What IS Force Free Dog Training & Does it ACTUALLY Work?

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

If you've enjoyed this video please like, comment & share 🙂 It really helps! 🙋‍♀️COMPLETE DOG TRAINING SOLUTIONS: •❓🤨 STRUGGLING WITH LEASH TRAINING? 👇 ✅ 6 Weeks to Dream Walks: Step-By-Step Leash Training Program: e37240-61.myshopify.com/products/6-weeks-to-dream-walks-step-by-step-leash-training-program •❓🐿️ STRUGGLING WITH YOUR DOG CHASING ANIMALS (indoors or outdoors)?👇 ✅ Dog Prey Drive: How to STOP Animal Chasing: e37240-61.myshopify.com/products/dog-prey-drive-how-to-stop-animal-chasing-with-force-free-methods ►👀 WATCH NEXT: ✔️ The MOST Important Thing to Understand for Dog Training (Threshold) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWK4h6uIfqeAe9U ► 🗣️ STAY CONNECTED: • Instagram (my most active platform): instagram.com/happyhounds_dogtraining/ • Facebook: facebook.com/HappyHoundsDogTraining.ca • Blog: happyhoundsdogtraining.ca/blog/ • Email list: view.flodesk.com/pages/61898eeb3a0e5bcf6f5411ec ►❤️ FAVOURITE DOG GEAR: ➡️ *ALL* my favourite dog items & discount codes: happyhoundsdogtraining.ca/shop 🧸 Amazing faux & real fur toys: www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/?ref=happyhoundsdogtraining 🐕‍🦺 My favourite harness & dog gear: rockymountaindog.ca/?ref=ka8S8Xue 🦴 My favourite treat bag: amzn.to/3UUGF60 🦮 Beautiful custom biothane leashes (I use the hands-free version): www.hightailhikes.com?aff=212 Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content.

[@jennahall8393]

As a Vet Tech and Certified dog trainer I can say that force fear training works! It baffles me that this is the method used for training wildlife in zoos and yet people still think it’s different for dogs. Thank you for sharing. I have over a decade of experience and many success stories using force free methods. Dogs are family! Treat them with respect and dignity.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Well said & totally agree!!

[@kimberlylindsey8144]

My current dog has been the hardest dog I’ve ever owned. He was such a sweet puppy but as we entered adolescence… we dealt with frustration reactivity, overarousal to anything and everything (which frequently led to humping/nipping at us), no ability to switch off no matter how tired he was, etc. We were both struggling. I had been training him force free for his entire life but I dove headfirst into learning everything I could to help us get through this. Now, he is 14 months old and the perfect dog. We can take him on any kind of adventure (whether off leash at the beach or on walks through the city). I literally have nothing to complain about with him. We are going to compete in agility and obedience next year. He’s 85 pounds and has excellent loose leash walking on a harness (which I also taught him on a harness). Through it all, I have built such a deep connection with him by helping guide him through everything with kindness. All of that IS achievable with force free training. Your Instagram account and others like that have guided me when making decisions about his training and how to proceed. ❤️

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

That's such an amazing story ❤ Massive congrats to you for buckling down and working through it!! I think everyone gets at least one "hard" dog. I'm a trainer and my previous rescue was SUCH a challenge. If you can name a behaviour problem, he came with it 🤣 It's such an incredible feeling though when you watch & help your dog work through that stuff!

[@watchmoivies123]

Can you please post some videos of him or her? Thank you very much.

[@caseface900]

When I first began planning for a dog, I started reading as many training books as I could get my hands on. The first book? Caesar Milan’s How to Raise the Perfect Dog. I continued on to read several more books by balanced trainers. It all seemed intuitive. Then, I read Jean Donaldson’s Culture Clash and everything clicked - THIS was the real deal. Backed by science, grounded in compassion, and way more straightforward (no more “use your calm assertive energy to…”). I read more and more and came to find that the books by balanced trainers differed from the books by force free trainers in one critical way - only force free trainers cited ANY scientific research. That was enough for me. My dog turns 1 year old in a few days, and she’s been trained exclusively with force free methods. It WORKS.

[@kimberlyaustin7030]

You should listen to shaped by dog by susan garrett podcast. If you don't already, so good.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes! I think Cesar was most peoples introduction into the dog training world, but there's WAY better methods. Totally agree with you about appreciating the focus on science too!

[@bridgetb6582]

culture clash like actually changed my life... that chapter where she clearly illustrated what it's like to be a dog in our world. Everyone NEEDS to read that.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@Bridget B 100%!!!

[@horselover0726]

Thank you for sharing this! As a crossover owner-trainer who regrets not learning about LIMA/Force Free training sooner, I wish something like this existed when I got my first dog at 15 years of age! I was doing the best I could with the information I had at the time, but my dog would have had a much better experience & more trust in me had I not begun our journey with force and intimidation. I did the R+ puppy stuff, of course, but thought I "needed" to use corrections to help reinforce these cues. Oh, how I've grown since then! It wasn't easy, and I still struggle with old habits & reinforcing FF methods in -myself-, but I'll never go back to aversive tools and force/punishment.

[@estherprosser9843]

I love this. Thank you for sharing about your journey. I’ve been thinking so much lately about how punishment is so deeply ingrained in our culture, and how deeply ingrained it was and is in my family culture. Even though I have learned better, and am doing better with my dogs, it’s a constant resetting a rethinking in myself because it’s so conditioned.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you for adding your voice!! We can only do the best we can with what we knew at the time! It's why I don't hide the fact I used to use balanced training when I was younger. I'm not proud of it, but I think it's so important for people to know they aren't alone in the methods they tried, and what they've grown from. Do the best you can with your current info while constantly trying to seek/learn more & improve! ❤

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

THIS!!! Punishment feels normal due to how much it's BEEN normalized!

[@estherprosser9843]

Thanks for this great explanation of operant conditioning! Out of ignorance, we reached out to a balanced trainer for help with our reactive dog. The fallout of the punishment (new fears of specific types of people in a previously confident, friendly dog, and bigger reactions when they could happen) sent me on a path to learning about force free. Our reactive girl has benefited immensely and her walks have been transformed. We now also have a sensitive, big-feeling, adolescent GSD who had a rough start to life. She has only known force free in our home. A “heavy hand” and negative punishment would destroy her and would have made our relationship a non-starter. R+ / Force Free has allowed us to build a trusting relationship and has helped her to begin overcoming many behavioural challenges.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Reading this made me so happy ❤ Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful comment AND for loving your dog enough to start on a new journey when you noticed the punishment causing undesirable effects. I have a few upcoming videos about reactivity/fear because I want more people to switch to FF like you did!

