Trainers should choose equipment that spares dogs unnecessary discomfort and distress. They should know the proper fit and use of any equipment they recommend.
Equipment is defined as any item or instrument, external to the trainer, used while training a dog. By definition, this does not include social reinforcers such as verbal praise or petting. However, the potential power of these reinforcers in training should not be overlooked. Conversely, if verbal scolding is to be used as punishment, it should be delivered in a planned, unemotional fashion, and its effects monitored.
