Dog Park's Dog Trainer - The Pet Initiative Training

In the dog world, we have what we term a negative conditioned emotional reaction to a few things. The names "alpha," "pack leader," and "stubborn," as well as (human) practices such as alpha rolling and the use of positive punishment (leash corrections, shock collars, physical reprimands).

This week, three different clients came to me and said, "this week, I tried [XYZ] since there was a dog trainer in the dog park and (s)he said it's highly successful."

It's difficult to hold my tongue in those situations since [XYZ] is often well-intentioned but incorrect or harmful advice from someone who may be a hobby dog trainer but has little to no formal education in the profession. I frequently have to undo the damage and explain why putting the dog to the ground after he yelled at the dog who was repeatedly humping him [or insert some other natural dog activity here] is not only ineffectual but also hazardous and deemed inhumane.

It reminds me of a private training session I had with a new client years ago. We were strolling along a route that ran alongside a little fenced-in dog park. As we passed, I noticed a man at the far corner of the park, with his back to us and his dog in front of him. It appeared as though he was urinating. "Wow, that's unusual!" I thought to myself as I continued walking. When we carried on, I noticed that he was still there. He was peeing on his dog. I'm not kidding.

I had to find out. This was something I couldn't pass up and ignore. When his dog returned to play, shaking off again with a dropped head, I approached the fence. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?" I caught the man's eye and smiled. He shrugged, perhaps anticipating the vengeance he expected. "Why?" I inquired. I couldn't think of anything more to say since everything sounded ridiculous. "At the park, he pees on people's legs, which teaches him that he is not the top dog - I am." I'm sure you can picture my expression - the frozen smile and big eyes. "Is it effective?" I inquired. "According to my trainer, it should function with some consistency." He returned his attention to his dog. He appeared to be torn between humiliation and wrath. I couldn't assist. I believe my reaction was "Alright..." before I turned and went away. There is no appropriate reaction.

I imagine a world in which dog trainers are regulated and there is no such thing as a hobby dog trainer. There are no such things as a hobby lawyer, hobby doctor, or hobby nurse. We (professional, educated, and frequently certified) dog trainers study psychology, animal behavior, learning theory, husbandry, and ethology. We charge a reasonable fee for our time and expertise. We put our hearts and souls into our jobs, and we invest countless hours on continuing education to guarantee we are providing our clients with the most up-to-date and correct information to help them succeed. When we are undercut in this manner, it is not only professionally frustrating, but it is also disastrous for the customer, who is receiving counsel from all sides and is even more confused than when they began. It is catastrophic for the dog that is subjected to this constant "trial and error" technique of behavior modification.

Next time a "dog park trainer" offers you free advice, thank them and go on. Just walk away, just as you would not receive medical advice from a random individual at a shop. They may be right, knowledgeable, and well-intentioned, but it's Russian roulette since actual experts in the area don't usually work out of a grocery aisle or prey on desperate and angry individuals in dog parks. Take it with a grain of salt and think twice before acting on it. Let us begin to think critically about what we are being asked to do in order to improve the behavior of our pets.