[@anatulip8250]

Amazing!! Yes, out of ignorance we all tend to make mistakes. So happy for your canine fam to be learning while being loved

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@anatulip8250 Learning while being loved.... I like that!!

[@patmunro3531]

I inaverdently employed a PP trainer for my VERY friendly, but rough playing working bred GSD. He put a flat collar and longline on her, tried to get a controled approach to my sisters dog, acting as guenie pig for the lesson. She YANKED him off his feet and threw herself at my sisters dog. He went back, tried to reel her in, throwing treats on the floor. GSD Ran back to him. right around him, and back to mugging my sisters Lab. She went round behid him again, I took over, stood infront of the Lab, and caught her. Put her prong collar, with my lead on her. Imediatly restored calm. She is NOT allowed to play with any dogs, safer that way. Treats mean nothing to her, every dog is different, you MUST use the method the DOG needs. Never using a "professional trainer" again. Her predecesser GSD was a NO prey drive pet bred all white softee, required, and got gentle play type training. The working bred likes flirt poles, but NOT if a hare goes by, then she wants to kill.

[@aliramezani9826]

One Belgian Malinios, two working line German Shepherds and currently an American Pitbull Terrier and I have never onced used a correction or a "tool" on a dog. If you need to cause pain or discomfort to a dog to train it, then please don't get a dog, and if you think causing pain or discomfort to another living being to get what you want from it is ok, then I suggest you reevaluate your principals and ethics. Force free is here to stay!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yessss! ❤I LOVE that you included the breeds in your comment too. Convincing people that force free isn't just for tiny, fluffy dogs seems to be one of the biggest hurdles 😉

[@aliramezani9826]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining there are so many force-free trainers that train "high-drive" dogs, including the Finish police! So I have no idea where "force-free doesn't work with some breeds" comes from?

[@adastracanineco.8907]

We ❤️ you Ali

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@aliramezani9826 Honestly? I think it's just commonly spread lies to try to convince people FF won't work for their dog (therefore don't try, and use balanced instead 🙄)

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@adastracanineco.8907 We really do 🙂

[@FullofTreats]

I'm coming back today to share a experience I had this morning with my nervous/ anxious Husky. He's being trained only with FF methods. Today, we were at the park when a trigger rolled up. Kids, a dog, remote cars, and a firetruck. All at once. I know for a fact a few months ago he would've freaked out potentially ran into the road and gotten hurt. Today all he did was watch them intently and look to me for treats. All while staying on his mat. I can't be more proud of him. This is the real world, this happened in the real world, I have video proof of this happening in the real world. Y'all, it works! Force Free saved my relationship with my dog.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

👏👏👏 AMAZING!!! and thank you SO much for coming back to add that! 🙂 You should be so proud of both yourself & your dog!!

[@lyndsey90may]

We use this approach with out GSD. She was very reactive towards people extremely scared. Not enough socialisation thanks to lockdown and a few negative encounters with people. We have build her confidence through rplus and their has been zero need for punishment. We have had amazing results and can now walk down the road past most people without any fear. We also working on recall from wildlife can recall from birds now with ease.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

AMAZING!!! I love stories like that ❤ Lockdown definitely increased reactivity & I want people to know it's possible to change without corrections. Thanks for adding your voice!

[@riyukxxx]

Thank you for putting this video out. I have a dog and stranger reactive GSD and we're firm supporters of force free dog training. I've personally experience the fall out from punishment with my dog (when we first started training we made the huge and horrible mistake of using aversive methods). Not anymore, not ever. With force free training methods we've only gone from strength to strength. We've been able to address the underlying emotions with R+ training methods, rather than simply trying to curb his reactions. He's now so much more confident, has learned to trust me and we have a great relationship. Force free = snacks and science- - the best combination ever!!!!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Snacks and science..... I LOVE that!!!

[@sweetteahyung6351]

Same here, though thankfully my reactive GSD was fine with most people, he was just extremely reactive and aggressive with dogs 😭 took us about a year and a half but he's been fine around dogs for years now c: he ignores them like the best boy that he is, and it's all thanks to R+! R+/FF is for the big, reactive, high drive, aggressive, and fearful/ anxious dogs too c: I hope that soon more people will realize it 💖

[@giftofthewild6665]

My GSD mix was very reactive to strangers. I used counter conditioning and desensitisation and she's great now, I can take her anywhere.

[@KayliaLittle]

I was so mislead when I first got my dog! Treats are not bribery, they are payment for a job well done! Just like when I’m teaching human students - I want to give them all the information they need and a rubric to succeed. My relationship with my dog has improved greatly and they are more eager to learn with me and try new things.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

That's SUCH A great analogy & comparison! 👏

[@cheesebread3]

Thanks for making this! I walk a bunch of unruly dogs and never felt the need to progress to using any type of aversives. Once you understand how dogs learn, and why they behave, force-free is a no-brainer!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

YES!! I think that knowledge & understanding piece is what's often missing when people claim FF doesn't work!

[@applejackisbestpony]

There are so many misconceptions around force free dog training, especially on social media. Thank you for this video!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Agreed!! Glad it was helpful 🙂

[@amplemovement7945]

Around 20 years ago I started my career as a punishment based trainer. I made my fearful husky aggressive because she learned that humans were unpredictable and she needed to protect herself. I became a crossover trainer because of her. I had a very successful career as a force free trainer working with hundreds of clients as well as training several other huskies of my own. Thank you for this video. Force free is effective and in my opinion there is never, ever a time when you should hurt or scare a dog. I think that's lazy training. When I learned to train force free, my skills and knowledge increased significantly.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you so much for sharing your story! It shouldn't be necessary to hear "proof", but I do feel there are certain breeds (huskies make that list) that people assume or have heard need a heavy hand. Thank you for adding your voice stating the opposite ♥

[@FullofTreats]

Ive been working with a Force Free Trainer to help me build a better relationship with my dog without the use of pain/fear or corrections. It works. It's works so well. I have a nervous and anxious Husky. He was shut and scared when I used light corrections on him. Now? Well. He can actually step outside without the fear of God in him. He chooses to walk beside me. Not because he's sacred I'm going to correct him, but because he knows he'll be rewarded. My Husky isn't scared to try new things thanks to Force Free Training. It works. Even in the real world. It works.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

LOVE that you added that last line!!! 👏👏 Even in these comments I'm getting "won't work in the real world" and thats so incorrect. I live & train in the real world. If FF didn't work in the real world I wouldn't have a business haha

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Do you use force free training?

