Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly "Master Trainer" Graeme Hall
About "Master Trainer" Graeme Hall,
Graeme Hall, often known as "The Dogfather," has been dubbed "Britain's top dog trainer" by The Telegraph. Graeme travels the country assisting dog and puppy owners with behavioral issues. From the Scottish Highlands to the Channel Islands, he's worked (and pretty much everywhere in between).
Graeme is the host of Channel 5's popular show "Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly." He has appeared on BBC Breakfast and ITV's This Morning, where he has assisted celebrities with their dogs. Graeme is a Guild Of Dog Trainers Master Dog Trainer.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly
Dog owners' interpretations of their dogs' behavior, as well as their methods to deal with problems or unwanted behavior, are substantially influenced by television shows. In recent years, there have been numerous examples of similar shows.
The show's premise starts with words from "Master Trainer" Graeme Hall, who proposes concepts like "long-term results...quickly" and "we have to be able to tell our dogs off." This may appear reasonable at first glance. The truth is far different; these assumptions are exceedingly rash and potentially hazardous. The show would have you believe that dog behavior issues can be resolved in a single day, or that all it takes is a simple flip of the leash to settle complex difficulties with dogs in clear.
These assumptions can have serious consequences. Punishment and corrections destroy confidence. Recent research has shown that punishment can exacerbate or even cause other behavioral issues in the long run. The act of throwing a dog off balance is exceedingly harmful.
The example of the "Master Trainer" shoving the Labrador upon entering the family's home is not only superfluous, but it also lacks any type of functional assessment, making it impossible to determine the rationale for the demonstrated behavior. We, as dog owners and professionals, must comprehend why our dogs engage in undesirable behavior.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly "Master Trainer" Graeme Hall dog trainer
In this scenario, the excited but friendly Labradors have discovered that jumping on humans gets them the attention they seek. It is entirely unjust to throw them off balance in an attempt to dissuade them. Worse, it creates the environment for the dogs to learn that visitors to the house are a negative/threatening thing, which can lead to violent behavior.
The process appears amazing and fast thanks to careful editing. As the "Master Trainer" shoves them in the neck, both dogs show avoidance behavior to the trained eye. Labradors who are friendly and well-socialized may accept this type of response at first, but not in the long run. The most serious problem with this scenario is that the viewers will imitate it because someone on television should be a trustworthy source of information.
As the punishment no longer works, what starts as a sharp pull on the leash grows more severe over time. Using approaches like these gives the handler a lot of confidence because they know what they're doing is working. In most cases, the handler must increase the severity of their punisher to achieve the same result.
Whether it's a pull on the leash or a vocal correction of "NO," the potency of a stimulus decreases with repeated exposure. Alternatively, the dog can learn to avoid the punisher and the circumstances that lead to it. This strategy could have serious effects for both humans and dogs, such as a deterioration in the pet-owner attachment.
There are proven force-free training strategies that can help dogs, welcome visitors, calmly and walk calmly on a loose leash, resolving this behavior problem. Getting rid of the need for them to interact with their owners painfully or scarily. Positive, non-violent training methods that are easier and more comfortable for owners to use, as well as far safer for both the dog and the person. And we haven't even touched on the ethical issues...
The objective of this show is to entertain, and the welfare of the dogs is a low priority for the producers. It's just for the effect that the aforementioned Labradors drag the owner off her feet, resulting in a cut arm. In this approach, no competent trainer or behaviorist would set their customers up to fail. However, when owners and dogs are in distress, "Master Trainer" appears and miraculously resolves the problem in a matter of moments, it makes for captivating viewing.
Over the last few decades, the realm of behavior has advanced dramatically. Qualified behaviorists working with up-to-date scientific research findings would avoid invasive treatments and work closely with veterinary specialists, taking into account thorough historical information. Dogs may act in a certain way because they don't understand how we want them to act or because they are stressed in some way.
Viewers would be led to assume that complicated behavioral issues may be treated in one or two sessions based on the show. The success is attributed to meticulous editing and fictitious results. Bella's case, which was included in the series, is a particularly concerning example.
Bella is a sensitive puppy that is stressed out. Exposing a dog to something that they clearly find alarming (flooding) and then punishing and suppressing their behaviors is not a successful method.
A layperson might see a dog lying down in the presence of something they would normally lunge at as a sign of success, but someone familiar with animal body language and psychology would recognize all the signs of shutdown or behavioral inhibition, a state in which the animal learns it has no control over events and thus offers no behavior at all. Learned helplessness cannot be considered a successful outcome.
Although the behavioral response may appear to be different and more convenient to the handler, the dog is now more emotionally agitated, and the emotional basis of the behavior has not been addressed. Unfortunately, this is the case. What this show shows its viewers, who have no prior experience in this sector, cannot be blamed for embracing this as a viable and practical technique and then applying it to their struggling dog that is unable to cope.
Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly "Master Trainer" Graeme Hall dog trainer
A dog may behave "badly" for a variety of reasons. To develop the most effective treatment method, we must first comprehend the reasons for the behavior. We rarely, if ever, hear the
"Master Trainer" say anything like this:
- Inadequate physical activity or mental stimulation
- There are underlying health issues that need to be addressed.
- a daily schedule that isn't consistent
- Interactions between owners and their dogs are inconsistent.
- Normal canine behavior is misunderstood by many people.
- Poor nutrition or dietary changes
- Socialization is either insufficient or inadequate.
The show's title may provide some insight into how the trainer perceives behavioral issues. Dogs don't have a moral code of their own. They act in ways that have historically worked for them, or as a result of their current emotional condition.
They aren't attempting to annoy or trouble us in any way. The most effective behavior in coping with the issue is then repeated, whether it's to acquire food or attention, or to get away from a frightening environment. Punishing our dogs for these behaviors is unjust and can have a lot of unexpected effects, both in terms of trust and our relationships with our dogs.