Reacting to My Most Controversial Video Ever

[@zakgeorge]

Hey guys! Thanks for the feedback on everything and I really appreciate your support! And regarding the paintings in the background, they are straight! Haha! It’s just the slightly distorted camera angle!😜🤔

[@JacquelineRPrice]

Include the mistakes. I guarantee you that I'll make them and I hope to learn from how you handle them.

[@YoloMasterGamerTag]

Thumbs up to you on how you decided to make this video! I still think people don’t understand what you are doing with your dog and they want to put their two cent like they did and know like you said the experience of her history.

[@MsCandycorn]

Yes, lol. I noticed that too, the camera angle. Please don't change your videos, they are so honest and real, and we learn just as much if not more from your mistakes! Thank you so much for everything you do!

[@Chloe_does]

Who painted them?! They are brilliant

[@ajhlh7]

You are a great trainer and i really appreciate your videos. They are super clear and you show us the highs and lows of training in real life. I think you did good. Please keep doing this ! When you show us things didn't go well it helps us to feel we are doing okay when our own puppy training is not on track. When trainers show sunshine and rainbows its misrepresenting how training really is. Thats why so many dog owners give up and settle with poorly trained dogs thinking my puppy wont get it they never will. Training takes a long time and a lot of effort. It is never perfect as you are working with an animal who doesn't know what that means.

[@jamesdoxsee7957]

I love his show and thisjust summarizes and lays out all of the basic methods he uses on the show. What i love about this guide kzbin.infoUgkxKkYeOoCV_w2vPX0CSyVWkhew2c4FYk0d is that you don' need to read the whole book cover to cover ... You can skip to the chapter (lesson) you want to read about. The book is arranged almost as a problem-solving guide ... Here is the problem and here is what you need to know/do to correct it. This man knows his stuff ... But more importantly knows how to teach people how they can work with their pups themselves!

[@avtircaritas8229]

I thought she had actually bitten another dog. She didn't. She warned another dog off. Big difference. You and Inertia did fine. The owner of the other dog did the right thing, too.

[@spiritualjoy721]

Me, too. I almost didn’t watch the video because I feared a dog fight or bite. This is regrettable but normal and taught me not to overact if I face a similar scenario. I also thought there were a few instances when I would have left but Zack explained why he chose not to and I learned from that. Overall, good teaching video.

[@dundalis]

You can absolutely know how your dog will react in any situation by reading their body language (Inertia was clearly scared out of her mind well before they even went into the park, the quick lip licking and head twitching is not relaxed or even normal excitable behaviour) and by having fully trained cues into them which should have happened waaay before 6 months of age. If you can’t get your dog to sit, pay attention when you call or give constant eye contact even without any real distractions around, they simply don’t recognise you as a leader. How a professional trainer struggles with that after 6 months is mind boggling. And it’s not about simply being imperfect, these are literal basic behavioural canine commands that dogs will pick up within weeks if properly reinforced. If any of this was true for inertia, she would have been 10x more relaxed at that dog park, because she would have taken comfort in her owner as a leader taking charge of any situation. Even nervous dogs with a strong leader will not act like that. You don’t even need to be a professional to know this stuff.

[@powersmile012]

if it was a dobbie, rot, gs, those nip will punch a hole on the *most muscular strong human you can see

[@parkermaccrate5969]

@@powersmile012 I’m pretty sure that’s a bite not a nip, nips don’t break skin, a bite has a very clear definition

[@parkermaccrate5969]

There is literally a grade scale

[@HenryRob]

We ordered thissince we are planning to get a dog and we've watched dog lover on tv many times. The book kzbin.infoUgkxGQVgV21bQ7B9b9duQ1ByImyT9xHbjOKq is a simple read and easy to understand. I like that it gives examples. We haven't put it into practice yet, so that will be the true test.

[@jordangunther1819]

The mistakes are one of the main reasons I value this series so much.

[@smadworld8515]

Ok

[@Cherry-jz8ee]

Same

[@demarcusjhonson3997]

Is it because your a mistake

[@Cherry-jz8ee]

DeMarcus Jhonson dang way to be mature. It’s not funny, you look like you need sympathy.

[@kyleruss2949]

That’s cinda dry

[@Nanito354]

No, don’t omit the mistakes. I rather see the reality and ups and downs of training and life. I actually respect you a lot more for this. Thank you

[@degausser48]

We're raising a pup who is around 2 months younger then Inertia and I can't stress how helpful and important your series has been for us. Especially as first-time puppy parents it's really easy to worry that you're doing something wrong if things don't go perfectly when training as most online guides paint a picture of what success looks like - but don't always show what the road to success is like. Being able to see a puppy having 'real' training experiences has provided so much reassurance and helped us through some of those tougher milestones. Our puppy is 6 months old now and he's an absolute dream - and i'd definitely credit a ton of his success to your series. Please do keep mistakes in your videos - and also please do more of these 1:1 style videos - really nice to hear from you in this format. All the best.

[@jaimeebell5815]

it is so refreshing to see even a professional dog trainer have the same struggles everyone has, it makes me feel less like a failure as a dog owner with a nervous dog

[@sunyalmazan3819]

Jaimee Bell yes!! I enjoy his videos and learn much more his videos because I can actually see his struggles.

[@wertroline]

Exactly! Sometimes I almost cry, because I can't teach my dog to stop pulling on leash when he sees other dogs. I get so frustrated because it looks so easy at some other trainers videos. They just take already trained dog and it looks so easy, but it just make you feel even worse about yourself and you feel you will never succeed

[@ianglenn5905]

@nulnul, you say you almost cry because you can’t teach your dog to stop pulling on leash when he sees other dogs. Is that after having watched Zak George’s videos on dog training? If so, does that not tell you something, namely that these videos are more for entertainment/marketing than for educational purposes?