[@sarahpoacher7787]

Yes!! Have trained all my dogs force free, past and present. 2 human and dog reactive dobermanns, a Jack Russel terrier, 4 English bull terriers, a springer spaniel and a patterdale terrier. My patterdale had killed livestock in his previous home, I was advised to use a shock collar on him. I ignored this awful advice, trained him force free and he lives a wonderful off leash life on my farm coexisting with sheep, chickens, ducks and geese. No breed needs a heavy hand. Force free is completely misunderstood and undermined by balanced trainers. There is no need for pain, punishment or intimidation in modern dog training.

[@KayliaLittle]

Yes!! We’ve made the transition over the last 3 years and it’s helped so much!

[@FullofTreats]

Hell Yes! It's working so amazing for me and my husky. Not only has it made my husky happier, the method itself has made me happier in regular everyday life. No longer obsessed with the 'perfect off-leash dog' because I already have a perfect dog.

[@Idiosyncable]

It works incredibly well for my young terrier!

[@kimberlylindsey8144]

I’ve trained all my dogs force free (lots of different large dog breeds)! And they have all been well behaved, well trained dogs that can go on any kind of adventure with me ☺️

[@katjordan3594]

I have two dogs; a 7 year old Westie and a 1 year of Lab mix rescue. With my Westie, I sadly used the very old school style of dog training because I didn’t know any better. He got alpha rolled, corrected, was expected to work for free and made to “get used to” things he really didn’t like. We also used treats coercively. It’s my biggest regret, but I didn’t know it was until I got my second dog. My Lab mix has quite severe anxiety, he was neglected and malnourished when he came to us and had a number of fears to work through. This time, I enlisted the help of a local FF trainer/behaviourist who taught us about learning theory, canine neurobiology and body language. We’ve come a LONG way from the puppy we brought home. Guess which dog I have a better relationship with and can do advanced obedience training with? Clue; it’s not the one that I used 💩 methods with. We’re now using FF methods to mend the trust with our oldest dog, to at least keep him happy and comfortable in his later days. We’re getting there, slowly. I would never go back to using the outdated, harmful methods I’d always been told to use by family members. FF is the way forward, for both handler and dog!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I LOVE when people are willing to share their crossover stories. I think it's so important for other people to hear & read! We can only do the best we can with what we know at that time..... but constantly trying to learn & seek better is the real flex ❤

[@mystictheshapeshifter]

Great video! You explained everything very eloquently and logically it was very easy to understand! Even as someone who uses force free training this helped me to understand it better!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you SO much!! I really appreciate hearing that 🙂

[@holliemoxham]

We use force free training with our pup! I truly believe it’s the future ❤ It’s amazing what you can do with it, and it leads to brilliant and beautiful dogs. You’re doing amazing! ❤

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you so much Hollie! I couldn't agree more about force free being the future! 💯

[@CB-to6ly]

As a dog trainer myself who works primarily with rescue dogs, I appreciate everything you've said in this video. I can always tell when a dog had experienced balanced training as they are always nervous for the first few classes and they don't actually know how to learn- they only know how to obey. I will be sharing this video with all of my students!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you! Totally agree. There's SUCH a difference in excitement to learn & try new things when FF is used.

[@ihelpdogs]

I'm curious why the emphasis on working primarily with "rescue dogs"? This helps to support the myth that dogs in rescue and/or shelters all have "issues" and the belief that people should only get a puppy from a breeder if they want a "good" dog without issues.

[@aliciabrillante]

I’m excited about your channel. You explained the confusing quadrants really well and I hope to see videos of you working with aggressive dogs and a variety of breeds. My main gripe with force free trainers is that most work with small breeds or non-aggressive dogs or just post explanatory videos but no videos of what they do to fix behaviors. Zak and Victoria are the only two who even get close. The guy who does Dog Impossible as well. I’m glad his show is back on TV because he is the only force free trainer I’ve ever seen actually working with aggressive, large dogs.

[@kimberlylindsey8144]

If you would like more dog trainers like the ones you are looking for above, I’d love to suggest a couple to you! 🥰 There are a LOT of force free dog trainers that deal with aggression and a variety of dog breeds that I follow. However, they use management techniques to avoid forcing a dog over its threshold and triggering a reaction, so you won’t see the “flashy” before and after videos that balanced trainers may use.

[@aliciabrillante]

@@kimberlylindsey8144 Sure, what are their names? Are they on youtube?

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@kimberlylindsey8144 Love it! That just means they're actually training properly 😉

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@kimberlylindsey8144 Glad to have you here! I'm going to cover obedience/tricks as well BUT my MAIN motivator for starting my channel a few months ago was to show behavioural work. Already have a reactivity one in the works 😉It's the majority of what I do, and it tends to be the thing people don't believe can be solved force free.

[@m1ndyourmanners]

Love love love. Completely support. All 👏 dogs 👏 respond to force free training. Edit: just because balance trainers are too lazy to educate themselves on dog behavior, socialization, etc, does not mean it’s okay to injure dogs.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes! Not being willing to learn (especially when there's so much free FF resources now!) isn't an excuse for causing discomfort!

[@kimberlyaustin7030]

I'm so glad I do force free or LIMA (least intrusive minimally aversive) training with my dog. We used tools, but getting rid of them has helped. I got an ecollar and shocked myself at 100, I feel like my heart stopped. I immediately returned it. It is too powerful of a tool for people to just pick up and use. Trying to find my dog's "working level" really requires so much observation that the average user would not be able to detect. Using pain on a living being is just not cool. Zoo's have been using FF methods for years, and it is amazing to see.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

100% agree! It's also worth noting you were choosing to try the ecollar AND knew when the shock was coming. Can you imagine being forced to wear one & never knowing when that pain would hit? I'm SO glad you've switched to the FF/LIMA side!

