Dog Trainer Reacts to Zak George: Is there a "dog training crisis"?

I don't really think there's a "Dog Training Crisis", as much as there is a "People won't listen to me, me alone, and my methods exclusively. I can't force them, other trainers are starting to get more popular than me, and I'm mad about it." crisis. His childish and borderline harassment of trainers like Dog Daddy, that handles dogs Zac would probably wind up getting euthanized at the shelter if not for him, is absolute proof of that.

Where’s your training videos of aggressive dogs?????

The issue is with a lot of these "pure positive" people, I rarely see them handle rough dogs. Also, dogs regularly communicate with each other physically. There's a weird hubris to not be "physical." Also, training dogs who are young/mellow isn't the same training a pitbull that constantly attack. I gotta see how those studies are done. There isn't a nuance discussion in dealing with certain behaviors here.

Thank you for your insight. It’s inspiring.❤😊

It is almost self defeating to stand on science about training a dog. There will be 10 scientist today that will contest the 10 scientists of yesterday. Dog training can be cruel if you believe you must attack a dog to teach it anything. What will help a trainer is the actual ability to communicate with a dog in the least offensive way. No touch necessary when teaching sit, very little touch when teaching down. Yes reward with treats or soothing voice of good dog. No punishment necessary as the trainer should direct (after showing how) then correct without a confrontation. No hitting, no choking, no kicking, no angry chastising. I have used research from the past for understanding. I love dogs and want people to have good dogs. I emphasize ownership responsibility. Don't set your dog to fail and then blame them.

Very informative video!! So happy it showed up in my feed today!!❤

Love this Natalie and your scientific take, and also your comments about training for the situation and not in the situation with games. ❤️

His scientific data is so flimsy that it is useless.

Huh. Looks like Zak finally got around to reading a dog training book

I as a trainer really appreciate your effort to explaine in a scientific way! Right down my alley- couldn't agree more. I just subscribed, because I found you through an argument with a clown.

A dog undergoing training in force free approach is no better than a dog that hasn't had any training. The force free community have done very little to come up with truly non embarrassing alternatives and the aversive trainers glee to their relative success. Positive Reinforcement works! But force free trainers are doing absolutely nothing to demonstrate the efficacy of the training approach.

Thank you so much for responding to this! I really appreciated your commentary and supplementary information. Your perspective was very valuable!

He went after The Dog Daddy in a way that is completely unnecessary. And he used small klips, showing the beginning of his training, the part where the animal was at it's most aggressive state where hard correction was most needed. Had he not used some kind of intervention he'd been chewed on. In the end a happy dog and owner.

Great job!

Talk talk talk talk...

Awesome podcast thank you. I asked Susan Garrett to reach out to you, I would love to see work with her students.

Very impressed with your credentials

Yes!! -- for Tom Mitchell of Behavet Veterinary. And, also to his and Lauren Langman's Absolute Dogs company, web, YT, online courses; DVD products; TickTok, etc. I received my Pro Dog Trainer Certificate last year. This year, I'm skipping Geek, but plan to do this course next year.

Loved this video and all the various contexts that were being discussed and debated. These type of videos Natalie are a welcome supplement to the training videos you post and helps us develop a more rounded understanding of why we do what we do and how that is interpreted by the dog using a couple of useful links you put up for reference. I have downloaded those links and plan on incorporating some of the themes in how we take care of Sprite in different situations. Every piece of information you share makes our companionship with Sprite in our family more rewarding and pleasurable for all of us. Thanks again for your dedication and your time contextualising some of the references Zak was making and allowing me to relate to the subject matter.

"If we're not measuring things like welfare, we're not going to find any information because we're not looking for it." SO TRUE!! Love this video Nat and so appreciative @Zakgeorge is open to this conversation!