Performance Dog Training

AVSAB Issues Position Statement on Humane Dog Training Shock, Prong & Choke Collars Should NEVER Be Used

In August, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) issued a position statement on humane dog training. The position statement refutes many myths about dogs, their behavior, and training, such as dominance, pack hierarchy, and the need to be "alpha." They conclude their statement with the following:

"Based on current scientific evidence, AVSAB recommends that only reward-based training methods are used for all dog training, including the treatment of behavior problems. Aversive training methods have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human-animal bond. There is no evidence that aversive methods are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. AVSAB therefore advises that aversive methods should not be used in animal training or for the treatment of behavior disorders."

AVSAB joins the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which have similar position statements. FMI – https:// bit.ly/Pos_HumaneTraining

One of the critical reasons for this position is that aversive methods and tools negatively affect animal welfare. They cause distress which is inhumane. "In observational studies, dogs trained with aversive methods or tools showed stress-related behaviors during training, including tense body, lower body posture, lip licking, tail lowering, lifting front leg, panting, yawning, and yelping." In contrast, "Dogs trained with

WORDS, WOOFS & MEOWS

by Don Hanson

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reward-based methods showed increased attentiveness to their owner." 5

As a pet parent, minimal or no stress and increased attentiveness are precisely what I want in my dog. As a professional dog trainer, I know it is what my clients desire as well. Having a relationship with your dog based on mutual trust is essential to successful training. Anyone who has been intentionally subjected to force or pain or being made fearful knows those things will NEVER build trust.

Unfortunately, there are also long-term effects related to the use of aversives. "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." "Several studies show the effect of aversive training persists beyond the time of training. After dogs learned a cue taught using aversive training methods, they continued to show stress-related behaviors when the cue was presented, suggesting the cue itself had become aversive."

In other words, the use of aversives can create a lifetime of chronic stress for a dog. Most of us consider our dog our companion, and many refer to their dog as their best friend. But, who wants a life of chronic stress and fear for their best friend? No one, I hope.

Dogs with behavior issues such as reactivity, aggression, anxiety, and hyperactivity are challenging to live with and often have chronic stress in their lives, often creating chronic stress for their person. Since these undesirable behaviors result from an emotional response, they cannot be "trained" away without first building trust. As noted above, aversives NEVER build trust. FMI – http://bit.ly/ Canine-Stress

As a trainer, one of the first things I teach my clients is how to manage their dog and the environment to prevent behaviors like aggression and anxiety. These behaviors are much easier to prevent than they are to fix after they develop. Incidentally, Blackwell and Hiby demonstrated that dogs trained using rewards are less likely to develop behavior problems than dogs trained using aversives.

Proponents of inhumane training techniques often argue that force is the only way to get results. However, that position is not supported by science. "Reward-based training methods have been shown to be more effective than aversive methods." "Multiple survey studies have shown higher obedience in dogs trained with reward based methods.

A study by Hiby et al. (2004) "… found that obedience levels were highest for dogs trained exclusively with reward-based methods and lowest for dogs trained exclusively with aversive-based methods."

The evidence from multiple studies is clear; if you want a well-trained dog, the best way to achieve that goal is with rewards, not punishment. I genuinely believe that no one with a dog wants to hurt his dog. If you or your trainer cannot get results without punishment, step back and recognize it's time for you to learn a better way. Many trainers can help you get the results you want without resorting to aversives.

I hope that veterinarians, pet care professionals, pet training and behavior associations, breeders, and animal shelter and rescues will develop their own position statements and policies that support the AAHA, AVSAB, and PPG positions. It is long past time for people to continue abusing dogs in the name of training.

Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (greenacreskennel.com) in Bangor where he has been helping people with their pets since 1995. He also produces and co- hosts The Woof Meow Show heard on AM620 -WZON every Saturday at 9 AM. Podcasts of the show are available at www.woofmeowshow.com. Don also writes about pets at his blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com. He is committed to pet care and pet training that is free of pain, force, and fear. The opinions in this column are those of Don Hanson.

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