[@wertroline]

@@ianglenn5905 I've watched many many other trainers videos as well. I'm also in contact in real life with professional trainer, who trains police and assisting dogs. My dog is still a young puppy ( he will be assisting dog in the future, I'm a volunteer who takes care of a dog for a year, then he goes on professional training) and I know I need to be patient and consistent, but sometimes it's hard to believe it will end one day. So even if the advices in many channels are good, it's nice to see sth else then just already trained dog who does all the tricks and makes it look so easy

[@Jackiegoal]

The main reason I'm watching these series is because of the honesty and kind of unfiltered nature, really. You show and voice your deliberations which is much more helpful than pretending you're in a perfect world. We're currently raising a 14mo old German shepherd and make mistakes on a daily basis (we're getting better). It really helps to talk to people about these mistakes instead of the successes because others' points of view help us make better decisions in the future. Our dog, for instance, will approach other dogs quite similarly to the dog in the video (walking straight up instead of approaching carefully) which can make other dog owners nervous about him playing with their dogs. Seeing this from the other side makes us very aware of the effect his behaviour can have on other dogs. This is incredibly helpful.

[@AllieKatt11]

Good lord! Just goes to show you, it doesn’t matter how good you are if you make the smallest mistake the internet will tear you apart. You have helped me so much with my dog. I appreciate you.

[@CARDSSerus]

Honestly when I first got my dog I was sick of every video being a clearly already well trained dog, so this series is great

[@cjanderson2371]

Honestly, as a dog trainer to dog trainer, I don’t think this was a huge “mistake”. You had so many variables and a history of her loosening up. How were you to know that she would be more stressed there than other places? Sure, in hindsight, maybe she was pushed to quickly on that very day, but who’s to say that on another day she wouldn’t have been fine. Also, the other dog there - the lab - had absolutely no manners or boundaries, and for a teenage dog who’s developing mentally and physically, it was a lot. It wasn’t your fault that the other dog was a bit over the top (which is why I don’t like dog parks to begin with... the other dogs). You handled the situation extremely well. Every experience trainer - and I mean EVERY trainer no matter what methods they use to train - will at some point experience a situation like this. We all have so much information and variables to calculate during a session in addition to the fact that dogs can be like people - some days are just too much, and it’s hard to always tell when and we’re that will be 100% of the time. The best you can do is read their body language, know their personalities, know their limits to the best of your ability, and assess the environment. You did all of these things. You also handled the situation calmly and allowed Inertia a bit of a cool down before leaving the park. That allowed her to process what happened after the fact rather than just pull her out without actually leaving on a relatively good note. Now, had this been an actual dog aggressive dog with a bite history, no way would you or I have put a dog in the middle of a crazy dog park like this. But Inertia isn’t aggressive, just nervous and learning how to mentally absorb everything around her (she’s also a border collie I might add 🤣). Anyways, I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to share your thoughts about Inertia’s reaction, so that people who don’t understand dog behavior or training at the level you do will get why you made the decisions you made. Also, I really appreciate the fact that you chose to post the dog park video when you could’ve left it out altogether. That’s a bold move, considering how crazy people can get when it comes to raising and training dogs - on social media, too 😬 Thanks again for sharing. People need to see real world scenarios. It allows people to understand that you can’t plan everything perfectly when training an animal, and you have to adjust to the situation ON YOUR TOES to the best of your ability. You’re videos are great, and I see no reason for anyone to complain about what you just shared ❤️

[@Barneyjo]

Chaya Anderson exactly 👍

[@elizabethtaylor4448]

I totally agree with you. Making videos about dog training might be Zacs bread & butter but people must also remember he is also her dad, not just a trainer. It makes your reactions very different. I think Sacs doing very well to keep it real. I don't agree with all his techniques same with Caesar Milan. Doesn't mean he's wrong or not doing it right. There are many ways to eat an Oreo but taste the same with each method.

[@righton6442]

I have a dog who is not socialized. She's a year old. When I take her to the vet she is not happy with the other dogs and she tucks her tail between her hind legs and hides under my chair while she barks at the other dogs. She's really sweet and not mean but she does have to be in certain situations in order for her to be more obedient and well behaved. She has gotten better by my just taking her into certain situations. For some of us there is no way around it. I've never owned a dog before, and I like that Zak put the dog in an "unfamiliar," setting. For those like me who is learning everything about dogs by having a dog, I saw nothing wrong with his video. People are being a little too touchy. It's real life. I need real experiences.

[@717379]

Chaya Anderson Great comment!

[@shortforsophie]

Chaya Anderson your comment is so good I feel like I should click and give you high value rewards.

[@AtLeastITriedGames]

This "mistakes" is what makes me confident about training my dog. I never saw the "not working" moments of training a dog, so now I know that my dog is not a "bad dog". This helps me to have way more patience with him because I espect from him what he can offer with his age.

[@pauline1072]

Always have patience no matter age. And there are no bad dogs, only bad owners, so whenever your dog does something wrong, think about how you can teach him in a better way how to behave :) Then keep reinforcing for the rest of his life, because they will mess up once in a while :) Your dog always wants to please you, they're programmed that way. ;)

[@GrandisSilva]

@@pauline1072 I think this is the challenge with only seeing 'perfect' dog training, too. If you try what you've seen on KZbin and it doesn't work with your own dog, it's easy to think you're no good - that you're a 'bad owner' - when maybe you're actually very good but just need either more time or a slightly different tactic.

[@yogogoyogirlyogogoyo]

If someone ran me over like that I’d be throwing down too!

[@lena9378]

Lol I actually did bite someone when i was younger for doing shoving me off the bars Inertia behaved so much better than me

[@dundalis]

Good thing dogs aren’t like humans. A more appropriate translation of behaviour here would be closer to someone talking loud and another person being so scared and nervous they threw a punch. The nervous, scared dog is almost always the most dangerous dog in an altercation like this. But people think it’s the confident dog because it translates directly to human behaviour. Nope

[@nicolasierfino9943]

I think yous should include the mistakes. I adopted my rescue puppy around the same time you got inertia. Your videos have been a big help, and I think it helps to see your real experiences.

[@allisonsmith374]

Zak- It never even crossed my mind that you were being negligent with Inertia at the dog park. It makes me feel like I'm not alone that my dog's experiences don't always go as smoothly as I'd like since I'm still training her. Please continue to include stuff like this. It makes me feel like my mistakes are ok with my pup. Everyone makes them!!

[@alixtheprofessionalcatherd6850]

Common sense should have told you that some of the things he was doing at the park was wrong. It's honestly scarey what some people will believe on the internet.

