My Day as a TV Dog Trainer

I was shocked a few months ago to see some segments on local evening news featuring a force based dog trainer. These local segments were advertised along with the CBS program “Greatest American Dog”, a reality based program that promoted reward based training. Incensed, I emailed the reporter and outlined how I felt these segments misrepresented modern dog training and gave the viewing audience a one sided approach, which simply suppressed each dog's behavioral problems. She admitted that the force-based trainer pitched to segment ideas to them. The reporter was willing to do another set of segments featuring reward-based trainers.

A few months later, she called and invited me to participate as one of three trainers to be featured in their “Bad Dog Challenge”. I saw it as a great opportunity to have my own “Victoria Stilwell” moment. Most importantly, I wanted to use my segment as a platform for reward-based training and showing that we can solve problems without force or fear.

Basically, I would be given part of an afternoon to work with my candidate dog after filming the dog’s “bad” behaviors, and then film a second, follow-up segment in two months to see how things progressed. I was given 8 candidates to choose from with a variety of issues from jumping up to counter surfing to resource guarding. I considered which issues and which dog would be interesting to the audience and would give me to the best shot at using my training skills and knowledge. Choosing the herding dog was a no-brainer, as I’ve lived with herders and their range of issues for 15 years. My “client” was a 10 month old Sheltie named Mali (pronounced Molly) that “chased cars, freaked out when the dishwasher was emptied, and jumped up on people”.

About a week before filming the segment, I got the chance to speak with Mali’s person Nancy on the phone. Nancy worked from home, had lots of free time for working with Mali and her entire family was willing to do anything to help Mali change her behaviors (particularly the car chasing, which they knew was dangerous).

Filming began shortly after noon, on an unseasonably cold North Carolina day. I met the camera crew and the reporter at Nancy’s home with Mali in full effect. They captured dramatic footage of Mali hysterically chasing cars while on a retractable leash, jumping on everyone in sight inside the house, and reacting violently to the dishwasher being unloaded. The latter was interesting because Mali would see the reflections on the ceiling from the movement of the silverware, pots and pans and jump up the wall trying to get to them. As Nancy described, these behaviors were all escalating and I realized that I had my work cut out for me.

First, I fitted Mali with a step-in harness and showed Nancy how to use the Tellington TTouch Balance leash to reduce pulling and have more influence on Mali outside (see my previous blog on this technique). The dog responded amazingly well to just getting her off the retractable lead. Then we introduced the clicker as a tool to mark behavior change and give Mali feedback. We found that Mali was highly food motivated by practically any type of food. My nerves took a back seat, as I focused on how best to help this family.

Outside we went, with Balance Leash, our clicker, and pouch of treats. We started by clicking Mali for looking at each car from a great distance, teaching her that it is fine to look and that a reward is coming. She loved this new game and responded with ease. We worked on slow moving cars and then faster cars. Mali was able to shift completely from out of control arousal in the presence of a moving car to calm, attentive watch me. I was honestly not expecting such a dramatic change. Nancy was equally amazed and found the once she coordinated herself, this was an effective way to help Mali make better choices on how to react. This would be the most time consuming part of their training, working together on each walk, and relaxing, clicking and treating while cars rolled by.

Next, we moved inside and found other occupations for Mali during the unloading of the dishwasher to replace over-reacting and trying to climb up the wall. We played some attention games with the clicker and also gave her a stuffed Squirrel Dude. Mali completely lost interest in the reflections if she was given something else to do. She was clearly a dog that needed redirection and although she could be very easily over-stimulated, she could demonstrate self-control.

Finally, we worked on some common sense ways to reduce jumping up, helping Mali realize that sitting makes people love her even more. All in all, this was a most successful afternoon, capturing some very useful reward based techniques. I ended the session with instruction sheets and homework for Nancy and the reporter, so both would realize that these are all issues that must be worked on consistently for lasting behavioral changes. If Mali were to be left to her own devices and not given clear guidance, she will revert back to all her old behaviors.

The next week, the segment aired and I was more nervous waiting to watch the segment than during the actual filming. All in all, I was very pleased with the end product. Much more importantly, Mali’s owner can now help her dog live a better, safer life. In the coming weeks, I will plan to see Mali and Nancy so I can help them progress even further. My hope is that Mali’s segments can inspire others to search out a reward based trainer in their area.

Check out my day as a TV dog trainer at http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/pets/video/4022505/