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Morals versus Professional Conduct - Where should I stand?

16/4/2014

3 Comments

 
As the face of a professional business its important that I keep the head down, focus on what I do, and turn a blind eye to others. All I can do is continue to educate myself, become the very best behaviour consultant I can be, and hope that should dog owners need help then they would choose to knock on my door.

While the majority of my 'study time' is spent researching the latest doggie science, I have put in many hours of 'running a business' study over the years, and continue to attend business operations seminars.

Here's my dilemma. Its business suicide to 'bad mouth' other businesses. Its petty, comes across as spiteful, and is quite unethical.
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But what do you do when you know other 'trainers' are using techniques that are, in my opinion and the opinion of the top animal behaviour experts, down right cruel?!

Do I nod my head and say 'enjoy your class, and if you need my services in the future you know where I am'?

What if I've worked with dogs that have been there, done that, and now where the emotional scarring t-shirt that we need to heal?


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These 'trainers', I hope, do not wake up in the morning and say 'I'm going to abuse some dogs today'. But this is what they do. As soon as you put a choke, prong, or shock collar on an animal (or toddler) you are abusing them. You are abusing your power, the animals trust, and you are abusing your relationship with this animal.

Positive punishment tools often show quick results, positive punishment is a method of learning. Science shows this. Science also shows that of the four quadrants of learning, positive punishment is the least effective and has the most dangerous side effects.

Science also shows us that positive reinforcement (rewarding good behaviour) is the most successful method of learning with minimal side effects (besides drool I hear all you St. Bernard owners cry!!).

So what do I do when I hear a dog owner is bringing them to one of these 'trainers' who has not yet learnt the way of positive reinforcement training, or has not yet educated themselves in learning theory science?

Yes they may be cheaper than us. Have a look at Creedons credit card bill for the past 4 years and look at the massive sum we have spent as a team on conferences, training DVDs and books, educational courses, access to scientific journals, and so on. This brain of mine didn't come cheap ;)

What would you advice?

Do I say nothing?
Do I start one of my never ending rants, only to find out my audience is actually the niece of this trainer?

Do I ask them for an hour of their time to explain why jerking and yanking the leash / using these tools / overwhelming your dog with fearful stimuli can cause irreversible damage?

My loyalty is to the dog. Always. But I also need to behave in a professional manner.

What would you do?


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*Choke chains CHOKE your dog! Think it through! There is a better alternative. Mind your dog. You love them!
3 Comments
Niamh O'Mahony
16/4/2014 07:12:39 pm

It's a good point. If you hear a customer is bringing their dog to a trainer who uses old school methods of pain and fear for motivation and you try to educate them on why positive reward training is best, they could see this as a ploy on your part to get them to come to you for training instead.
You could educate customers indirectly by posting information around your premises and online. Pictures speak volumes - having some on your walls or in leaflets, with accompanying information as to why positive reinforcement is best would get your point across. A good place for this is in reception - people waiting to pick up dogs could read this information.
Another approach could be a 'welcome your puppy' seminar - providing this information to dog owners at an early stage when they have just gotten their pup would be beneficial as this is the time they would make most decisions on training and lifestyle. I find a lot of people choose the wrong dog for them so maybe a seminar on choosing the right dog for you would be good? you could educate them at this time on positive training.
The bigger picture is trying to get dog training regulated and banning methods of abuse and torture such as choke chains and prong collars. Getting Ireland to enforce this will inevitably mean you not having to educate people on making the right choice!

Reply
Noreen
17/4/2014 12:06:40 am

Hi Nanci,
For what its worth i really think this is cruelty to animals and nothing else. Its shocking my stomach is in knots for this poor dog. i want to go and take him... As a professional this has to be reported to stop it continuing to be done surely. look at the Neary case when the nurses whistleblew so many women came forward and justise has and is being done. Same applies to the Garda investigation which is ongoing. If i was attending you i would like to think that you did not let this go. How would that person feel with that around his/her neck. Crusifiction personified.
I admire your work so much surely and ethically the thing to do is to stop it continuing.
Keep up the good work,
Noreen

Reply
Michael Smith link
16/1/2015 03:58:29 am

Thanks for this post! I have always been super against the use of these collars. I can't stand to seen my pup in pain. Keep up the great work on this blog!

Reply



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