[@sheilacusanelli9069]

Allison Smith I agree! I was waiting for the controversial part. Being I am not a dog trainer I would have gotten worried and removed my dog right away. However my dog is very unpredictable and I fear her biting other dogs or other people.

[@bickle8931]

No these were dangerous mistakes that could have gotten his dog or another dog hurt. The dog was giving clear signs that it was not a smart idea to put it in a dog park.

[@klq3836]

I love the rawness of this series. Raising a puppy isn't always easy and I appreciate seeing a trainer experience and deal with everyday situations like this. When I brought my pup to a local trainer everything was just "too perfect" like her dogs never made any scary mistakes. Thank you Zach and don't change a thing. You and Inertia are in a exciting journey and you totally rock!!

[@foreverisover496]

I rarely comment on KZbin videos but I think your series is great! It's so real and it shows problems you run into with training a puppy... It's not always perfect, but I really appreciate that you're never agressive towards inertia. You always try to make training fun and I think that's important and very different from a lot of dog trainers. Thank you for your work!

[@vessi953]

I really appreciated being able to see a video that was realistic. I absolutely LOVE your current series because it shows what puppy training REALLY looks like, not just the ups but also the downs, and how one should handle those situations in the moment. Often puppy training videos show what training should look like, but only in an ideal situation. The real world is not like that! Please do not feel discouraged from posting these kinds of videos, even if they are setbacks, because I find them so helpful in knowing what to do during those imperfect moments. A personal example, my dog recently started snapping other dogs too. Videos say to redirect, use positive reinforcement, etc, but often those videos never show the dog snapping in the moment. A lot of the strategies are proactive but you don't really learn the strategies to use when setbacks occur. Being able to see in your video what you did in the moment was helpful so that I know what I can do the next time my dog does have a setback as well.

[@rolo0o]

Zak: saying something really important Me: omg he has a painting of Inertia?

[@3summerfriends472]

Ikr

[@rolo0o]

@@3summerfriends472 It's so cute!

[@DianaCB_TX]

Me too lol

[@lowrijmoulding]

Ella indie I’m pretty sure

[@martasemperboni827]

@Ella she's Indy, aka Indiana Jones :)

[@sydneykippen2431]

As someone who has worked with dogs at a shelter for a few years, my heart jumped when you picked her up. Seeing her body language when you picked her up clearly showed that she was comfortable, but I was so worried she was going to redirect her fear and snapping towards you. Even the best dogs can redirect if they're freaked out enough. (Also dogs correcting other dogs is completely fine and people really need to not freak out about it because if they are punished for correcting they may start to jump straight to biting which is no bueno) Never hide your mistakes. Nobody is perfect, though our hindsight is always 20/20. Making mistakes is how people learn and grow.

[@bryanmccullar4701]

By all means, leave the mistakes in. We need to see these, if only to prove we’re not the only ones making them. As for the opinions of others, well... we all have them.

[@SaraBeet]

I love that you made this follow up - so important to clarify that you're including mistakes as you go (I know this has always been your intent!). The internet is very unforgiving. There were definitely questions I had about how you reacted in this video and hearing the full thought process is useful but I figured I'd give you the benefit of the doubt and see what's up for the next video! The thing you do next is what matters way more! Something that is all too easily forgotten. Keep including those mistakes and imperfect moments and try not to take the internet too personally ;) It's definitely a needed gap - especially with a dog that is not inherently confident in all situations at the first outtake.

[@juliadonna4051]

I love the series! I'm a teen and all I've ever known is positive reinforcement and I love it! I really appreciate how real and honest you are in your videos. Keep doing what your doing!

[@jakelxxx12121212]

Why does he remind me of the blues clues guy, we just got a lletter we just got a letter.

[@nino8256]

Stetson O'haver god damnit I can’t unsee it now

[@dianna2901]

Lol it's the hands 🤣

[@smadworld8515]

Ok

[@victoreke8551]

OMG so true🤣🤣

[@rrrr6863]

THAT'S IT!!

[@cherieposluszny6171]

I have an anxious dog (2 years old) & I have given in to the fear. I have a really hard time socializing him because I’m not always sure how to help him & how to respond. I found this video super helpful. It helped me see that it isn’t always easy & that’s ok! You stayed calm & focused throughout & you didn’t over react to her reactions. I appreciate you showing real life. Keep it up. Thank you!

[@tdonithan863]

I have watched all your videos up to this point and it’s so refreshing to see your reality of having a dog/puppy in every situation. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t had an “interesting” experience at a dog park. I appreciate all this information in as real time as possible. We are getting a puppy at the end of July and I’m so excited to use your books and these videos.

[@onehundredhourchallenge836]

I thought Inertia's reaction to that dog was appropriate - He came on too strong and she told him to back off. I also thought you handled the situation well. No big deal.

[@spaghettiyeti7097]

So many dogs come on way too strong, probably a lack of proper socialisation as a puppy, but I’m no expert

[@user-ru6nn1wu4b]

Thank you for the follow up! No matter what job you do, there will always be people who criticize you. That gets amplified tenfold when it's online, so don't let anyone get to you and keep moving forward!

[@ritaaustin1674]

I so appreciate seeing that the dogs that are not perfect and the owner response!!! I often feel like I am not getting something right because my dog isn't getting it in the first two or three tries. Or, we are doing fine, then suddenly it seems like all lessons forgotten. Its great to know not everything goes perfect!! Thank you for transparency. .

[@ontheclock1766]

Include the mistakes please!! It’s so refreshing to see that even professional dog trainers have ‘bad’ moments with their dogs! It’s how you recover from that that is interesting to see/learn from!

[@adriahaddy258]

My heart leapt when I heard you say, "should I omit the mistakes?" I wanted to shout, "NOOOO, keep the mistakes". The mistakes and the overall real-ness to your video's is what makes me enjoy so much watching this series. I've seen to many dog training video's that show the end result of what they wanted to get to and they explain how they did it but they don't show or even explain the troubleshooting parts and it is very discouraging. Not knowing how to get past your mistakes to get to where "that" dog trainer got makes you feel like you are doing something "wrong", "he got there so why can't I?". Seeing the real-ness of your mistakes and hardships makes us go, "uh huh! I am dealing with that too, so it is OK. So I am doing something "right", now I feel better". Long story short, without the real-ness of your video's it's harder to understand the "how" and feel good about how we are training our own dogs. ~ Love from Canada and a soon to be Rottie mum

[@CH-ml8qs]

"You can't reinforce fear by providing comfort." Well said! This is why Zak George's training methods really are revolutionary. I wish more trainers and pet parents understood this. It's so frustrating to see a dog being scolded for attempting to communicate their discomfort in a stressful situation. I mean if a stranger suddenly got in my face, I would probably freak out too.

