Dog Welfare

Abuse of dogs

We have seen a few couple of dog abuse these recent months. This month of Jan 2023, we saw a 1-year-old golden retriever has pus-filled wounds & matted fur after boarding 10 days with trainer, see the original article in Mothership. In another article, the trainer disputed with the allegations. Also in July 2022, we saw another high pofile case of an dog trainer abusing a dog being boarded on his premise. See this article. AVS: Dog abuse seen in video occurred on March 20, 2022, handler’s accreditation suspended. 

Aversive methods of training

Other than this, both of these cases have spun many to speak out on dog welfare, especially, in pet boarding centers. Some trainers have used aversive methods indiscriminately and caused some hurts to the dog. Studies have shown that when used inappropriately, the effects are long lasting.

Check out this article: The effects of using aversive training methods in dogs—A review

As such, some have even wear shock and prong collars to protest against the action of using adversarial methods in dog training. Animal abuse is a serious issue and there are many organizations and laws in place to protect animals from mistreatment. If you suspect that a dog is being abused, it is important to report it to the appropriate authorities, such as local animal control or the police. Animal abuse can take many forms, such as neglect, physical abuse, and hoarding. Signs of abuse include: injuries, emaciation, poor coat condition, and lack of necessary veterinary care. It is crucial to take the appropriate action to stop the abuse and provide the necessary care for the animal.

Positive reinforcement training

In as much as we know that each dog is different, we know that a balanced training is important. We do not rule out the use of aversive based methods, as long as it is combined with positive reinforcement training. However, we know that in the long term, there is nothing that beats positive methods. And only would such an approach produce long-term and long-lasting relationship between you and your dog. We strongly recommend the use of our healthy treats.To encourage your dog to perform the task you want him to do. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need any help in how to use our treats to obtain the results you want.