[@juanita5752]

after changing from balanced to +R/Fear Free dog training my dog (high drive border collie) has changed so much and this method definitely works just as good if not better than balanced training. Our relationship improved and he is happy to train, he has also made huge progress with his reactivity. which balanced training only suppresed. I love him so much, and will never go back to using corrections in training.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Wonderful!! Thank you SO much for sharing your dogs breed too. I think it's so helpful for people to hear FF works for "more challenging" working or herding breeds! 👏

[@KTJD12]

Force free training is the way to go! I unfortunately watched any KZbin videos I could find on reactivity and started employing forceful methods with my fearful dog. I got frustrated that it wasn’t working and heartbroken that my dog was becoming scared of me. After doing more research (and basically never stopping that research), it’s no wonder why my dog was having such a hard time. Switching to force free has strengthened our bond and helped with many issues my pup struggles with. Side note, I also work as a pet sitter/dog walker and have a lot of success when I use force free methods. It’s easier for me to befriend pets of all species this way. Thank you for this video! It was needed!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

That's the topic of my next video: why positive reinforcement is accepted for the "easier" stuff but considered to fail for harder skills or behaviour. Definitely not true! I train reactivity & aggression with FF all the time 🙂

[@anatulip8250]

R+ training keeps dogs safety and best interest in mind. It has long positive effects because it keeps in mind that dogs are sentient beings and deserve love AND compassion. They are no less than humans and need to be treated as such.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Totally agree! There's no scientific OR humane basis for not using FF!

[@ShirosAngel]

I have used force free training with not only my own dogs but with dogs in rescue as well. I saw a lot of success, and a lot happier dogs and willing learners in the rescue. I used force free on several different difficult behaviors like reactivity, extreme anxiety, aggression, and to teach different skills.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I'm so glad people like you are working in the rescues!! ♥

[@brittsimmons2954]

Thank you for spreading the message for ethical and kind training! I’ve used force free training on my dogs and they have amazing obedience skills that are fun for them to do! And we’ve fixed reactivity and aggression with force free methods!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 It's really helpful for people to see & know it's totally possible!

[@pambromberg9946]

Beautifully explained Stephanie! I'll be sharing this on my page. People should note - if training professionals feel it is okay to teach with pain, coercion and bullying of a dog, they will do the same with people (examples - "your dog will never be normal unless you do X, Y, Z", "your dog won't respect you unless you do X, Y, Z"). It is basically a Milgram Experiment (folks can google that). The absolutely hardest part of my job as a force-free trainer is the confidence-building (the attempt to undo the mental health damage) of people that have basically been mislead and essentially gaslighted by balanced trainers. This hits a very personal note today. I lost a good human by her own hand this past weekend. She, like her dog, were mistreated. I'm grief-stricken.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you for the kind words about my video ❤ I'm SO sorry to hear about your friend though!! What a difficult thing to be going through. Sending hugs!!!

[@SadieDLdn]

I had a dog that developed aggression (my very first dog) and it made me sick with worry - all I wanted was it to stop. When I was looking for advice I watched so many videos first on you tube and without even having tried it - was almost convinced force free r+ - whatever you want to call it - wouldn’t work because of the stupid and ignorant videos out there telling me it wouldn’t - along with unfounded claims that if I used one my dog would have to be put down because it wouldn’t work. I almost got a balanced trainer but was very lucky because my vet put me in touch with an APBC behaviourist (which is a body for certified professionals) in the Uk. She helped me eliminate the aggression, understand why it was happening,she taught me so much about my dog - who now has bomb proof recall and is a scent work/search and rescue dog now!! However one thing I would say is that not all positive trainers are created equal. Because the dog training industry is unregulated - there are people out there with limited qualifications and experience addressing problems they can’t deal with (I know this because with another rescue dog I got another trainer and she was next to useless). When this happens people will then think force free training doesn’t work, when of course - it does. It’s used to train guide dogs in the Uk - hell it’s even used to get lions to give voluntary blood draws! So if you do want a trainer please get one with a high level of education and experience. (Mine was from the APBC, was in her 60s and had a lifetime of dog training behind her as well as being a dog specialist witness in Uk court cases - I’m sure she didn’t start off force free in the 70s/80s! But she was when I met her.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

First: Thank you SO much for sharing your story! It's really helpful for people to hear FF can work on "difficult" behaviours, especially when there's so much misinformation out there trying to convince people otherwise. Second: I completely agree with you about credentials, experience, and skill! It's really important that trainers only take on what they can handle. Sometimes saying "I don't know, but I'll help you find someone that does" is the absolute best thing a trainer can do!

[@campyellowdog]

Great video and much needed! I have worked professionally with dogs for almost 25 years. I have learned firsthand that positive reinforcement and force free handling create trust…and trust is everything.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Agreed. One of my proudest things is how EXCITED my dog is to train, and how she trusts l'll do right by her ❤

[@seriesn]

I learned this the hard way. I reached out to a trainer that one of the IG users recommended (I don’t know that IG user personally at all. She posted vdos of her well behaved dog, waiting at doors, taking grocery bags inside, walking nicely on a leash etc. she keeps promoting this one trainer). I reached out to the trainer (she does board&train btw). She came to our house showing some methods that she’ll be using etc. I knew nothing about the dog training world, thinking that’s “this’s the only way and how it’s supposed to be” and just accepted all the info she gave us, though I was already uncomfortable with how she handled my dogs in front of me (she popped/yanked the leash SO HARD that my dog yelped and cried in fear. I have two pit bull type dogs). Again, not knowing any better, stupid me agreed to let my dogs go with her. After first week, one of my dogs came home with burnt marks on his neck from the e-collar the trainer was using on him. She claimed that he’s the “stubborn one” and she needed to use high intensity on the e-collar plus my dog has sensitive skin, hence the burns. Also, they both were skin and bones. My heart dropped! How painful my dogs must have felt, what kind of “training” they must have gone through. I felt really bad that I’m such a terrible mom to let all that happen to them. I stopped the course with that trainer with all my money that I had to pay “upfront” down the drain. Fast forward two years later, one of my dogs has scars on his neck because of my stupidity. But now his mom is a certified force free dog trainer. I never let anyone touch my babies again. And we all live happily ever after.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Oof!!! I am SO sorry that happened to your dog. What a traumatic thing to go through!!! Try not to beat yourself up for it though. We can only do the best we can with what we knew at the time! It's why I don't hide the fact I used to use balanced training when I was younger. I'm not proud of it, but I think it's so important for people to know they aren't alone in the methods they tried, and what they've grown from. It's so amazing that you're a force free trainer now!!!! What an incredible gift to your current & future pups!

[@Irisedpig]

I use positive reinforcement based/force free training with my dog and it's been fantastic as a beginner trainer. It feels good for both of us - its genuinely so psychologicaly uplifting to focus on positives all the time - it has built our relationship super well, it helps me focus on preventing problems before they happen, and I find it reassuring that if I mess up what I'm trying to do the worst thing that will happen is my dog is confused, frustrated or learns the wrong thing*. Whereas if I messed up a punishment my dog would think I scared, annoyed or hurt her for no reason. So I much prefer asking for what I want her to do and rewarding her instead :) *worse than that could happen if I tried ineptly to tackle something more serious like reactivity or strong fear, aggression etc - the same as with with any other training method - but I'd seek expert help in that kind of situation.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Such an interesting perspective & I totally agree! It's nice using a method without fallout risk 🙂

[@Maevaleblanc]

What a great video! All breeds and behaviors are trainable with force free training, that's for sure. We just need to find what motivates them ! :) My very independant springer spaniel has taught me so much on finding what motivates each individual dog and building a great history of reinforcement !