[@bickle8931]

CH thats why you advocate for your dog by keeping other dogs away from it like that. The dog had no backup. Comforting a dog can 100% make the problem worse

[@CUniqueTheOneAndOnly]

I so agree. Inertia is so blessed to have a master such as Zach. As a balanced trainer myself...I totally side with Inertia and some of the trolls sound like they deliver unwarranted corrections which is equally as bad as a dog that receives no correction and guidance.

[@cjcgaming7265]

"You can't reinforce fear by providing comfort to your dog." THANK YOU!!!!

[@ptacnik]

But you can reinforce bad behavior. Something he's said in many of his other videos. So rewording it as "fear" is disingenuous. And makes the statement completely loaded. Constantly using diversionary tricks while training is one thing, but when it comes to bad behavior that actually effects other people/dogs, you can't just pick up the dog, smile and never correct them on that behavior. (Note: I said correction, not punishment.) It needed to be corrected after 1 simple "warning" turned into 3. (And from the video, it looks like the first 2/3 "warnings" actually made contact. So no that's not just "air snaps.") Mistakes happen. And I'm glad he sees he probably stayed in the park longer than he should have. None of this is end-of-the-world drama. I just think the statement about "reinforcing fear" was misleading. Because it absolutely IS reinforcing bad habits and hes said so himself in several videos.

[@ericzingeler8373]

ptacnik Bad behavior and fearful behavior are not the same. You can’t correct a dog that is acting out of fear.

[@ptacnik]

@@ericzingeler8373 The first bite you could say is out of fear. The second and third time? No, sorry but that is clearly something other than fear. He doesn't know when to stop because hes never been given boundaries. Hence: bad behavior.

[@daniellebarrera6666]

@@ptacnik It's not bad behavior, she's clearly overwhelmed and needed to be removed from the situation, I can understand why he didn't want to remove her just yet cause he KNOWS his dog is the type to bounce back and recover but she was done.

[@MW-xj3rs]

@@ptacnik have to say you got this one wrong. It is clear she was fearful the dog rammed into her and was bigger then her. Nothing wrong with her reaction and the other dog was fine.

[@randir.3080]

I absolutely love your experience series with inertia! It's so helpful and I want everyone thinking of getting a puppy ever to watch it! I love the authenticity of the series too! And meh on the controversy..... I really like how you've handled this! Props to you! You're amazing and please dont let these opinions get you down!

[@omheart11]

100% want to see the "mistakes" too. It's important to see how you respond to and handle an unexpected situation. I need to know how I should react too. You were very calm when I prob would have been anxious energy into the mix.

[@wadekloeblen9455]

This series has helped me immensely in training my pup. I got her very soon after this series started getting posted and I absolutely owe a large amount of my pups obedience to practices I learned from you. You do an amazing job showing real life situations with a puppy and how to respond and handle those situations. Truly, thank you for the time and effort you put into, not only your training, but also your channel and viewers. 🖤

[@ajones601]

Thank you for being transparent! It’s actually very encouraging to see that it doesn’t always go perfect because it rarely goes perfect for me. Thank your for sharing your training with us! It has been so valuable to me and my fur babies!

[@robinwatkins8388]

I really really appreciate your videos. They show what it’s like to work with and train our dogs in the real world. You can only learn so much watching people demonstrate with their dogs that are already experienced. Like you said, people with kids are quick to say “if that was my kid I would have...fill in the blank.” Thank you for sharing. We’ve all done things with our kids, our pets, etc. where we’ve looked at a situation and said to ourselves, “oops. I guess that wasn’t such a hot idea”. Keep on doing what you’re doing and never apologize. Oh, and THANK YOU for posting these videos! Such hard work putting these out there, and we get these lessons for free. Can’t beat that.

[@sharonbociek3210]

Thanks for keeping it real. People love to criticise, you are the expert. Dogs are unpredictable. I love that you show it as it is. Most make us feel a failure.

[@MafaldaCostaAkitaGirl]

Training must be adapted to each individual dog and taking in consideration it’s personality and breed (if it’s the case). There no magic formula that works for all so it’s good to see that you show your mistakes and adapt.

[@dropbear9785]

My new 14 week old pup is an American Akita. They are awesome, but challenging in a special way. Akitas rock!

[@MafaldaCostaAkitaGirl]

@@dropbear9785 I have an Akita Inu! I like them both! Amazing dogs!

[@FionaRiiko001]

I love how honest you are. Shit happens in life. you think something good is going to happen, get 1 more good trial in to leave on a good note and more shit happens. Its reality, good on you to show this side happens!!! no one is perfect

[@1981lackadaisy]

100% agree on showing us “mistakes.” The world is not perfect. I think it is important to see how to react when things are going negatively.

[@dereknelson6897]

I am so grateful for your series, I have been very appreciative of this series. I am a novice trainer but I have learned so much from the many experiences that you show in this series. I actually like this video because it has been good to look into the way you are thinking about the many choices that were presented in the different aspects of the events of the experience. I think it would be great to see more of these kinds of videos so as a novice I could gain more understanding of why you do what you do in the moments you do them. I also want to say that my training experience has been so great as I apply the things you are teaching. It really has been so much fun to build such a great relationship with my dog, and when my dog goes through challenges I am so grateful to know how to handle them and to help him have good learning experiences that helps him to want to keep getting better in those challenging scenarios.

[@kellypenaranda6988]

I m a trainer and everything you did was spot on! People love to criticize for anything even though they don’t have the knowledge or the whole story. You are the expert here and the fact you were mindful to end the experience on a positive note talks a lot about your training methods. Also, not yelling or correcting a dog in a fearful state was also a great call. Inercia corrected a dog for invading her space, nothing wrong with that and you stopped it at the perfect time before it scaled to a bad situation. As trainers we don’t have the possibility of asking our dogs if it s a good day to socialize or not. The only thing we can do it s to follow pattern, check body language and step in when it s right. You are a great trainer, forget about the haters!

