they “never use punishment,” they’re not being progressive. They’re being naïve, uneducated, or deliberately misleading.

B.F. Skinner defined two forms of punishment:
✅ Positive punishment: adding something unpleasant
❌ Negative punishment: removing something the subject wants or expects

Any time a dog wants something and a human blocks access to it, negative punishment has occurred. If you train, you use punishment. The only question is whether you acknowledge it.
Some insist negative punishment is “better” than positive punishment.

But consider this: The power of negative punishment depends entirely on how badly the dog wants the reward. It is psychological pressure, and it can be intense. Positive punishment is physical pressure, and when applied correctly, it is brief, clear, and predictable. Negative punishment is a legitimate and effective tool. It deserves honesty, not denial.

This is why LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive), as defined by Steven Lindsay, matters. LIMA does not mean “no punishment.” It means using consequences with skill, proportionality, and ethics to create meaningful behavioural change.

Experienced trainers understand this. They also know that tools like prong collars are not inherently abusive. The idea that they are used only through force and jerking is a myth that harms dogs by limiting effective options.

If you want to be part of a community that values evidence, ethics, and transparency, join the PDTA
🐾 Associate memberships for dog lovers
🐾 Professional memberships for dog trainers
Join here > https://dogtrainersaustralia.org/join-professional-dog.../
Stop pretending punishment doesn’t exist. Start using it responsibly and proudly.

22/01/2026

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐍𝐒𝐖 𝐃𝐎𝐆 𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒: 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐒 — 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓

The Minns Government is once again playing politics with animal welfare — and dog owners will pay the price.

The Government claims it is introducing “tougher laws to protect our pets,” wrapped up in the emotional slogan:

“There’s absolutely no excuse for animal cruelty in NSW — so we’re tightening our laws.”

Sounds noble.

It isn’t.

This is vote-mongering, not evidence-based policy.

𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬 — 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥

The Government’s headline issue is leaving dogs in hot cars.
Let’s be clear: this is already against the law.

Nothing new is being “fixed.”

All that’s changing is the penalty, with fines increased to as much as $44,000.

So ask yourself:
• Are people repeatedly leaving dogs in cars after already being fined?
• Where is the data proving current laws are ineffective?
• Or is this simply a revenue exercise disguised as compassion?

You don’t need tougher laws — you need enforcement of the laws that already exist.

𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚, 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐒

Next on the list is the proposed ban on prong collars, falsely labelled as “painful and cruel.”

Let’s deal in facts:
• A collar is not inherently cruel.
• Prong collars, when used correctly, do not cause injury.
• Thousands of professional trainers, handlers and behaviourists use them safely and effectively every day.

Yet the Government claims this move is “modern” and “evidence-based.”

If that’s true — where is the evidence?

Please provide evidence dogs are being harmed with prong collars?

When you want to understand a topic, you need to examine all the evidence, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐲

The Government says consequences and corrections are “outdated” in dog training.

Yet at the same time, they are:
• Increasing fines
• Increasing penalties
• Increasing punishment for non-compliance

So consequences are unacceptable for dogs —
but perfectly acceptable for you and me?

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟

MP Emma Hurst states:
“I’ve seen very graphic images where prong collars have cut through the skin causing serious injuries.”

Then prove it.

Provide verified veterinary data.

Provide evidence.

Provide context.

Because professionals who actually work with dogs know the truth: properly fitted and correctly used prong collars do not cause injury.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤

The prong collar is often a last-resort tool — the breakthrough that saves dogs.

Remove it, and the consequences are real:
• More dogs out of control
• More people injured
• More dogs surrendered
• More dogs euthanised

That is not opinion — that is reality.

𝐒𝐨-𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐒 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐭, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟔% 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 “𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞-𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲” 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥.

Meanwhile, professional trainers achieve results without bullying, fear or abuse, using tools that allow clear communication and safety.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐞

NSW records over 5,000 reported dog bites every year.
And the Government’s solution?

Remove effective training tools from the very professionals who prevent these incidents.

That is reckless.

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

Despite public claims, this ban has not yet been tabled or debated in Parliament.

So why are politicians declaring victory already?

Is the decision already made?

Is consultation just theatre?

CALL TO ACTION – DOG OWNERS MUST ACT NOW

If you care about:
• Your dog’s safety
• Your right to humane, effective training
• Preventing unnecessary euthanasia
• Evidence-based lawmaking

Then speak up — now.
✔ Contact your local NSW MP
✔ Submit objections during consultations
✔ Share facts, not slogans
✔ Reject the prong collar ban

Silence equals consent.

If dog owners don’t push back, this will pass — and dogs will suffer for it.

This is not animal welfare.

This is politics.

24/12/2025

Von Sismo Haus Ajax
aka
Batman

09/10/2025

Von Sismo Haus Ambrosia
DOB 26/02/2025

https://www.working-dog.com/breed/Von-Sismo-Haus-305245

17/09/2025

6 months old
(Von den Aero Elvis x Vonbeauty Miesha)

https://en.working-dog.com/breed/planning/parents/dad/7453951/mom/7678512?gen_ik=5&gen_avk=5&gen_line=9&iMotherID=7678512&iFatherID=7453951

10/08/2025

09/08/2025

🌟 Sponsor Highlight 🌟

Massive Thank you to Niko at Von Sismo Haus for generously Sponsoring our High in Trial IGP3 trophy.

Von Sismo Haus are breeders of Working line German Shepherds who also actively train and compete in IGP. We had the pleasure of meeting Niko and watching him compete with his impressive bitch Meisha at the 2025 National Championships and we must say she was certainly a head turner.

Please join me in Thanking them for their support and check out their page or website for information on upcoming litters

https://vonsismo.com.au/about

04/08/2025

Batman & Juno

https://www.working-dog.com/breed/Von-Sismo-Haus-305245

02/08/2025

Von Sismo Haus Apollo 4-5 months old 🐶🏠👶

https://www.working-dog.com/breed/Von-Sismo-Haus-305245

20/07/2025

It’s a big weekend! Congratulations to Mr Nick Sismanis and his wonderful girl Vonbeauty Meisha Won the WDFA (Working Dog Federation of Australia) IGP 1 National Champions! 🏆🎉🍻💐🌺🌹