What sort of trainer are you?

The world of dog training is unregulated. It is totally possible for anyone to set up a website and call themselves a dog trainer. That is why I wanted to write this article, to explain my background, qualifications, experience and ethical stance as a dog trainer. I think it’s important to be upfront about all these things so that you the client can make an informed choice about who you choose to trust with the welfare of one of your family members.

My journey with animals in general has been lifelong, my first love was horses and I have a HND and BHS qualifications in equine business management and instruction. Although in fairness this was some years ago and I wouldn’t call myself in any way current. With a military career, operational tours and a stint as an award wining professional photographer directly after my path to Valley Dogs has been varied and interesting!

My journey in dog training started working primarily behind the scenes in a new online dog training business that I set up alongside a local dog trainer I knew through my previous work as a specialist dog photographer. It came about because of Covid and I was part of that business for 18 months.

During that time I shadowed his 121s, filmed hours of dog training content and because of multiple reasons became very involved in the research and writing of that content at the same time. I also got my own dog during that time and began to train him. The more I learned about dog training, the more I studied it and the more I worked with Elvis the more I realised that I was gaining knowledge that meant it was time for me to step away from that online business. My new knowledge, my own research and growing experience told me there was a better way than what I had so far been presented with. The most valuable experience I gained in this time was soaking up all the problems and individual journeys of the members, all looking to solve their own dog training issues or simply grow their dogs in a positive direction. I had 18 months worth of case studies under my belt.

Now it was time to do some more official study than what I had been doing under my own steam as intense as that had been. I researched every dog training course going and took advice from some other very experienced trainers, I settled on becoming an Absolute Dogs Pro Dog Trainer. Why? Because I 100% believe that it’s the most progressive, effective and kind way to train a dog that still lives in the real world. It’s also the most accessible for us humans and I believe that to be the most important factor. If we enjoy ourselves, if we are motivated to learn and our dogs grow in the right direction then we will succeed. That’s what I saw in the concept and games based world. Not only that it had one of the most supportive and caring communities to go with it, a sign that all was well in that world.

At time of writing I am also very nearly finished a Lvl 4 behaviour course from the British College of Canine Studies which has given me some more valuable knowledge and I’m also doing the ‘Geek’ course from Absolute Dogs which goes further in depth to the science behind dog behaviour. I’ve also started a diploma in dog health and nutrition because I believe in looking at a dog as a whole picture, not just simply a training problem.

I am committed to my continued learning, I attend seminars and online courses all the time and remain part of many interesting and supportive communities for dog trainers who both inspire and challenge my understanding on a daily basis.

So what sort of trainer am I? Terms are thrown around a lot in the dog training world, positive, force free, balanced for example and often manipulated to mean whatever the person using them wants them to mean. Made to sound better or worse by those in or not in that particular camp. Labels are misleading because there are no official definitions and they can be twisted.

I believe that there is no requirement for the use of force, intimidation or any need to cause the dog any pain in order to be an effective dog trainer. I commit to never using any tool that is designed to cause pain or discomfort. Choke collars, e-collars (that cause pain) and prongs have no place in my world. Is it possible for equipment that isn’t intended to cause pain to be seen as negative or aversive by a dog, of course it is and that’s why it’s important to look at equipment as individual to each dog. All equipment can be misused but the fact that some exists to cause pain and implement correction - that I do not agree with.

So do I believe that all interactions with a dog must be 100% positive? No, I actually don’t think that’s possible and if it is then it is so difficult to maintain that it is out of the realms of most humans who have a life to lead. What do I mean by this? If my dog, Elvis a Terrier wants to chase a cat, something which he would absolutely love to do and I prevent him from doing that then I am causing him a negative experience. You could say that my use of a harness and lead in that situation is aversive for him. Am I therefore going to let him chase the cat because he would find that a rewarding and positive experience? No - I’m not. To live in the real world we must accept that we will cause some negative experiences for our dogs, the term ‘positive only’ in dog training is pretty misleading. Sometimes positive only doesn’t cut it, presented with a cat under his nose and no history of an alternative better option, even the poshest of sausages will not change his mind BUT at the same time there is no need for punishment. Management is the key, until you can build a reinforcement history and alternative for your dog that is more appealing than the cat. Easy? Not always but possible very very possible.

If I had to give myself a label it would be LIMA - Least Invasive Minimally Aversive. I will always look for the best possible outcome for the dog in this way. I’ll do it with fun and games for both you and the dog, motivation, enjoyment and learning are the key. For you, for your dog and for me as a trainer. We are never done, experience is only valid if it moves you forward. The world of dog training is evolving all the time, it’s exciting and I’m always open to changing my mind. We are not dealing with robots, we are dealing with living, thinking and feeling animals and the ability to adapt to their individual needs and go looking for the solutions is what makes a good trainer.

That is the trainer I aim to be.