I Have Used Aversive Tools

I’m currently taking a week long photography workshop with a favourite photographer of mine (photography has been a side hobby of mine for a number of years, shameless plug: www.jessmayfieldphotography.com) and last night’s lecture was heavy on the storytelling aspect of photography. To get someone to open up about their story in order for you to capture them in a meaningful way, you need to build trust by being open about your own story.

It had me reflecting on myself and the stories I carry. I’m pretty introverted and keep a fairly closed book (thank goodness my animals can’t walk- they know it all!) This had me reflecting not only on my photography but on my dog training business and building trust with dogs’ guardians. If they don’t trust me, how can I help their dog? And how can I reach more people?

All of this as well as recent heated debates among reward vs. aversive based trainers had me thinking that I have a story to tell.

I have always been very upfront that I will never use a shock collar, prong collar, choke chain, etc. If someone is looking for reward based methods, I want them to know that’s me. But in doing so I may have turned away people who are using these tools but may be looking for another way. Afraid of judgement, maybe they didn't contact me. 

So I am here to admit that I have used a prong collar and a choke chain in the past.

And I have friends who use shock collars and we are still friends. Do I wish they wouldn't use them? Yes, absolutely, but I love them and I’ll keep being their friend and maybe one day they will see they no longer need those tools. Do they love their dogs any less than I love mine? Absolutely not.

My first dog was a lovely golden retriever, Maggie, who we got when I was 13. We did Petsmart’s puppy class and that’s as far as formal training went. She pulled on the leash so my parents got a prong collar. I remember walking her with a friend and discussing proper use of the tools and how they teach the dogs not to pull on leash and such. I stopped using the prong collar not because I thought it was wrong but because I didn't find it made any difference in my dog’s pulling!

Fast forward a few years later to adopting my beloved Duchess. It pains me to admit to this because she was so shut down when I got her, but here we go. I’d had Duchess for a year or so I think and figured it was time to do some training. I thought it would help build her confidence (not wrong there but the rest is). I was looking for someone to do private sessions with and found someone at a convenient location who a couple of people said they’d heard good things about. When we got out of the car Duchess was terrified and wouldn't move. The trainer came out and said “what’s wrong with your dog?” I said “that’s why I’m here, this is what she does.” The trainer asked me to walk her down the driveway while they watched. I can't recall if we made it down or not. She often would wiggle out of her collar and run back to the car. I was given a choke chain and taught how to get her to sit, lay down, and walk with me by using pressure and release. I paid the trainer $600 for more sessions. I kissed the money goodbye and never followed up, I think my gut knew something was off. I did continue to use the chain for a while. 

I found Bilinda at K9 Misfits not too long after that and had a private session with her where we started building trust and confidence in Duchess and my eyes were open to the world of reward based training. The rest is history as they say. 

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” ― Maya Angelou.

If you are someone using tools like a prong collar, shock collar, or choke chain, and something in you is wondering if you could do without these devices, please get in touch. Until you are shown another way, you cannot possibly do any differently. I would be happy to show you how you can get the behaviours you want (or stop the ones you don’t want) with reward based training. I pass absolutely no judgement onto you that you have been using whatever tool it is or doing whatever it is you've been doing.

I will end with this quote I heard today on Hannah Branigan’s podcast “Drinking from the Toilet” (episode 167):

“With what limited research there is on this topic, it shows that in general, it is detrimental to the welfare of the animal to have aversive training methods primarily used for their management.” Dr. Eduardo J, Fernandez. 

The information is out there. Seek it out. Write a new story.