Training mustn't cause pain if good behaviour's the goal

Yvette Van Veen

Q: One of my neighbours owns a dog who participates in competitive activities. I have seen the owner discipline the dog by grabbing his jowls – yelling until the animal yelped in pain. The dog was left lying on the ground whimpering. In another instance, when the dog failed to come when called, the owner grabbed it above the base of the tail, twisting until the dog screamed. I have voiced my objections to the owner. I was told the dog was not a family pet, but a working dog. It had to be treated such to maintain dominance and discipline when performing. Is this how performance animals are treated? Do I call the humane society or look the other way? www.greatdogtrainer.com

A: Having participated in competitive dog sports at various levels, I can assure you that not all performance animals are treated in this manner.

"The Ontario SPCA recommends positive reinforcement methods of training," says Alison Cross of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"Unfortunately, the law does not differentiate between training and abuse."

If a concerned citizen is questioning the training techniques being used by a pet owner, one should not hesitate to contact the Ontario SPCA."

A conversation between an officer and the owner may be enough to resolve the problem. If it is determined that the animal was injured, the owner may be charged under the Criminal Code.

People resort to the use of pain for several reasons. Discipline is often cited as justification. Although it is essential that dogs learn how to behave, discipline is not a synonym for pain. Other effective techniques are available.

Another buzzword used to justify the use of pain is dominance. Owners assume misbehaviour stems from the dog's desire to become alpha. They fear the dog will turn aggressive.

In fact, this way of thinking is not well supported by research into pack structure. Aggressive animals rarely lead a pack. Injuries are sustained when animals fight. The strong become weak or die, thus weeding them out of the gene pool.

Control is better achieved through effective leadership. It is similar to the traits of a good employer. Bosses who lose control generally get fired, but an individual who is fair and consistent earns respect.

The problem the writer is describing may stem from a mismatch between the owner's expectations and the dog's capabilities. Animals can't voice their objections or quit when inappropriate work is assigned to them. Dogs have three options when challenged. They can submit, flee or retaliate. Which leads me to a basic rule I adopted once I became a parent: "Don't do anything to an animal you wouldn't want a child imitating."

Yelling, hitting and shaking are not behaviours you want a child to imitate. And just because an animal submits to an adult, it does not mean it will tolerate discipline from a child. Sooner or later, an observant child is going to play "dog trainer." If the dog retaliates, the child is going to lose.

Owners of performance animals can demonstrate teamwork and sportsmanship. Training can be used to teach leadership skills. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case with your neighbour. www.greatdogtrainer.com