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Well said! Thank you so much!

[@kerstinmarshall8623]

Thankfully most Trainers where we are based, are Force Free or Positive Reinforcement Trainers. We have an adopted, reactive Dobermann. We have been working with a fabulous trainer for over a year now and our Dobermann has made incredible progress. He is quite nervous but not aggressive. We use high value treats, a clicker and lots of praise and he responds really well. We have added Mantrailing and Sniffer Classes to our dog’s routine and his confidence is growing steadily. He is much calmer in situations that used to scare him. He loves using his nose and giving him lots of opportunities to sniff keeps him a lot calmer. We will definitely continue with force free training. For as long as it takes to help him be less nervous. We have a strong bond with him and that is more important than quick fixes created out of fear of punishment and pain. Thanks for this amazing video!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I'm so glad to hear the industry is shifting where you live!! That made me really happy to hear 🙂

[@bugbean5500]

I don't understand why people state that there are certain working dogs who can't be trained without aversion. My service dog is from a program which works FF only and he's very good at what he's doing. And what's most important for me is that he loves what he does. He loves to work. He loves to just explore and be a dog. He for sure misbehaves sometimes which is perfectly fine and he does so without showing any anxiety whatsoever when I need to stop him in case it's inappropriate. He never experienced people being willingly harmful or intimidating towards him and it's a joy to watch this happy boy wandering around with the biggest trust in everything and everyone. Not gonna lie, raining is very hard work but it's the bare minimum to be kind and loving in my opinion ❤

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

100% agree!!! ❤️

[@kiravierlaufer4437]

I use force and aversive-free dog training and behavioral therapy on all dogs, puppies, youngsters, adult dogs and senior dogs and yes, red zone dogs, as well. I usually do not talk much about it because I rather focus on supporting dogs and owners which needs a lot if time for research and preparation as every dog is an individual. The rest of my time and spend on a regular job and family and friends. But I think it is time that we are more heard and listened too. 🙏🙌

[@kiravierlaufer4437]

Oh and my dogs are, of course family!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Totally agree! There's a balance that needs to be struck between just doing our good training AND trying to say why we use it. I obviously dislike a lot of the pretty grotesque comments/messages I get as a force free trainer, but I try to remind myself that for every troll there's someone else who heard my message and treated their dog a bit better that day 🙂 It's worth it!

[@arafel88]

I use force free training only for my pup. I also believe in seeing my pup as a partner and us as BOTH learners in the equation. I'm a first time pup guardian, with zero experience before my pup, and we're doing really great with force free. I don't expect immediate results, I expect a lifelong learning experience for both of us. But keeping it force free and positive, she actually looks forward to training sessions! Sometimes she'll stop regular free play because she wants a challenge and wants us to do some training (we have developed signals for me to know when she wants that).

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I LOVE that!! One of my most proud things is seeing how excited my gets when I ask her if she wants to train 😋 It SHOULD be enjoyable!

[@CourtneyBrimm]

Thank you so much for this video. We've had our puppy about 5 weeks and it's been quite a process of finding the right training methods. I wanted to do force free, but found myself resorting to more forceful/unpleasant methods when her biting got real bad. BUT those didn't work. It only made her and I more angry. The past few days have been much better. I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, THOUGH. I hope someone with FF experience can answer. For the most part, we are praising and rewarding her for all the things she does that we want repeated. When she does an unwanted behavior, we are redirecting to a toy or simply otherwise distracting her if a toy isn't within reach. We are all staying calm, no yelling NO!, or making awful noises at her. My husband and daughter appreciate this since I'm the first one up with her early in the AM. =) The two behaviors I am not sure if I am handling correctly are 1. Jumping up - sometimes with nipping - to try to get on the chair/couch. (she's s tiny thing, so she can barely reach the seat of the couch when she jumps). In these instances, there isn't anything that I know of to remove, and I don't want to engage with her and accidentally reinforce the behavior. We are basically redirecting when possible, but sometimes she is so set on it, nothing can get her attention away. I know she wants up on the couch with whoever is sitting there, so what should that person do? And 2. biting/pulling on pant legs, toes, socks. Sometimes it is clear she is wanting attention during play and we take attention off her until she lets go and this works most of the time. BUT other times she is completely not responsive to any attempts to redirect her, and if we simply wait and ignore her, she just pulls harder/bites harder. I try not to pay attention to her, if it's a crummy pair of pants or whatever, but this doesn't seem wise. Is it best when she gets like this to gently move her to her play pen for a time out? It seems to help and she usually goes to sleep right away which tells me she, like a toddler, acts up when she needs a nap. But, am I missing an opportunity to train in these moments? Or is it best just to manage the moment? Thank you!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you so much for the thoughtful reply & being willing to admit you tried corrections! Your comment about your husband & daughter appreciating you not yelling at the puppy early in the morning made me laugh 😂 To answer your questions! 1) I always encourage people to think of what they WANT from their dog rather than what they're trying to stop. Subtle but important difference! It's totally ok if you don't want your dog on the couch! So, what would you like instead? My guess is her to be happy lying at your feet, so I'm going to answer for that. As you noted, dogs repeat what worked. Therefore there needs to be a benefit for her for staying on the ground while you're on the couch! Make sure that everyone in the household is remembering to pay attention to her when she IS lying nicely on the ground. We often forget our dogs when they're doing the things we want (or with puppies we're so relieved that they finally settle that we don't want to break the moment 😂 ). Treats are a high reward, so I suggest keeping a treat station close by. I would encourage you to teach her a marker word, then use it when she's laying quietly to mark the moment, then give the treat! Over time, wait longer durations of settling before rewarding. Teaching "Off" for when she does jump on the couch (rather than having to physically remove her) will also be helpful! 2) You're on the right thought process for the puppy biting! I'd encourage you to watch this video that I made about puppy biting. It's likely she's overtired! The video also covers the three strikes rule that I use for puppy biting :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ima6faF5jd6Vjsk

[@CourtneyBrimm]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me. You are making a big difference in a little home in AZ!

