What I Believe, How I Work

I've made my share of mistakes when working with dogs but I've learned from my mistakes, have sought to know better and now I do better. My philosophy is not based on "old science", old anecdotes, old beliefs or human ego. Instead, it's based on science, the most up to date science of the canine brain, the most up to date science of the canine species, the most up to date science of canine emotion and physicality. Scientists, academic qualified and skilled animal behaviorists, ethologists, zoologists, veterinarians, etc. have and are exploring further who and what our dogs are, how they operate and successfully survive and thrive in their world as well as ours. Science, technology, research, and real world studies are allowing us to observe more, explore more, discover more. The simple fact is that we and our dogs are very much alike. Their brain and ours operate the same, react to emotion the same and the behaviors as a result are the same. 

When we are not in control or when we are presented with unwanted or undesired behavior from our dogs, we have a tendency to immediately "correct", punish or "discipline". It's simple, all you have to do is inflict discomfort or pain to get control or "correct" the perceived inappropriate behavior. 

Aversive methods like choker, prong (pinch) and shock collars (e-collars, stim collars), leash corrections, water bottles, shaker cans, hollering, screaming, alpha rolls, hitting, kicking, hanging, helicoptering, etc. all work because they inflict discomfort or pain AT THAT MOMENT in order to stop the unwanted behavior. The only thing those methods emphatically teach and reinforce is to FEAR the response to the behavior and the person inflicting it. Remember, suppressed behavior will always manifest itself in some other form.

Scientific fact- dogs trained using aversive methods are 2.5 times more likely to bite a family member.