[Allie3985]

I try my hardest to use positive reinforcement as much as possible but I am open to other methods and understand that not everyone feels the same way about dog training.
That being said, I saw a trainer at the club I am a member at treat a dog in what I would consider a seriously abusive way! I don't think I will ever be able to condone the use of pinch collars again.
The dog was dealing with dog aggression, the trainer had the handler put a pinch on him. She had a nuetral dog walk past as a distraction. The aggressive dog hit the end of the leash and went NUTS. He had reacted to the other dog at first, but then was reacting to the pinch collar.
The trainer took the leash and proceeded to pretty much wrestle the dog into submission by hauling it around by the leash and yanking as hard as she could. The dog was bauling and screaming and growling and barking and jumping all over. . .it was HORRIBLE! But then, he finally stopped. He was panting, the whites of his eyes showing, doing the "shake off," yawning, looking down, ect. . .poor thing was terrified.
So instead of considering this a succes, what did they do but keep moving the nuetral dog closer and closer and getting the same response every time until the point that the dog actually starting biting at the handler. Oh my God! I could have been sick.

 

[Trainer]

I would go to the head of the club and tell her/him that if I saw that trainer in the club again, I would never be back. Of course I would relay the same story you told here. That trainer should be in jail.

 

[Hiaja]

I think the last thing to be used for a reactive dog is a pinch collar. That would just make them more reactive. Wouldn't you wait till the reactive dog is comfortable witht he neutral at that given distance?

 

[cshellenberger]

I would go to the head of the club and relay what happened, what you winessed is abuse and there is NO reason for it. That trainer just caused an already aggressive dog to escalate, such methods nearly always backfire and the dog will lose it's life over it. Now the dog will NOT only be aggressive toward other dogs it WILL severly bite a human. I ONLY wish I could have been there, you may well have witnessed that trainer getting pulled around by the pinch collar, and I'm quite sure I'm a bit larger than she is!!!!

 

[dakotajo]

I also thought that a pinch collar was NOT to be used on an aggressive dog, you would think a good trainer would know that. Poor dog

 

[poodleholic]

I would go to the head of the club and tell her/him that if I saw that trainer in the club again, I would never be back. Of course I would relay the same story you told here. That trainer should be in jail.

Absolutely! At the very least, that so-called trainer needs to be fired.

 

[Allie3985]

My sentiments exactly. I have laready emaild the training director. She is not the president of the club but I think she is the most involved and she is an awesome trainer and will hopefully take swift action to correct this issue. Those of us who teach at the club are all volunteers and this trainer (who I have actually taken one of her classes and never seen her do something like this) is not even actually supposed to handle a clients dog becasue of liability issues. I also approached the client when he was walking outside and let him now how I felt and gave him my email address offering to help him at his home in safe enviroment in a humane way. He seemed relieved by my offer and sort of traumatized by his experience. I really, really couldn't believe my eyes. I wish I would have said something to the trainer but she has been teaching there a lot longer than I have (I'm 24, she's probably 55) and I was just kind of in shock. The poor guy who owned the dog probably just had no idea how to feel. He is seeking out help with a serious problem and I'm sure he didn't like what he saw today but if you were being told by someone who you thought was an expert that it was necessary, what would you do?! What an abuse of a position that should be only used to help people!!!

 

[cshellenberger]

Allie, I would also have the client write a statement about the incedent as well as any other witnesses and give them to the director. This trainer shoudl NEVER handle another dog!