[@sweetteahyung6351]

@CourtneyBrimm puppies require a lot more sleep than people think 😆 getting her to take some naps will definitely help! Also making sure all their needs are met as often as you can manage it c: long, sniffy, dog-guided decompression walks, opportunities to safely dig, chew, and shred things, some fun physical and mental enrichment c: obviously that's a lot and probably not doable every single day! But doing that as often as you can manage for them will help a lot with the wild puppy shenanigans 🤣 good luck! Keep up the good work!

[@TrainMePlease]

Well done. Great video. As a fellow force free KZbin creator it is always great to see more people sharing this important message. We need more videos like this.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you! Just checked out your account & subscribed too 🙂 So nice meeting other FF creators!

[@TrainMePlease]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining that's awesome. Thanks for subscribing.

[@thepowerofpawsitivetrainin63]

I actually decided to go to school to become a certified dog trainer because all the trainers I called told me I would need to use a prong collar and/or an ecollar on my stranger danger American Bulldog. My dogs are thriving with force free training

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

👏👏🙂 Now THAT is dedication!! That's amazing!!

[@audreyballew7881]

When I first got a puppy (a border collie/cattle dog mix) I didn’t know any of this stuff. By nature, I felt it was wrong to use a prong or shock collar. When my young pup developed reactivity to other dogs I reached out to several trainers looking for someone to help me with her, using kind methods. I was initially dismayed at what I found, people who wanted to hurt my scared baby even more and called it “training”. Thankfully I stuck to my guns and kept looking, and I found the force free community! My dog is now almost 2 years old and force free training changed our lives. She’s now generally neutral to other dogs, disengages well when she’s overstimulated, and can even play and be friends with other dogs! Force free works and all of this pushed me to even become a professional dog trainer. My dogs and clients are all trained force free, and always will be!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

LOVE this story!! I'm so glad you followed your instincts!!

[@amyatkinson5071]

Thank you for this! I can't believe how many people still believe that force is necessary when it isn't

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Couldn't agree more!! I was shocked to see that balanced trainers claiming FF fails were the top results when I searched "what is force free dog training" 😬

[@joyshreve1621]

I am a certified force free trainer. It WORKS!!!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes! A damn great trainer too 👏

[@FullofTreats]

A absolutely amazing trainer!

[@joyshreve1621]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining thank you so much!!!! That means so much coming from you!

[@joyshreve1621]

@@FullofTreats im going to cry thank you 😭😭😭😭

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@joyshreve1621 I mean it!!

[@hennessygarciahg]

Thank you for this video a friend of mine, who I also consider her to be a mentor. She’s on TikTok, and she wisely said punishment starts when education stops and that is so true. I would love to become a trainer and train dogs and other animals. I would probably train obedience and service dogs, but I would also like to train other dogs as well. I just don’t think I’ll be able to work with reactive dogs, at least without supervision because I’m completely blind, I think in our industry we need training websites and courses etc. etc. to be accessible for people who are disabled because I know there are so many people who are disabled. They want to be trainers and they will be amazing at it.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I LOVE your friends statement! And I agree, accessibility in all fields is important!

[@hennessygarciahg]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining yes exactly I’m still trying to figure out what school do I go to?

[@sweetteahyung6351]

I have an 11 year old rescue GSD that I adopted from my local shelter 10 years ago, not really realizing what I was getting myself into. He had a lot of dog reactivity that tended towards aggression, pulled VERY hard on the leash, jumped on you full force at every opportunity, and would go straight to a warning bite if you even touched his paws or tail. Unfortunately the first trainer I worked with was a correction based balanced trainer who used rewards sparingly and only seemed to believe in toys as rewards, not treats (because treats are bribery, I guess?). Thankfully i only went through with a couple of sessions with that trainer :c she was awful, I can't believe now that I went along with her for even a second. It was when I was trying to figure out how in the world I was going to trim my dog's nails without getting bitten that I found R+ training. I found a video from Dr. Sophia Yin showing her using treats to counter condition a dog to having its nails trimmed. Using her method worked wonders, and really opened my eyes to the magic of R+ 🥰 I wouldn't say I became fully force free till a couple of years ago, when I started working on cooperative care with my animals! But now I will never use anything else. It works so well, and our relationship is so much better. I even use R+/FF with my cats 😂 it literally works for everything and is honestly much more fun than using force or corrections! These balanced/correction trainers honestly don't know what they're missing. I hope that this video will show up in the top results when people search for force free training c:

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you SO much for adding your voice & sharing your story! I really appreciate it 🙂

[@kynyparxis]

I am a force free dog trainer almost 10 years now. What I see is that the method someone uses to teach a dog, is likely the method that he/she will use to communicate with other people too. Dogs are a reflection of us. Good and polite people won't use force. But if someone is a narcissist he/she is very likely to use punishment based techniques to feel superior.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Fair point! I think our tendencies/personalities DEFINITELY carry over to each facet of our life!

[@pawsintuition2295]

Thanks for the great video. I'm a force free trainer and it breaks my heart to see dogs damaged by balanced trainers. There is so much good that can be achieved by force free but sadly the world is opting for immediate "results" which ultimately the dog ends up paying for.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Agreed. It's an "I want it NOW" world. Imagine if we expected our own behaviours to change as rapidly as dogs are "supposed" to??

[@pawsintuition2295]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining or if we expected kids to know how to do life by the age of 1. People spend 18 plus years moulding and teaching their kids but ask a dog owner to spend a year or two teaching them how to navigate the world that they struggle to understand and we are asking the world. I just don't get it. I don't want to bring up a kid so I won't have one but everyone thinks they are entitled to a dog, whether they want that lifestyle or not

[@angelabata62]

Thank you for creating such a fantastic video to explain what force free actually is. Well done! My dogs are both force free trained. The highly reactive one would've never made the amazing progress she has if I'd trained any other way.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you!! So glad you liked it!

[@nordhund1929]

Such a great video! Thanks for sharing

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you so much for watching & commenting!

[@xXA11iXx]

This is exceptional thank you. I’ll be sending this to all of my clients as a comprehensive and easy to understand explanation of why I train force free ❤

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

♥ Thank you so much!

[@YouTubeTeacherRemote]

Neq here! Oh wow. I've learned so much about dog training and which Quadrants to use. Extremely informative

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thanks, I'm so glad it was helpful!! I made a follow-up video discussing why FF fails: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYq9iZ19ndJ0rdk

[@YouTubeTeacherRemote]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining awesome! Will take a look 😊

[@bonchiengooddog-ca]

Thank you so much for such a great explanation!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you so much for watching & letting me know you liked it!

