03/10/2026
For clarity:
"You have never been near a real dog"
I was a military dog trainer, and I was good at it. I intuitively focused on bond and kindness. I was top of leaderboards and winner of dog trials. People wouldn't go in a kennel with the dogs I built the best bonds with.
"You're method bashing"
Whether you choke a dog or not is not method choice - it's cruelty. Lack of abuse - or abuse. It's oppression. It's ignorance. It's NOT METHODS. Strangling, intimidating a dog isn't a dog training method and frankly to think it is, well that is concerning.
If I see cruelty I call it out. Because if you won't I have to - because the dog certainly can't.
"Dogs get killed without force"
This is ridiculous. There are at least three decades of research that show aversion ESCALATES aggression. Dogs are not stupid, they will calm if shown kindness and understanding. Like people, dogs who agress are either trying to stay safe, have a reinforcement history where it's worked for them, a biological imbalance caused by nature or nurture.
Those things can be rectified without harming the dog further. And at risk of repeating myself, if you can't do it - it's not the dog or the approach at fault - it's your lack of skill and understanding.
"Treats don't work for every dog"
Food is needed to stay alive, of course it works, it's the skilled delivery that's lacking. it's easier to bash a dog into cowed movement both physically and emotionally than it is to skill up on engagement, motivation and understanding. If food treats don't work then the dog isn't comfortable or the life rewards are higher. You need to find something that motivates them with positive reinforcement in the same way and balance out what they can cope with in the environment.
"I have been a dog trainer for 100 years and it's always worked for me"
You might not know it but you have taken down the quality of life for many dogs in that time. You probably don't know it in fact - because you can't read their bloody desperate requests and communications.
I shouldn't be having to ask people to be kinder to dogs. It should be normal I certainly shouldn't be getting this pushback.
But to quote a very excellent teacher.
"They can only act according to their level of consciousness"
