Many industry groups, veterinarians, and dog training professionals do NOT recommend “balanced” training for ANY dog. This type of training may offer rewards such as food or play but it also involves the use of shock collars, choke collars, slip leads, and/or prong collars, as well as other aversive tools or “corrections” like jerking a leash to force an animal to comply.
All too often “balanced” trainers use aversive tools from the start to train your pet quickly, but using these tools as a form of punishing or controlling behavior are open to potential abuse. In addition, the incorrect use of such training aids may cause welfare problems such as evoking aggression in dogs under certain circumstances. Sharp leash “corrections” can even cause damage to the pet’s sensitive neck area.
No Exceptions!
There is NEVER EVER a reason to put a choke, prong, or electric shock collar on a small dog like a Pug, Yorkie, Boston Terrier, or puppy! Using these tools can cause physical harm! Slip leads can also cause physical harm!
No Force is better for you and your pet
A position statement from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior says “Long-Term Effects Survey studies have shown an association between the use of aversive training methods and long-term behavior problems including aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs, and anxiety-related behaviors such as avoidance and excitability.”
These behaviors are exactly what people pay to have trained out of their pet! If you choose the wrong trainer you could be doing the opposite of what you expect and end up paying someone to train fear, anxiety, and stress INTO your pet! Find out what methods your trainer might use to train your pet and where they learned their skills from.
For the safety of your pet the certified Fear Free® Animal Trainers / Dog Bite Prevention Educators on this site DO NOT use or recommend aversive methods or tools. Most are members of industry groups and have agreed to a Code Of Ethics that says they will not use these methods in their training.