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With dog ownership at an all-time high, leading dog training organisation Pet Professional Guild Australia (PPGA) is encouraging dog owners to ‘Get Dog Training Right’ with rewards-based behaviour training and help prevent pet surrenders to already overcrowded animal shelters.
PPGA’s call to #GetDogTrainingRight comes in the lead up to Network 10’s upcoming Australian-based version of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly TV series featuring controversial UK dog trainer Graeme Hall.
Mr Hall is also known as ‘The Dogfather’, but his teaching methods are criticised by many pet professionals across the globe as ‘old-fashioned’ – “using physical force, intimidation and fear to gain the wanted behaviour in troubled pets,” explained PPGA President Sarah Campbell.
“We are concerned viewers will be misinformed by Mr Hall’s archaic, quick-fix and aversive dog training methods,” she said. “Managing dog behaviour can be a challenge but achievable with positive solutions.”
Instead, the PPGA encourages dog owners to use force-free techniques that focus on positive reinforcement and are based on canine science.
“Put simply, force-free training is rewarding the behaviours you want in your dog rather than punishing the ones you do not want. It is the most ethical and effective method of dog training that puts the animal’s welfare at the forefront,” said Ms Campbell.
Since last year, the PPGA has sent letters of concern to Network 10 about using Mr Hall in the Aussie version of the TV series currently airing in the UK and on Channel 7Plus, co-signed by several leading force-free dog training bodies, animal welfare experts, professional associations and animal welfare organisations, such as Australian Veterinary Association, Delta Therapy Dogs, Companion Animal Network Australia and PetRescue.
“We are also concerned the program title Dogs Behaving Very Badly implies the dog is naughty and places the blame of the problem behaviour on the dog,” said Ms Campbell. “This misconception is worrying because dogs are often either displaying normal dog behaviour or they suffer from a disorder that makes them anxious or aggressive.”
The TV series’ misleading ‘quick fix’ advice also creates unrealistic expectations among dog owner viewers, explained Ms Campbell.
“This ‘quick fix’ type advice often uses inhumane, outdated aversive techniques that display a limited understanding of dog behaviour, and – science tells us – does not address the underlying problem and will fail in the long term,” she said. “In reality, complex pet behaviours are not resolved easily and quickly, and may require working closely with veterinary professionals.”
Aversive methods can also have long term negative effects on dogs and in many cases lead to a frustrated and distressed owner who then surrenders their animal to a shelter.
“We encourage dog owners to get dog training right with rewards-based teaching and help prevent pets from ending up in pounds and animal shelters,” she said.
Follow PPGA’s Facebook page for commentary by force-free trainers on humane and lasting solutions to dog behaviour problems featured in Network 10’s episodes of Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia. For advice on how you can #GetDogTrainingRight for a variety of problem dog behaviours, visit www.ppgaustralia.net.au
The PPGA’s concerns with Network 10’s Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly Australia TV series and #GetDogTrainingRight campaign is supported by the following organisations and pet experts:
Sarah is the president of Pet Professional Guild Australia, a membership organisation representing pet industry professionals who are committed to science-based, force-free training and pet care. Industry Regulation within the pet industry is a big issue and one the PPGA is researching possible solutions for this area. Sarah has been a trainer for over 12 years and owns her own dog training business (Happy Tails Dog Training Tasmania). She lives with her Border Collie Jack. Jack is fully deaf and the training journey with him has been a unique but rewarding process.
Connect with Sarah:
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