I have read this criticism of him before, but just this weekend I watched two different re-run episodes in which he corrected owners who called their dogs "aggressive" because, he said, their dogs were "fearful".I think his way of calling nearly every behavior "dominance" or "aggression" has done a lot of damage.
Ditto. He seems very good at training people using language and metaphors they understand. In one household he noticed they were devout Christians and he told them that saying a brief prayer before a training session may help to calm both them and the dog. This stuck with me. That said, I don't think "calm and assertive" will ever come naturally to me. My best times with my Pit Bull, for example, are after we're both exhausted following a run.I knew I have a tendency to be hyper myself and I can really get a dog "geeked" out. I never intended to do it, I just did. Anyway, remembering that "thinking" before I greet a dog, helps a lot.
He's getting better. In a lot of the older episodes, he would tell people their obviously terrified dogs were "dominant" and give them a good jerk on a choke chain. You didn't see any specifics? In most of the threads, someone will post a link to a video showing him choking down a dog, kicking them in the gut, zapping a dog with an e-collar, etc.I have read this criticism of him before, but just this weekend I watched two different re-run episodes in which he corrected owners who called their dogs "aggressive" because, he said, their dogs were "fearful".
That's true of most dog training instructors. Dogs are generally easy. People are difficultHe doesn't train dogs...he trains people. That said, I would never train my wife with his techniques.
My perception is he is he "rehabilitates dogs." He doesn't train, he just sort of "resets" a dog and teaches humans how to behave around dogs. If you want to train a dog, it makes sense to get the human in the right frame of mind.
I do really like his "calm assertive energy" mantra, it helps me. But it might not help everyone. Even before I heard of the guy, I knew I have a tendency to be hyper myself and I can really get a dog "geeked" out. I never intended to do it, I just did. Anyway, remembering that "thinking" before I greet a dog, helps a lot.
His emotional intelligence is spectacular! and that may be much of the source of his appeal and success.Ditto. He seems very good at training people using language and metaphors they understand. In one household he noticed they were devout Christians and he told them that saying a brief prayer before a training session may help to calm both them and the dog. This stuck with me. That said, I don't think "calm and assertive" will ever come naturally to me. My best times with my Pit Bull, for example, are after we're both exhausted following a run.
He doesn't train dogs...he trains people. That said, I would never train my wife with his techniques.
In all retrospect, dogs help us better & stabilize ourselves... So doesn't that make dogs "technically" therapists?His emotional intelligence is spectacular! and that may be much of the source of his appeal and success.
The whole "calm assertive" thing is super new to me too, in fact, it freaked Zoey out the first few days I didn't act like a goon myself. But, I do think it's been calming for her too. She's not my therapist, she's my dog!
yes, but don't tell them that. they'll want our copays, in squeeky toys!In all retrospect, dogs help us better & stabilize ourselves... So doesn't that make dogs "technically" therapists?.