A week ago I posted this on my Facebook page.
And then it occurred to me: what if you're not on Facebook? (Go you!)
What if you're scanning my website and wondering who I am and how I work?
So, here we are!
Recently I had the misfortune of seeing a FB post that can only be described as toxic (note to the FB algorithm: not all dog training posts are the same, I like ones that involve liberal amounts of cookies). I have reported it as bullying and harassment. And also as misinformation. The misinformation bit is key. The premise was that positive reinforcement trainers are cult-like; we reel you in and then boom! there's all this choice, consent, feeling, cookie nonsense ...
So, in the interest of open disclosure, in no particular order:
- I use food in training, and I'll ask that you do too.
- I also use other reinforcers, as decided by the dog, and as appropriate to the situation. These may be toys, environmental freedoms. It depends.
- I use "it depends" a lot. Because it does.
- I'll help you find ways to identify and meet your dog's needs.
- I let dogs sniff. A lot. I'll ask that you do too.
- I let dogs amble and choose their own path on walks. I'll ask that you do too.
- I give my dogs choice and agency. I'll ask that you do too. We can talk about the how and the where and the when.
- I do not - deliberately, and this bit is important - use punishment in training. I emphasise 'deliberately', because sometimes shit happens and what I think should be reinforcing turns out not to be.
There are probably more things that I can add to this list, but here's your Saturday morning starter. If you have questions about how I train, or if you want to make sure we're a good fit, then by all means email me before booking. I encourage it.
There's two really big important questions to ask of your potential professional:
1) what happens when my dog gets it right?
2) what happens when my dog gets it wrong?
Listen to those answers carefully.
Ask more questions if you're not sure. Run a mile if you don't like the answer(s).
Pictured is Wolly, walking ahead of me in a back clip harness, choosing his own path and stopping to sniff whenever the f*^# he wants.