[@ladyjenmarie]

I have learned so much from your videos. I got a Rottie puppy around the same time you got Inertia, and every single video has been extremely helpful in the process of training him. He has been a challenging puppy, but I can say that I have a wonderful relationship with him now and it is mostly due to the puppy series. One aspect of your videos that has been extremely encouraging and helpful is seeing you train in real time and see that training is full of little mistakes and missteps and takes LOTS of time. I'm a perfectionist and I tend to get really hard on myself when I make mistakes, but you taught me that these mistakes really don't matter in the long run, as long as I get back on track, stay positive, and keep going. Dogs are SOO forgiving of your missteps. It has also been encouraging hearing that teaching a dog to heel is an extremely long process. There are so many things I could say about your videos - but I'll stop here for now. Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you put into these free videos and for being willing to be vulnerable to help us all grow in our training skills. You and your wife are amazing - please keep doing what you are doing!

[@kristenyorama8398]

I love this series. It’s really helpful to see how you actually train a dog. I didn’t see any issues with the video you mentioned. It’s real life.

[@honzahavlicek309]

Thank you!! It’s so great to see, that it ain’t always so great and easy. I have been looking for someone to show me how to act in these stressful situations. I think these situations decide a lot and you are the first trainer that I found, that’s shows real life training!!! If you show mistakes and explain why you acted a certain way, than there is a chance of people learning how to be better partners for their dogs. My dog is also scared at first, but after a while she gets playful, but when a lot of dogs show up, she gets stressed and defensive. If you’d show the process how you help your dog in these situations and teach him/her proper manners. Thank you 🙏

[@MrAngryTwinkie]

Zak -- absolutely show the mistakes and how you adapted and adjusted. Thank you for writing a great book and sharing the content!

[@scottw1732]

It is far more frustrating and discouraging for me when I watch over-edited dog training videos and everything is perfect...because they sure aren't perfect for us.

[@Sar-pe8dt]

I love the way you train and I'm learning a lot from you through this huge experience of puppy training. Please do NOT omit the mistakes! They really help keep the whole process in perspective. Thankyou!

[@Deemac1236]

I love how you show the real thing and not sugar coat it. I respect you as a person and can tell you are a great trainer. And most importantly of all you love your dogs !!!

[@flynlady]

I love the series and appreciate seeing the hiccups...it has given me hope when I feel like I'm not making progress. Then when I'm able to proof the training it reinforces that I'm doing something right!

[@alysonsharon]

Please keep including the entire, honest experience - “mistakes” and all. That is precisely what makes this series with Inertia so very encouraging. It helps me so much to see the actual, real process of training a puppy. Whenever I am struggling with my dog (now 10 months), these videos and moments you share with Inertia help me to trust that Alma and I can also overcome the tricky parts of training, because I see you working through the same things with Inertia in real life situations. You have great judgement, you know your dog better than anyone. What you are doing is very generous and-the comments before go to show-also very vulnerable. I am grateful for the authenticity!

[@andrewwells3117]

Well said! I think it’s important to remember that all of us dog trainers or not make mistakes when training our dogs. I appreciate you including the real experience you go though because the reality of it is that’s what it looks like when training. Thank you and keep up the good work 👍🏻

[@junkatjei011]

Thank you for sharing the WHOLE experience. The real and raw experience and not just the over edited, fluffy, perfect experience. As a furbaby parent and a human baby parent, i understand the judgement call of knowing your child and seeing whether they can overcome their restrictive feelings of nervousness. We understand their boundaries but we are letting them build resilience from the real world. Letting them grow in their confidence by allowing her to experience the good and sometimes the uncomfortable because thats what can help someone grow. Everyone, including our pets have a panic zone where we try our best to comfort them before they hit their limit, but sometimes we can miss it and thats also ok. You are doing a wonderful thing by sharing your journey and im grateful.

[@jehnamartinez906]

Since your asking I think you should include everything. But mostly I think you should make your videos the way YOU want to make them. If you don't want to hide anything, then don't. I honestly believe that the people who were saying stuff had only seen that one video and nothing or not much else of the series anyway. But that's just my thoughts. Love you Zak George. You've really helped me a lot with my 3 Shih Tzu's.

[@CanineSportsFanatic]

I've been following you since 2008 and it's been a joy to grow up on dog training and learn from your videos! I'm now a professional dog trainer and I still come back to watch your videos for inspiration. I know I can be my worst critic and berate myself for every mistake but this video made me feel so much better! I think you did a fantastic job managing Inertia in the situation she was in and honestly those air snaps were very polite! No lunging or going straight for a bite, just a very clear warning! We all can find ourselves ending up pushing things too far and it always teaches us a valuable lesson! Ultimately we keep that relationship with our dogs regardless of our mistakes because of the reinforcement history we've already put in. Keep up the great work, Zak!

[@micchristi8533]

Don’t ever change how you present your videos! Love your honesty and authenticity...there’s a reason why you have over 3M subscribers! Love all your videos, learning so much from them.

[@bunnyrabbit443]

Hey Zak! I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you keeping those bits in your videos! Honestly seeing that particular incident just made me feel like your videos are a true and realistic representation of what it's like to train a dog. It also made me feel better about training my own puppy, i.e. it's okay for things like that to happen sometimes and no dog or trainer can ever be perfect!! So thank you and please keep up the great work, you are helping a lot of people and dogs out there by making these videos :)

[@mammothdonkeyrider]

I've worked with dogs professionally for decades. Vet Tech and Welfare Officer. I was so surprised to see that air snaps, growling and even split second fights are perfectly normal conversations while implementing Dogs Playing For Life. But I can say most altercations end with separation and understanding on both sides. And they have to have time to recover. GREAT JOB, keep it up. Thank you for being open and honest.

[@mcb0b1]

I watched the original video, and now the reaction video. I'm still trying to find where the controversy is?

