07/05/2024
A Simple guide to choosing the right professional for your dog.
If you have a dog and want to either train them, or find solutions for challenging behaviours, it must be getting really confusing about what methods to use and who to employ to help. With so much information (and Misinformation) out there and with much of it being so contradictory, it must be hard to know where to turn for support. I know you love your dog and want the best for them, so to make it easier don’t worry about what others say about the best approaches – just have a think about how you would like to learn and be treated, or ideed how you would like your human children to learn and be treated.
To aid this further here are a few simple questions.
If you (or your children) were to be taught something new would you :
A. Want to be taught with patience and kindness, with praise when you got it right, support if you struggled to understand and the ability to feel safe to get it wrong and try again?
B. Get praised when you got it right, but punished when you got it wrong?
C. To be made to do it through physical force and intimidation?
If you (or your children) were in pain or feeling uncomfortable would you :
A. Want to feel you could communicate what you were feeling, be listened to and get relief for that pain or discomfort, especially from those you rely on?
B. Be ignored, dismissed and corrected for that communication, but praised when you stop communicating?
C. Get punished for trying to communicate, and for that to continue until you stop trying to communicate?
If you (or your children) felt emotionally or socially unsafe or uncomfortable would you :
A. Want to feel your attempts to communicate were being listened to and felt those around you would be there to help?
B. Be ignored, dismissed or corrected for what you were trying to communicate, but if you stopped you might get praise?
C. Be deliberately put into a situation that you felt emotionally or socially unsafe, tried to communicate that and then got punished for that communication?
If you answered A to all three, this shows you really care about your own experience, and that of your loved ones, so choosing a science led, positive trainer/behaviourist is the natural choice for you as why wouldn’t we offer the same to our beloved dogs? Ignore all the rhetoric and false narratives being put out by those who don’t know better, and do the best for you, your dog, and your relationship with them. Even if you have started out trialling other ways, it is never too late to get it right for your dog – we are all learning and growing 😊
If you didn’t answer A to these –I am sorry if your own life experience has meant you have not been afforded the kindness and support of those around you to realise that A really is the only answer. However, if looking at it this way inspires you to do things differently (for yourself, your children or your dog !), it is never too late to recognise that :
1. Learning happens best when the student feels safe and are focussed, positively motivated and engaged.
2. Challenging behaviour is often the communication of underlying need: Identify and support that need and things really do start to improve, especially your relationship with your dog.
When we know more, feel more and grow more - we can do better. Not just for our dogs, but for ourselves and those around us 🙂
The best news is, despite what others may try to tell you, it is NOT a matter of opinion, it is about choice ! The science and the evidence is out there - and there is a lot of it. And as our dog's don't get to choose how they are treated, it is even more important we make the right choice for them 🙂
For reference : A = A positive approach B = A 'balanced approach' C = A punishment/aversive only approach
For more check out my Dog Centred Care FB group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogcc
