Response to a Negative Review

Believe in Dog Training receives countless positive reviews and we strive, every day, to do the best we can for all dogs entering our programs. Every now and then we have a negative review. In this case, we had a negative review that spoke about punishment training methods working better than our positive training methods. Google reviews limits the characters on responses, so please read this full response to get a better appreciation of why and how we do what we do.

Thank you for your feedback! It’s very important to us. We began our puppy and dog training programs 15 years ago, but my team and I continue to work every single day on improving and making them the best they can be.

You have given me a great deal to respond to, but for all intents and purposes, your entire review is essentially based on the claim that punishment training methods fixed your dog, while positive reinforcement training “damaged” your dog. I must say that I have never actually heard someone claim their dog was damaged by the use positive reinforcement. Certainly, I’ve heard all the same old arguments about why positive reinforcement doesn’t always work, but to go as far as to say that it turned a dog into a complete terror?  Well, that’s quite an accusation! On the other hand, I have worked with countless dogs that have been damaged and terrorized by the use of punishment.

I find much of your review to be a bit haphazard, but I will attempt to respond in an organized manner.

First of all, let’s discuss your misunderstanding that much of our puppy program is built on bribing the dogs with food. Very early on in Puppy Class Part One, we begin teaching, lecturing, and providing reading materials on why it’s  crucial to wean off treats ASAP.  We discuss at length how to do it, and constantly suggest real life rewards and ways to motivate your dog besides using food. If you paid attention and did your homework, you know there is a big difference between a lure, a reward, and a bribe. There is also a big difference between a bribe and using treats for classical conditioning and counterconditioning. 

Additionally, our entire premise of “Becoming the Center of your Dog’s Universe” is based on the idea of not having to use a tool of any kind (+ or -) to train and work with your dog. Make no mistake, your correction collar is a tool the same as food is a tool. Dogs become “collar smart” and their behavior  becomes contingent on whether or not they’re wearing the collar. Basically, you just traded one tool that is used to motivate dogs for another one that is used to cause them pain. 

Fun Fact: Way back when I was a brand-new dog trainer, I was taught how to use a slip-lead (choke), a prong collar, and a shock collar. I used aversive tools for the first two years of my career and my decision  to stop using them completely and to forbid them in my training center is based on education and experience. 

Moving on to your complaint about your dog going berserk around other dogs. This is another subject we discuss and teach ad nauseum. Weaning off treats and the importance for every dog (especially adolescent dogs) to be able to co-exist calmly around other dogs are literally the two biggest lessons in Puppy Class Part Two. Your dog would not have been allowed, or capable of continuing and completing the class if he was losing his mind the entire time.

If someone tells me their dog goes berserk anytime other dogs are in sight, my next question is, “What do you do?”  If you “strictly” followed our program, you would be terrific at redirecting behaviors, reading body language, setting your dog up for success, and being proactive about preventing your dog from practicing unwanted behaviors. If you expected your dog to behave like an adult dog at 7 months of age (which was the last time we saw you), then not only did you expect way too much too soon, but you also set him up to fail massively. Do you also anticipate your child will be fully matured at 13 years of age ?

Sadly, the truth is that puppyhood ends at approximately 5 months, and the dreaded adolescence begins. My trainers giving you the answer that many of your dog’s behaviors were largely due to adolescence was accurate. I’m confused that you seem to be suggesting that being a teenager is, in fact, not part of the growing up process?

Most parents of teenage humans expect the typical adolescent angst and they “push through it”. If the parents of a human teenager went to their doctor and complained that “we don’t exist to him anymore”, the doctor would probably laugh! Because it’s normal. ESPECIALLY at the dog park!
By the way, you took your young dog to the dog park and then concluded he picked up bad habits from other puppies at BID!?

Frankly, if I meet with owners of a 7-month-old sporting or working breed, and they tell me their dog is NOT going through stages of jumping on people, counter surfing, chewing everything in sight, and basically bouncing off the walls, I’m shocked! Why? Because it’s normal. 

Now, to address your comments about our Puppy Day School (not Daycare) Program. It was created specifically to positively socialize new puppies in a controlled, structured environment. We have a very small ratio of 4-5 puppies per trainer and group playtime is done for 20 minutes, 2x per day. The rest of the day is made up of individual training exercises. Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that during the 10 days your puppy attended, that he learned “nothing but bad habits from other puppies who don’t know how to act appropriately”.  It’s a hilarious statement in and of itself because of course puppies don’t know how to act appropriately. They’re puppies! That’s like complaining to a pre-school teacher that the toddlers don’t have any self-control and don’t know how to act appropriately. Puppies, like babies, haven’t had time to create “bad habits”.  They do, however, have normal puppy behaviors that humans don’t happen to like so they tend to label them “bad habits”.  

Furthermore, we do some pretty terrific work (see other reviews), but ultimately, we can’t do it all. Due to safety issues and vaccination schedules, we don’t take the puppies out to public places or teach them to ride in a car. Owners do, in fact, have to do some of the work themselves. 

Finally, to address the miraculous 180 your dog has made in only 2.5 months, I can’t say it better than this:

“If you use punishment, you can suppress behavior, whether or not you've actually taught anything at all. ‘Suppressed’ behavior doesn't mean the dog or child is trained, but  simply that by virtue of not moving too much it’s hard to be annoying to others. This is true for both children and puppies.”

“Punishment does works for dogs. If you keep on top of your puppy non-stop, physically, or verbally correcting him for all of the things he does wrong while instilling a solid foundation of obedience, you can eventually end up with a puppy who exists quietly, staring vacantly at nothing. A good, obedient puppy who makes no trouble for anyone, anywhere! You can effectively take the puppy out of the dog and leave behind a well-behaved shell. On the other hand, that puppy will make no effort to spend time with you, which brings up the question – why did you get a dog in the first place, if not to enjoy each other?”

“With time, consistency, maturity and well thought out raising, both your dogs and your children will make it to adulthood, and life will be a lot easier and smoother. How you choose to get there – whether you use structure and positive interaction for good choices or focus on punishment to suppress all behavior – will have both short term and long-term effects on your relationship.

Your decisions early on will influence how much time your charges choose to voluntarily spend with you. How much time they try to engage you for interaction. How much they use you as a resource when they aren't sure what to do. In short, how much they like you – if at all.

Of course, there are very forgiving puppies and children. In some cases, no matter what you do, you'll be rewarded with a wonderful outcome. But don't hold your breath on that one. Most of the time, you'll get what you give.”

Denise Fenzi

https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/blog/it-s-a-puppy-not-a-problem

Unfortunately, dog training is an unregulated profession, and it feels like the Wild West out there sometimes. Any old Joe Schmo trumpet player can claim to be a certified professional dog trainer, regardless of education or certifications. Fortunately, more and more dog owners are educating themselves about the different types of dog trainers and realizing they have a choice. 

My trainers remember Zuko as a super sweet, smart, and friendly boy. We wish you and him nothing but happiness and good luck.  We will continue to do the best we can to help make the world a better place, one dog at a time. 

Sincerely,

Stephanie Bennett, Owner