For centuries, dogs have enhanced human lives. They deserve the best we can offer in return.
Photo by Frank K. Siteman
Dog training today is a diverse and growing industry. Some dogs are trained for highly specialized tasks such as search and rescue, protection, and service work. But with more than a third of U.S. households owning at least one dog, the largest segment of the industry is pet dog training - teaching the average family dog to be well behaved at home and in public.
Trainers have embraced many different philosophies and techniques over the years. Humane training is that which is performed with kindness, compassion and respect for the animal, and without inflicting unnecessary discomfort or distress. Training choices that are ineffective, inhumane, or both can result in harm to dogs, anxiety for owners, and in some cases, lawsuits and news stories that damage the image of the training profession as a whole.
It is not the intent of this book to define one way of doing business. Rather, the standards presented here should serve as a common code of practice for trainers from various schools of thought and at varying levels of expertise. They are intended to provide trainers with a set of principles that, taken together, provide a framework for effective, humane training. These principles are based on the tenets of animal learning and on the specific behavior of dogs.
Professional Standards for Dog Trainers: Effective, Humane Principles endorses the use of non-aversive training techniques, and presents alternatives to primary use of aversives. (Aversives are stimuli that an animal finds unpleasant.) These alternatives typically work well, with fewer unwanted side effects and less stress for both dog and owner. But trainers should also know how to identify cases in which aversives may be warranted. An appropriately selected and delivered aversive should not require escalation or many repetitions. Training should be an enjoyable experience for all involved.