[@JeffDentler]

Well said! There are reams of peer-reviewed scientific studies that say positive-based training is equally, or more, efficient than punishment-based training. There are no - ZERO - peer-reviewed scientific studies that suggest the opposite.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Well said to you too!! It's ludicrous how much division there is in the training community about corrections when there's NO division about it in science!

[@patmunro3531]

Can you explain "self motivating " behaviour. What treat or reward would be better than chasing the REAL thing?

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Hi Pat. I don't believe I used the term self-motivating in this particular video, so I'm going to answer your question generically. If you're asking about a specific moment I mentioned in this video, please let me know! You're right in a sense that in a side-by-side comparison, there are some "life" things that will be more rewarding than a treat. However, that doesn't mean force free training for those will fail. I talk about lots of specific examples of this in my tutorials: 1) Why would a dog drop a chicken bone on a walk when the treat isn't as good? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqSndIOOmL-ee68) 2) Why would my exceptionally high prey drive dog NOT chase the bunny when my treat isn't as rewarding? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX20Y558qM2HgdU) 3) Why would Kiki choose my lower value treat as a reward rather than just stealing her favourite food (butter) during counter surfing training? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3uQd3qIerSfqLM) The answer is repetitions that utilize factors we can control (often distance or intensity) to rehearse the skills and make them automatic. If the first rep I tried with Kiki while fixing her food stealing was training with butter, it would likely fail. She'd choose the butter over my treat for sure! But by the time she's rehearsed the skill heavily with lettuce, treats, and other items, she's skillful enough that she doesn't eat the butter when I leave the room. Building the skill progressively in increasingly harder situations is how you proof for those "life things" that on paper you cannot compete with. Hope that answers your question!

[@k9conceptsdogtraining]

Preach 🙌 awesome vid Stephanie, keep fighting the good fight 💪😊🐾

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you! Will do!

[@daveford7666]

I would just like to quickly point out that The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recently released a position statement that completely backs up force-free training. :)

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

YES!! ♥👏👏 Great addition!

[@Island_Me]

You said this so well! If I could give this video a thousand likes, I would! Thank you! 💯😊🐶🐾

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you!!! I’m so glad you liked it 😁

[@taro.m.t]

But couldn't negative reinforcement be done in ff? Let's say we someone who lives in a city was walking their dog and then something unexpectedly happened that startled the dog, and the owner gets away to give space to their dog, then removing something that the dog found unpleasant. While helping them to remain calm in those situations. In this case we could say that the environment wasn't managed properly but let's say that the dog in the example is already leash trained, they only didn't know how to behave in that situation, and you couldn't predict it.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

The terminology definitely gets confusing! In that instance I'd consider it to be more management (distance is one of the most used management techniques for threshold) or even positive reinforcement because what YOU added (distance) was something desirable to the dog, and it encouraged the behaviour you wanted (nice walking).

[@sunrobbins7477]

we have had only in session of ff training that lasted an hour. our penny learned so much in that hour, almost as much as we did. he's easily distracted by a chippy "good" with a chicken treat right after (the clicker was too scary for him, the trainer said). i hope this video gets pushed to the top, it's really informative and helpful, especially with a dog noobie like me.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Dog noobie made me laugh 😂 Thank you for your kind comment! I'm so glad your first ff session went well! I personally prefer a marker word (such as yes or good) to a clicker myself!

[@leoandrews1696]

I seem to remember that you have a "Please leave the ***** cat alone" thing but I don't seem to be able to find it. Have you taken it down? If not can you point me in the right direction? Thanks

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I'm guessing you mean my prey drive tutorial where I taught my dog not to chase animals (including my cat). If so, it's linked here 🙂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2inaqd7aZWrpac

[@terrencetan1168]

Hi your videos has give me a good relieve. I was a compulsive trainer from my start learnt from what surrounded me. and I improved myself to balance trainer from attending proper course and now i see force free are the key to enjoy the dogs, especially dealing aggression and reactivity but I am struggle to force free training due to what I know. Any advice or suggestion or books how can I start to transitioning from balance to force free training. I would love to try. Oh ya forgot to mention I am from Malaysia. The resources are so limited here.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Hi! Wonderful progression so far! It's hard to deviate from what surrounds you as "normal", so props to you for that. If you're looking for more info about FF aggression & reactivity training specifically I'd check out this site: aggressivedog.com

[@NatalieHawkins_friendsforlife]

Thank you for this accurate and informative video!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juanita5752]

this came up first! and such a great video.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

YESSSS!!! That made my night! ♥

[@weirdchildren2550]

I'm having trouble leash training my dog and the least harmful method I can come up with at this point is a prong collar. He doesn't pay attention to treats, toys, or really anything that has to do with the person walking him. No amount of positive or negative punishment has worked treats, toys, praise, stopping, directional changes. Nothing works for him. I am at the point where I worry for his health because harnesses can cause joint problems and he strangles himself with flat collars. Do you have any suggestions on how to help him because the only solution I can see is a little temporary pain/discomfort with the prong collar and then he would be able to walk on a leash properly.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Hi Timothy! I have many follow-up questions 🙂 How old is your dog, how long have you had them, what environments are you walking (trail versus busy downtown)? Does your dog seem excited to go for walks or nervous? Happy loose body language while they pull or really rigid? Almost ALWAYS when treats fail it's because the dog is overthreshold or not ready for the difficulty of that particular environment. I always suggest starting leash training in your house without a leash (weird I know, but it works. I can elaborate more if you want!). If you can get your dog to walk nicely there, it's not the method or treat that's failing outside, it's the difficulty level. I've had a few clients lately that also pulled on leash because they were actually incredibly nervous/overthreshold due to sounds, so sound socialization training can also be massively helpful in that context!

[@sweetteahyung6351]

A well fitted back clip harness that is "Y" shaped on the chest (not restricting shoulder movement) shouldn't cause joint issues c: you might be thinking of the front clip "no pull" harnesses that go across their shoulders and can restrict the natural movement of the dog. Those can sometimes cause issues with the dog's shoulders~

[@florianzbinden2641]

Great Video! The relationship with my puppy only got better since i've started training using force free methods.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thanks & I'm so happy to hear that!!