[@rockiexu3878]

Me toooooooo ppl r overreacting I think

[@itsjustbree9267]

Instagram. 🤣

[@secretariat4ever98]

The fact that he brought his dog into a park after she was showing fearful and reactive behavior. That is the controversy. She was not ready to be brought in and her reaction shows that. He didn’t listen to her signals.

[@virgoliz6611]

@@secretariat4ever98 Lol, did you even watch this video? You people just don't stop.

[@rockiexu3878]

@@secretariat4ever98 ok? Shes gotta start somewhere and learn that it's ok and not to b fearful, it's a process

[@laksmidulceyoga]

Mistakes are the most important on any learning process, this episode was very important to learn about my youngest dog, and of course, I hope you keep it real with all the unexpected! I'm grateful for your videos. Great job!

[@nicolelarson9995]

I'm really really grateful you tell the real story and include the moments that are not perfect. I rescued a puppy at 8 weeks old and I watch KZbin videos for guidance how to train her (as well as our formal classes we go to). There is a big disconnect between a trained dog with a trainer showing you what to do perfectly online and what happens when I'm out in the real world (not a confident trainer) with a younger dog who's learning for the first time. Watching your videos and realizing, hey, my 1 year old behaves similar to how professional dog trainer Zak's 1 year old and this is how he corrected it in real time. I have more confidence knowing my pup isn't the only one who ignores my recalls and it's OK, we just still have plenty of work to do! Thank you for showing the real life of dog training.

[@jamesbercic2743]

Zak I appreciate the fact you do your videos in real time. We learn from mistakes. It is easy for other trainer I.e. McCann dogs cut your video apart, I like them as well but didn’t agree with them dissecting your video. It’s pretty easy to make videos with pre trained dogs I’d like to thank you for all your videos, I’ve watched them since we adopted our rescue pup. She is so well trained now and even bows, walks with a loose leash etc. I can’t thank you enough. I always say YES when she does what I’m looking for. Keep up your videos. I live in Canada and have told many dog walkers in my hood to watch your videos. Keep it up !!!!! James. B

[@nedbear1970]

KZbin: omg you cant raise your dog Well when your 9 month puppy gets run over by a bigger dog there might be a decent chance she gets a bit nervous and surprised

[@Jackysutarrodetierra]

Actually she was 6 months old at the time of the video and it was her first time in a dog park. I disagree with minor things Zak did in the video but obviously people on the Internet act like it's the biggest deal when it's just a startled puppy

[@nighttail101]

Exactly. I had a lady replying to me before who was pointing out each tail wag or ear twitch that could be a sign of stress! Like, cmon people, the overreactions are way too much here! Puppies get nervous in new situations the same way kids do!

[@virgoliz6611]

@@nighttail101 I made a joke about Inertia being a lady and "no man is going to be running at her like that". And then this person jumps down my throat saying I probably like dogs suffering etc. I was so taken aback by how sensitive these people are. Can't even make jokes on the internet anymore cause there are snowflakes everywhere.

[@nighttail101]

VirgoLiz Sorry someone would jump you like that :( And you’re right, I think people are just too overprotective over animals to the point where it helps nobody. They wanna feel like an internet hero loool

[@virgoliz6611]

@@nighttail101 Exactly

[@vanessasheffield4344]

Thank you so much for showing real life situations! It’s so helpful to see how training a dog truly looks like without editing out moments where you are dealing with unexpected moments. My greatest challenges with my dog involve meeting new people and dogs. We named her Marley but it’s become a joke that we should have named her nervous Nelly. Marley is 3/4 mini Aussie and 1/4 border collie. Are there breed specific pointers that could help me? I’ve started bringing Marley to the dog park this past week. She gets very overwhelmed when other dogs overwhelm her. Bigger dogs do intimidate her more. Please continue showing your experiences. It truly helps me. Thank you for the real story!

[@qs-ii1872]

How to help a dog who’s scared... Pro: Get them out of that situation. Comments: Make them more scared.

[@MaggieTapiaVlogs]

It’s a great that you include all of the experience and interaction or mistakes we all learn from them!! Because as you said the is not a perfect world, scenario dog or trainer! I love your videos and I found them so helpful with my puppy now.

[@ItsSkyLOL]

To be honest I think you had nothing to actually explain, if a bunch of people did not understand the concept why you did something, then they better keep it to themselves. I am certain most of people are not trainers and when you help other people how to deal with problems, most of them are not so good at even following instructions you give them so whoever comments like that I can bet are just talking as any other person that thinks they know better 😅 I APPRECIATE you including ALL experiences in these videos because I got Border Collie around then same time as you or let’s say she goes exactly with videos you post about Inertia, and to be honest seeing all bad experiences makes me feel more confident that my dog is not the only one that does not listen etc as in other videos that are just showing you steps without real experience how training goes. So I hope you keep being all real as you are and the more you grow the more criticism you will receive , but just whoever is “teaching” or “helping” with those comments.. you see a real life experience of training a puppy and it’s never ideal, pretty sure you had those situations too with your dogs if you have dogs at all☺️☺️

[@audreypellicano2939]

Do not stop doing what you're doing!!!!! I'm soon to be a proud new owner of a border collie puppy. I've never had a puppy and without your videos, I would never have been prepared to be a good puppy parent! I need to see it all, the good, the bad, and the unexpected! You and your work, love, and care are very appreciated.

[@susanrenna9700]

Keyboard warriors that knows everything about everything is all I read anymore!!!! Very frustrating!!!! I have 5 dogs that I train and I believe that you did what you thought was best and she was not in danger.

[@ivi122]

I love this series. You’re the most honest dog trainer in you tube, in my opinion. You show us reality. Don’t mind the ppl criticizing you. Keep doing what you’re doing

[@sammieshipman3503]

Absolutely include the mistakes. They’re important as they provide people, as well as yourself with real-world experiences and teachable moments. You guys are doing great. I’m enjoying the series and I’m learning a lot. Thank you for doing what you do.

[@Nikcholey]

Great response Zak! You have taught me SO much with training my pup, and I really appreciate this series and how you show real life situations. We are all human so mistakes happen, but I don;t see any mistakes in this video anyway. You can't possibly control another being 100%, so it is silly that other people are giving you a hard time about this. Thanks for all you do, and keep up the good work!

