jumping, pulling, leash biting, etc.
The good news is that there are tools available that make it possible to work with these
behaviors without inflicting fear and pain. These include flat martingale collars which
apply gentle pressure distributed evenly around the neck when pulling. Staff use Easy
Walk and Freedom harnesses that gently correct the animal’s body position while limiting
the ability to pull. Staff will use chain leashes if the dog is biting at the leash too much,
which gives the dog agency to make the choice of whether to continue biting the chain
which is unpleasant, or whether to stop. Our staff focuses more on reinforcing the
behaviors we DO want to see using positive reinforcement (AKA reward based training)
in the form of treats, praise or play, based upon what the animal shows us is most
reinforcing to them.
Prong and shock collars cause pain, cause distress, and increase fear and anxiety.
Scientific studies have shown that aversive tools (such as prong and shock collars) can
actually cause an increase in undesirable behaviors. Laura shared The American
Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s (AVSAB) Position Statement on Humane Dog
Training
-Statement-2021.pdf> with the committee. Additionally, Dominance Theory made
popular by TV dog trainers like Cesar Milan are outdated, increase the animal’s fear and
anxiety, and damage the bond between human and animal. See AVSAB’s Position
Statement on The Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals
d.pdf>.
Dr. Hanek has personally had to clean the puncture wounds, damaged tissue, and singed
fur on countless dogs caused by the misuse of prong collars and shock collars. As a
result, Dr. Hanek and all of the Animal Services staff are big proponents of force-free,
Fear Free tools and training methods.
In short, Animal Services requires the same from its rescue partners as we do for our own
staff and volunteers. The added benefit of doing so is that it allows us the ability to set
that animal up for success by replacing fear and stress with fun and reward during
training, while also providing continuity of training during and after the animal leaves our
care, and greater opportunities for the animal to bond with the human(s) at the end of the
leash.
Laura shared that not all rescue organizations are created equal. There are many people
in the community that have good intentions for trying to save animals. But they are not
all embracing best practices, not only when it comes to training methods. Animal
Services has seen an increase in the number of rescues who are transporting animals from
other parts of the country, then not supporting those animals once they arrive. Or worse,
warehousing (kenneling) animals indefinitely without any plans to move them out into
homes quickly. Animal Services has recently experienced fosters of other rescue
organizations dropping of their rescue’s animals as found pets after support from their
own rescue organizations dried up.