Things Are Changing and I am Thrilled!
- Cindy Benson
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Something wonderful happened on social media tonight that I find so encouraging.
There is an LGD organization in Texas that I pretty much stay away from because I disagree with their training practices. I have spoken with the man who runs the program and was told that positive reinforcement training was too slow, impractical, and that the ranchers he deals with would never put up with it. He is entitled to his opinion.
This organization posted the following to their public Facebook page today:
“Tuesday Training Tip - Discourage unwanted jumping, biting, and nipping with a firm “NO” to your puppy. It may also help to raise your knee to stop jumping. Holding a puppy down by the neck and growling can also help stop biting and nipping as it simulates an adult dog reaction.”
Somehow, this post crossed my feed, and I would have sped right by it, as I usually do with their posts, but what stopped me was the comment I saw from a professional trainer offering free coaching to catch them up on current training methods based on science. The trainer cited the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior to substantiate what he/she was presenting and did a very good job of it. I commented and thanked them for speaking up.
Seven other trainers/owners spoke up before I stopped following the post. All of them cited that the organization’s training advice was dangerous and outdated.
I have NEVER seen this many other people speak up and advocate for LGDs this way on social media pages such as this. One of them was even certified through the Karen Pryor Academy, as I am. Turning the tide for the safety of livestock guardian dogs through education will take a village; the more voices, the better!
The director of the program responded to the offer of free coaching to defend his position, as well as making disparaging statements about the trainer’s lack of qualifications.
He goes on to say: “Clicker training is not going to work on a teenage LGD that is chasing livestock 100 yards from your location across a pasture.” Hum.
In this incredible book, on page 175, Karen Pryor describes training wild dolphins in the open ocean. These animals are coming MILES on their own free will just to play games, military games, with Karen and her training partners.
This book was published 51 years ago!
It isn’t clicker training that doesn’t work – it is the level of skill of the trainer. And, to be clear, learning how to use science-based training is EASY. I would be happy to show you how!
He asks what is wrong with pinning a puppy, as mothers do, and then limits the ability for someone to answer his question.
Sometimes Facebook conversations get ugly. In cases like this, I will limit comments, too, but the dialogue happening in response to this post was pretty fair and polite.
So, yes, he ended the conversation but didn’t remove the original post, and that is wonderful because a lot more people read these posts and comments than actually participate in them. This is a far-reaching teaching moment!
I used to attempt to teach and change minds on this page, and never, not once, did anyone speak up for positive reinforcement training methods or fairness to the dogs. Today was different, and that is a good start!
Would you like to know how to train this way?
Learn how to make informed training decisions; this course will show you how: https://www.livestockguardiandogcourses.com/courses/livestockguardiandogs
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