[@ryanpetner1030]

10:06 - 10:07 I know it was an edit, but since zak didn’t move at all, it looked like inertia just disappeared.

[@Paula-tn1jt]

Rip doggo lol

[@knerke]

I didn’t see that video as bad. I saw a dog just like mine and I was so happy to see how you handled it. Also thanks to you I have the loveliest and most kind 1,5 year old chihuahua

[@dentlersdogtraining]

Controversy schmontroversy. Let the keyboard warriors type away. I've yet to meet the perfect dog, dog trainer, or person for that matter. Keep doing what you are doing. Btw, you have a hedgehog on your shirt.

[@breejustine]

😂😂😂 That hedgehog just keeps popping up everywhere!!! LOL! Thank you as always for the nice comment Jeff! You're awesome 🙌

[@missflite74]

I have never watched a more wonderful show than yours, Zak! I have never owned a dog, though I've wanted to since I was a little girl. Now or in the near future, I hope to be ready (financially and otherwise) to bring a puppy into my life. Your amazing videos have been invaluable to me, as have your books! Lastly, I wanted to let you know that I have been able to adopt your system of rewards, patience, praise and gentleness to the training of my senior cat! She has FCD and has been very troubled (and difficult to deal with, I admit). After watching your channel for several weeks, I have learned to be more patient and to reward her rather than to be impatient and annoyed with her! Your KZbin videos are applicable to other species of domestic pets... I don't think there is any higher praise I can give! Thank you, and thanks to Inertia!

[@lindaweaver5212]

I appreciate that you show the mistakes. It shows the real world. I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you

[@melissathibeault544]

Thank you so much for showing all the good and not so good moments of dog training! I really appreciate you showing your trying times as we all have them! Please don’t omit them as we all learn from our mistakes 💕🤗🇨🇦

[@shaynapietranton2182]

Please keep showing the mistakes. We all learn from your success AND failures. Though I don’t think what happened at the dog park was a failure. My puppy is also nervous at first around other dogs. The dog park is hit or miss depending on the kinds of dogs there. None of us can read our dogs mind so it’s hard to know when to make the call when your dog has had enough. Don’t forget that you know Inertia better than anyone else does and would never put her in a position where she wasn’t safe. Same with me and like a lot of other dog owners. Keep up the good work.

[@ashleighmumford6764]

I really appreciate the original video. I've had 'problem' dogs my whole life and it's unhelpful to watch videos of 'perfect' dogs where the trainer never has to deal with nervousness, nipping, and unfamiliar dogs in an uncontrolled environment like a dog park. It gives me confidence that not everything has to be perfect to be a success. I am interested in how you interacted with the other owners though. Did everyone seem chill about Inertia's behavior? Most owners I've met have the attitude of 'dogs will be dogs' when conflicts arise, but some are not so understanding. How did you approach that?

[@katecumings6847]

Getting a new puppy tomorrow. This series was so helpful! Thank You Zak!!

[@BigBuddah75]

fuck that..my dog is trained almost exclusively on your videos and he is absolutely great. everyone has hiccups as they learn..some of these dog owners think they are without any fault but this shit happens and I think you handled it fine in the moment..keep the videos going!

[@cptzoom1155]

Where is the mistake? I saw the title of this video and was expecting internet controversy! Lol A more appropriate title would be: Dog acts normal for first time at dog park.

[@BearcatEm]

Very normal for this breed

[@emmalandes7231]

Jessica Lang lol that’s kinda how border collies are

[@branfordfamilies8282]

Jessica Lang, This is absolutely normal!!! It’s how dogs act.

[@secretariat4ever98]

Definitely not normal or okay. The dog gave him signs outside of the park that she was fearful and reactive. He didn’t listen to her and she reacted. It’s his job as the owner to step in and advocate for his dog, he didn’t do that and she defended herself.

[@BearcatEm]

@@DLF-do1gj I didn't say it was only border collies, just that this personality type and reactions are not uncommon in that breed in particular. Just meant it's more common in a breed like BC than a breed like labs for example.

[@zoemaire1]

I think leave the mistakes in, but when you're watching them back while editing it would be helpful to get your honest feedback. I agree with the critique that she was showing calming signals and visibly uncomfortable but as you say, in the past she has opened up and started playing. I think you would avoid a lot of controversy if you rewatched these videos with a critical eye and help us learn from the mistakes.

[@annaspringbear]

Yes, great suggestion.

[@willowadler954]

Zoe Clegg this 🙌🏼 Please leave mistakes in! we all make them, and it gives us opportunity to grow as dog owners, trainers, and behaviorists. But on that same note, it’s also vital to recognize the mistakes and things missed, AND do the research needed to begin learning more about the missed areas. No one is asking for the mistakes to be omitted by any means. However, we do want to see more experience and learning in the area of reading her body language. There were still things missed and behaviors excused as something they weren’t (like the “air snapping” that made contact with the other dog’s face). So please take time to learn more about the intricacies of body language and how to use methods effectively to build trust and engagement, as well as confidence

[@zoemaire1]

@@willowadler954 yes this is really important actually and something I missed in my original comment. I'd love to see an embankment on a learning journey (which we are all on of course) and an acknowledgement that there is actually more to learn

[@gglydie4242]

Great suggestion. I like the replay and slo mo that points out subtle dog body language, because if we were all trained better in seeing those signals, we would 'get it' so much better. I'm getting better over the years, but just like my dog I can't learn everything all at once, it's a process :-)

[@willowadler954]

G Glydie I watch a lot of videos in slow motion because it gives us a much clearer picture of what is going on, allows is to practice recognizing subtle signals and piecing them together at a slower speed, and often reveals things we missed previously. Watching the interaction between Inertia and the shepherd when she makes contact with his face in slow motion is so revealing. It helped a ton in seeing what happened between them, and was an excellent example of the escalation that can happen when a dog is trapped in a stressful or scary environment for too long.

[@shadowdarottweiler6253]

Mistakes are there to be made. That’s how we learn. Keep up the good work.

[@blakey023]

Showing mistakes is so important as an inexperienced dog owner trying to train a puppy its so easy to believe when we watch a dog trainer teach a dog to do anything imaginable within a 10 min videos that we must be doing something wrong. The thing that impressed me most about your videos was seeing you sometimes fail to get the desired result. At the end of the day we will all have failures training our dogs and its good for people to realise that its not a big deal and even the professionals have dont train a dog in 10 mins

[@FattiesG0neWild]

It's sad you have to comment on this.

