Animal Societies' statement re adversive dog training techniques
Alison
PRESS RELEASE
15 December 2009 Embargo: 00:01, 16
December 2009
Problems with aversive dog training techniques
UK animal welfare, behaviour, training and veterinary organisations1 are
warning of the possible dangers of using techniques for training dogs that
can cause pain and fear, such as some of those seen used by Cesar Millan,
who has announced a UK tour next year.
The organisations have joined forces to voice their serious concerns about
techniques which pose welfare problems for dogs and significant risk to
owners who may copy them. These concerns are shared, and the statement
supported, by similar organisations around the world2 and in continental
Europe3.
Aversive training techniques, which have been seen to be used by Cesar
Millan, are based on the principle of applying an unpleasant stimulus to
inhibit behaviour. This kind of training technique can include the use of
prong collars, electric shock collars, restricting dogs' air supply using
nooses/leads or pinning them to the ground, which can cause pain and
distress. The use of such techniques may compromise the welfare of dogs and
may worsen the behavioural problems they aim to address, potentially
placing owners at considerable risk. A number of scientific studies have
found an association between the use of aversive training techniques and
the occurrence of undesired behaviours in dogs.
The organisations believe that the use of such training techniques is not
only unacceptable from a welfare perspective, but that this type of
approach is not necessary for the modification of dog behaviour. Dog
trainers all over the UK use reward-based methods to train dogs very
effectively. Where dogs have behaviours which owners find unacceptable,
such as aggression or destruction, qualified behaviourists achieve long
term changes in behaviour through the use of established and validated
techniques of behaviour modification without subjecting dogs to training
techniques which may cause pain or distress.
We urge dog owners to carefully consider the help they choose to train
their dogs or tackle behavioural problems. Anyone can call themselves a
behaviour expert, but we believe that only those with a combination of
appropriate qualifications, up to date knowledge as well as skills and
experience should be treating dogs, and should only do so in a way which
does not put the welfare of the dogs at risk.
Further information on:
a.. the misconceptions which underlie the use of aversive training
techniques
b.. the development of behaviour in dogs
c.. the problems associated with the use of aversive training techniques
d.. finding a suitable trainer or behaviourist
can be found at: www.dogwelfarecampaign.org
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1 Dogs Trust, The Blue Cross, Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (RSPCA), The Blue Dog, Wood Green Animal Shelters, World Society
for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), The Kennel Club, Raystede Centre for
Animal Welfare, Canine Partners, UK , Association for the Study of Animal
Behaviour (ASAB), Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC),
Association of Pet Dog Trainers, UK (APDT, UK), UK Registry of Canine
Behaviours (UKRCB), Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group
(CABTSG), British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and British
Veterinary Association (BVA).
2 Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), Australian Veterinary Behaviour
Interest Group (AVBIG), American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
(AVSAB), American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB), The
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and The
Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Inc. (CCPDT)(USA).
3 European Society of Clinical Veterinary Ethology (ESCVE), European
College of Veterinary Behavioural Medicine � Companion Animals (ECVBM-CA),
the Flemish Veterinary Working Group on Ethology (VDWE) and Norwegian
Association for Pet Behaviour (NAPB) Norsk Atferdsgruppe for Selskapsdyr
(NAS).
More information about organisations supporting this press statement can be
found at www.dogwelfarecampaign.org
--
Alison,