24/04/2025
No fear. No pain. No intimidation. No shouting. No body-blocking. No choke-chain. No bark-collars. No electric collars …..
29 Mar
I think I train dogs differently to most folk. Especially folk who own giant, powerful, guardian breeds.
I watch videos & see content on Social Media and it is always the same:
"You have to show these dogs who the Master is"
"You have to become the Pack Leader"
"They need a firm hand"
"He's trying to dominate you"
"Well you can't just wave a piece of hotdog at one of these dogs to fix their aggression"
It's all about the doom & the gloom and how you have to be a tough, firm, handler in order to own one.
What if I told you that all of the above was rubbish??
I've been a professional Dog Trainer & Canine Behaviour Consultant for over 15 years.
I consider myself a modern Dog Trainer. I don't support / use / recommend any of those outdated methods - things like "dogs trying to dominate you" is just a pile of rubbish. Your dog IS NOT trying to dominate you. I can assure you.
Your dog does not need a firm hand either. Nor a firm voice. Nor someone to be in charge or yank on the lead or tell them off.
I'd consider myself an ethical Dog Trainer and I have a clear Code of Ethics which includes to NEVER cause harm, fear, or intimidation to any dog I am working with.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Actually hear those words and understand what they mean.
TO CAUSE *NO* HARM.
TO CAUSE *NO* FEAR.
TO *NEVER* USE INTIMIDATION.
So, if I'm working with a reactive dog who is lunging, barking, rearing up etc do you think that dog may be experiencing harm? Or Fear? I'd bet good money that whatever the dog is experiencing in that EXACT moment of time is not pleasurable. It won't be a positive, happy experience.
It will be a stressful, anxious experience.... And the knock-on effect from those emotions is that the dog DID experience harm ..... He DID feel fear ..... He WAS intimidated....
So, therefore, I have failed as an ethical Dog Trainer and my Code of Ethics ....
The only way for that dog to recover from that experience is for either the cause of the reactivity to move away (however, your dog has still experienced a high level of distress so he won't be in a good place) or, for you to drag your dog away from the cause - you may need to use some force to do this .... It may cause some harm .... Fear .... Intimidation .... Plus, you're possibly using a form punishment on top of all that, too.
You may be saying, "Hey! , that's enough, come on!" ... You may be yelling or shouting or you may be quietly saying "no, that's enough" but either way, whatever you are saying (to reduce the behaviour) is, by default, a punishment.... That's what a punishment is ..... Something ..... Anything ..... To reduce a behaviour.
Whether you like it or not.
Whether you agree with it or not.
Whether you one million percent protest that you "never punish your dog" .... If you are doing or saying things with the aim of reducing a behaviour then it is pretty much a punishment to the dog (or the person!) recieving it.
I'm not arguing whether those methods work or not. Of course they absolutely CAN work!! If you're punished enough times for getting something wrong you COULD eventually learn to stop doing it .... OR ..... You could make the problem even worse & create even more behaviour problems.... Even less of a partnership between you & your dog.
It's a bit of a gamble, isn't it?
You've got two paths in front you.
Both paths will get you to the exact same destination.
If you chose PATH "A" you will need to cause harm to your dog. Your dog will experience fear. He shall feel intimidated and you will need to use punishment of some kind. Your relationship may become weakened and your bond may not be the absolute best that it could be. You're bond breaks down and this makes further training even more challenging as the trust has gone.
Or
If you choose PATH B you will not cause your dog any harm. He will not experience any fear or feel intimidated. You will not need to punish your dog at all, in any way. Your bond will grow. Your relationship will be built on trust & the most incredible, amazing partnership will be formed which can be transferred to other training scenarios and you'll have the most awesome connection with your dog.
Two paths.
One destination.
Both paths lead to the exact same destination.
Which path do you choose??
(Or ... Why on earth would anyone choose PATH A over PATH B??)
I mostly work with aggression cases. I rehab the biters.
I live with & share my home with the multiple biters - not just my current Kangals but those before , too. And the ones before that! I work with aggressive dogs, professionally every single week as my job. It's what I do and I do it well.
I have a high success rate.
And I NEVER cause harm, fear or intimidation to achieve results.
I dont need to punish a dog to get results.
I use actual skill & behaviour modification. Positive reinforcement.
I will ALWAYS set the dogs up to succeed ..... I would NEVER walk a reactive dog into a busy park .... KNOWING he will fail & KNOWING he will react just so that I can use punishment now to stop the behaviour.
Instead, I'll stand at the edge of the park where my dog feels safe.
And THEN my training programme can begin ....
https://www.hairypoppins.co.uk/hairyblog/no-fear-no-pain-no-intimidation-no-shouting-no-body-blocking-no-choke-chain-no-bark-collars-no-electric-collars-
HAIRY POPPINS Dog Training & Behaviour Centre for Medway. Specialising in aggression cases & helping Foreign Rescue Dogs to settle in