[@merthemarijberkhout3814]

No its not sad. Its good to debate about this stuff. Its good that people can say what they think and its good that he can explain what he was doing and what he was thinking. It would be sad if we can't speak about what we think

[@lyrajayne2008]

I think it's great - effective communication is the core of what he's doing, and this is an example of a gap. First between him and Inertia, and then between him and viewers. The best way forward is to show what you were doing/thinking, and why, and then invite response.

[@FattiesG0neWild]

I agree that it is good to have open discussion and that he is explaining his actions or lack of; but in the original video he was explaining himself of why he stayed in the park and that Inertia was nervous before going into the park. So, he made it known that he understood what he was doing and that negative experiences can come out of it. To have to explain himself again seems slightly unproductive

[@rezadotgg]

@@FattiesG0neWild thank you.

[@FattiesG0neWild]

@@rezadotgg for what my good friend?

[@AG-ql4dn]

So important to keep the mistakes in. It helps me to reflect on mistakes made with our 2 year old rescue. At times I’ve thought she’s been ready for a next step but it’s only by trying things out do I know for sure where she’s at. But the mistakes come within the bigger picture of life with your dog which is so much more about love, fun, safety and getting it right, together! Love this channel.

[@BluFabie]

Thank you so much for sharing the reality of your training experiences with Inertia! Honestly, I think the editing made it seem worse than it was. It's like a short fire series of less than ideal events without really ever showing the recovery.

[@juliehaley5283]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!!! it is so important to know that not all dogs are perfect, makes me feel so much better

[@taylerpatterson498]

I know this is an older video, but I’ve been watching a lot of your videos lately since we rescued our 10 week old lab. The reality is that training a dog (especially a puppy) is HARD! There are mistakes. Your recent video about Kona regressing with potty training showed me that mistakes happen in training even with professionals. Seeing how you handle those types of situations with love and not aggression or negativity helps my husband and I SO MUCH! I’m so glad you never stopped showing the “mistakes” in your videos!

[@roguekeith8862]

Every single trainer makes mistakes, some few some many, I was one critiquing, the only reason I personally was so upset by the episode was because of one thing, people follow this series religiously for their own pups, and would replicate the situation and it could go extremely South, especially with how dangerous dog parks can be, it's a pit of unknown dogs. Include all of the mistakes, but maybe in the episode point out more safety tips or your thought process, because you thought "hey inertia has a history of being nervous then warming up" But all the viewers saw was you bringing inertia in even though she was fearful. You had a plan in mind, one to help inertias training out, but this series is mostly followed by people who have little to no experience. If you could add your thought process, some warnings, and extra safety tips for situations like these I feel like the series would definitely be complete as a realistic raising of a puppy series. And while I personally don't agree with holding her after that correction, and while I personally do hold value to balanced methods, who in their right mind would correct a fearful dog!? That makes fear w o r s e. If you did correct inertia in that situation I do feel things would've gotten worse. The best thing I believe to have been done in that situation is remove her as you did at first, give her a few moments to relax, then continued on. But I don't think any of that was as harmful as it's being made out to be, as I feel it'd be much more harmful to not have done what you did.

[@janhankins911]

It could also do the opposite. It could demonstrate to people the potential for things to go wrong at the dog park. It certainly cemented my decision to keep my own dogs out of dog parks.

[@Otsana25]

I wouldn't of picked her up. I would of grabbed her collar gently and pull her back then leash her and let her calm down, that's just me personally. Its just to me, picking her up gave her a positive reaction, not deterring her from doing it.

[@christraudt6730]

@@Otsana25 clearly you didn't watch this video.. there's no such thing as reinforcing fear. im convinced my dog is the most tolerant dog ever, however push her the exact wrong way and she will let you know. it's just the nature of an animal. they arent trying to hurt you, it's the only way they know how to communicate to you, hey! i dont like that!

[@Otsana25]

@@christraudt6730 I watched the video I still dont think its smart to pick up a fearful dog, plus soon he can't do that XD

[@lizsun261]

in my opinion (as someone who is proponent of balanced training) i wouldnt correct in the moment, but providing corrections consistently would help a fearful dog feel as if they have a leader (my dog was a fearful dog and thay was the result and that was what she needed).

[@Coste1072]

I see no "mistakes" on anyone's part. The other dog surprised your puppy with a rough greeting and scared her. In this case nothing serious happened. However the outcome of an encounter like this can potentially be very bad. This video is a great example of what can happen when even the sweetest, friendliest dog is let loose in a crowded dog park. In my opinion the risks involved in visiting off-leash dog parks are not worth taking.

[@alysonswerdloff1757]

Watching training videos with no mistakes with a dog that’s already fluent in the behavior does nothing but frustrate me when I try it and it doesn’t work out like it does in the video. Your videos are great at showing real world applications and what you might actually expect to happen. The air snap that she does is “ back up” dog 101. I appreciate your candor and transparency!!!

[@pforbes10]

I’ve been watching your videos for quite some time now and watching the mistakes help a lot! However my dog doesn’t really listen as well as I want her to so I love to see inertia do the same sometimes. I think it’s fine that people didn’t like what you did but it truly helps me out by seeing the way you handle these mistakes.

[@michellebackus6424]

I appreciate that you show ALL parts of dog training. I was losing confidence with training our 9 month old rescue lab mix. She was already 5 months when we got her. I only found your videos recently and have become more confident in the days I've been watching you and reading your book. I was actually not training some days because I felt I was doing it wrong. My perspective has changed and this week has been much better. Accepting that it will take me 1-2 years to really train her has helped, thank you!

[@wertroline]

When I was watching other trainers videos, with those already trained dogs, I always thought: why nobody shows it real time puppy training, where we can see the progress and struggles. When you see those perfectly trained dogs and you try the same with your dog and you don't succeed in some time, you think it's impossible with your dog or you are a bad trainer. So this series is a gem! And shows that puppy is still just a puppy, they will make mistakes, they will not listen to you 100% of the time, so don't get too frustrated:)