The Humane, The Effective, and The Ugly

I am apparently becoming "that pit bull lady". As such, I get contacted by folks nationwide looking for help. Often, it is often cost-prohibitive for me to travel to provide the help in person, so I find myself looking for someone to recommend.

It's extremely difficult. It would be far easier for me to just go and train them than to get ulcers trying to find a pro I trust. I have been known to charge just enough to cover my expenses to go train in person rather than try to find a referral.

Stereotypically, there are three groups:
(I hope you've been following me enough to know how little I think of stereotypes)

1. The "Humane" the good? the bad?
2. The "Effective" the bad? the good?
3. The "Balanced" definitely-- the ugly.
   

The "Humane"

• Female
• Concerned about homeless pets
  
• Emphasize "non-aversive", "punishment-free" techniques
• Ignorant of or in denial about how (actually aversive) equipment functions
• Minimally experienced with "hard" temperament dogs (regardless of breed)
  
• Extensive experience with "soft" temperament dogs (regardless of breed)
• Own a clicker, treat pouch, Gentle Leader, Easy-Walk harness, 6' nylon leash
  
• Own a Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Sheltie, Greyhound, Jack Russell
  
• Do agility, flyball, frisbee
• Have a leash that doubles as a tug toy
  
• Deify behaviorism as the "science" of dog training
• Reject the idea that dominance can motivate behavior
• Seek continuing education from people whose philosophy & experience matches theirs
  

The "Effective"

• Male
• Concerned about good breeding
• Emphasize "results" via compulsion & punishment techniques
• Ignorant of or in denial about negative reinforcers (are actually a reward)
  
• Minimally experienced with "soft" temperament dogs (regardless of breed)
• Extensive experience with "hard" temperament dogs (regardless of breed)
• Own a fursaver, choke chain, prong collar, shock collar, muzzle, leather leash
• Own a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Malinois, American Bulldog
• Do Schutzhund, Ring sport, KNPV
• Have a leash that doubles as a belt
• Deify "tradition" as proof of success
• Ascribe all unwanted behavior to dominance
• Reject continuing education
  

Now, I'm not saying these trainers are bad people, or that they necessarily have bad training. I find that they don't recognize their limitations, which is one of the most fundamental concepts of professionalism. I suspect that their ideas come from the types of dogs, owners, and activities they work with.

Hating the AKC, owning a Flexi leash, having titled a dog in something or using NILIF doesn't seem to put you in either group. They both can make a recommendation of solution based on very few facts, because the dog either needs some clicking or to be jerked around. Both groups do all of those things. They both like to disparage the techniques of the other, claiming it isn't personal while deep down thinking, "What kind of idiot thinks that could work?? Duh!!".


The "Balanced"

• Older or more years experience
• Fans of good breeding and rescue homeless
  
• Started out humane and added effective or started out effective and added humane
• Open to new ideas
• Understand how multiple approaches function
  
• Experience with "hard" and "soft" temperament dogs
  
• Own nearly every piece of training equipment on the market
  
• Rarely use more than a leash, collar, toy & treats -- often less
  
• Own a pet dog and a competition dog
• Do sports/activities based on what the dog enjoys
  
• Have a leash that is double-ended with 2 clips
  
• Have difficulty making recommendations to a specific dog & owner without knowing the details
  
• Question everything
• Seek out continuing education from people they are skeptical of or disagree with
  

Like the other two groups, they also hate the AKC. Did you know the AKC has a building on Madison Ave in NYC? Yes, THAT Madison Ave. That portion of the business reports its function as "marketing". No kidding! They also like NILIF & Flexis, in their proper place. This group also likes to talk about their superiority to other groups.

Ultimately, whether a trainer is "good" is not about which of the 3 camps they belong to, but about who is a good fit for you, your dog, and your goals. The reason all 3 camps survive is because there is room in the marketplace for each of the 3 approaches. Each can point to some degree of success, which is why they are able to continue. If one of them was 100% failing, no one would seek out their help, and they'd be choked out of the marketplace by the ones who could point to success.

Choose wisely. No one can erase devastating failures.