[@runnerup15]

I just wish i knew where to start with force free training, i wish there was a plan laid out for the journey from when they get home to when they are able to go off leash completely. my puppy doesnt seem to be motivated by much of anything so its hard to keep his focus for more than a few minutes and when he does lose interest he immediately goes to bite the nearest thing ignoring all his chew toys :/ and he loves his crate up until the door is closed and then he just barks and whines for hours no matter what i try to do (treats, praise, nothing works) i just feel very lost

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I hear you. The puppy stage can be VERY overwhelming! Every pup is different so individualized plans are difficult to provide online, but I’m sure a FF trainer in your area could help with that if it’s something you’re looking for ❤️

[@tripletrouble2192]

This is a great explanation!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thanks! Glad you think so!

[@aprillott4421]

The quote " People Who Say It Cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt Those Who Are Doing It" comes to mind. My clients have been proving the naysayers wrong for over a decade and if the general public can learn how to successfully use force free methods it is incumbent upon balanced trainers to educate themselves further. There is no denying positive punishment works, but there is a serious cost to it's use. So if both work (although arguably worse in the case of balanced training), it basically comes down to a moral decision. If you want to hurt your dog when there is clearly no need then I suggest you examine whether having a dog is right for you and spend some time in therapy instead.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes!!! I think this is SUCH an important comment. Punishment is in the quadrants because it scientifically WILL decrease that behaviour. However, at what cost? Reinforcement works just as well without fallout. So how is there any excuse to inflict pain or fear when it's scientifically unnecessary?

[@finkandelgee]

Brilliant video, thanks

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hildiandfriendsfosterfails]

So well said. Great explanations.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

[@emmabongers1867]

Great video!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you so much!

[@rissagotvideos09]

Just got a puppy, we don’t pull on his neck when he walks. I personally don’t like the idea of hurting his little neck he’s just a baby. I guess I def been using force free training.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes! I'm glad you recognized the potential damage to his little neck ♥

[@t0l4nd]

Try using force free training on dogs with a bite history - there isn’t a single video online that exists fixing dogs like this with pure positive training I wonder why

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

The funny part is I DO use force free for aggression 😂 Dogs with bite histories make up a large portion of my business. In fact I’ve pre-filmed with numerous bite clients (dog-dog bites and dog-human bites) and will be editing & releasing those while I’m on maternity leave. I suspect even once you see them the goal post will move because many people want to find reasons & justifications to continue using aversives, but if you need to “see to believe”, stay tuned.

[@meganthornton3234]

We use force free methods on all animals we work with, dogs, humans, cats... I also love all the animal husbandry done with force free in zoos etc

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes!! 100% agree!

[@FearlessK9Concepts]

Crossover trainer and thank you! ❤️ Sharing this!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

LOVE crossover trainers and when people are willing to admit they started with corrections 🙏

[@FearlessK9Concepts]

@happyhoundsdogtraining I'll be honest. Being a crossover might be a point of pride. 🤣🤣 I did amazing work as balance with my first Pitbull and my clients' dogs. Last year, I switched because my GSD/Husky mix responded poorly to it. While dealing with a PTSD diagnosis and loss of my job and other stressors. I realized the room for error on balance was too damn high especially when our emotions and frustrations get mixed into our dogs emotions. I've spent the last year rebuilding her trust and lowering her anxiety. Since then, I've had a very keen eye on over corrections and seeing so many anxious dogs as a result of them. Breaks my heart. Now fast-forward to now. My rescue pit/Pyrenees mix that only knows force-free training. His engagement with me is absolutely fantastic, his confidence has soared through the roof, and I am so damn proud of my boy and the changes him and I both have overcome!

[@FearlessK9Concepts]

@happyhoundsdogtraining Admiting my training low point is a major point of shame, and I know I'd get a lot of judgment if people saw how harsh some of my corrections. But my GSD/Husky and I have Hope for the future of our endeavors. Her name is Hope by the way, and the strides we've made since are wonderful. ❤️❤️

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I think most people that have been in the industry long enough (myself included as I'll share in my next video!) have used balanced or correction training. It's hard not to feel guilt now that we know what we know, but we can't change the past! What's done is done. I think being able to say "what I did wasn't right", learn from it, and do better NOW makes for a great person!

[@FearlessK9Concepts]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining Thank you for that! ❤️

[@OldDogNewTricksAustralia]

While I agree with you on the whole, just want to give feedback that your craft tools analogy doesn't work. Any woodworker would say that the person with mastery of a diverse set of tools is the superior artisan.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Fair enough! Most analogies fall apart if analyzed too closely. The point I was trying to make is that more isn't always "better" 🙂

[@Sunshine_on_saturn]

Force free is science!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

100%!

[@giftofthewild6665]

Its working fine for me! ❤

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Glad to hear it! ❤️

[@chelsearobinson872]

👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

🙏🙏🙏

[@persephonespaws8612]

Force free with my own and clients. If police dogs, working animals, zoo animals, etc can be trained force free, so can a pet dog! It’s based in science. That’s why it works!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Yes!! 💯

[@drscandersongt]

Science is true. Force free is effective, safe and fun. We have JUST started to learn about canine neurobiology and there’s mountains of evidence from the entire scientific community. Is it difficult for a human to admit that their experience is biased by their perspective or limited by their sample size? Yes it is. Can we use new information to advance our understanding and evolve? Maybe.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Agreed, and the "maybe" in your last statement is part of my stress haha. I'm not confident that the science will be enough to change public opinion.

[@drscandersongt]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining me neither but I’m so grateful that you are in action to educate. Many thanks!!!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@drscandersongt Stay tuned for my video Saturday! I'm hoping THAT one will do more good 🙂 After that I'll resume training tutorials ;)

[@wanne357]

It’s so unnecessary and just blatantly obvious someone doesn’t know what they’re doing when they use pain, force, coercion, and intimidation to communicate with any living being. How do we make change? Can we start petitions in each of the states for regulation? This will at least publicize the abuse happening in front of our eyes. Organize get together at city parks to demonstrate and train? I want to do something big like this so bad.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

I've wondered the same. Not to be graphic, but beating kids also used to be socially acceptable. Thank goodness as a society that has changed. I've wondered how to bring light to the dog training world too so that as a society what we view as "acceptable" or "normal" there can also change.

[@Waggyweddingevents]

Work many many aggression cases using force free. Anyone that says otherwise has simple never tried, or doesn't have the skills to execute it properly!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

100% agree! I made a new video discussing WHY ff fails: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYq9iZ19ndJ0rdk

[@halleschall7644]

So refreshing to see dog draining videos that use actual science gleaned from dog ethologists and psychologists. People still rely on “alpha” model BS…if you call yourself a dog lover, DO YOUR RESEARCH! There is no room for punishment (read: force) in a loving relationship.

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

There's literally zero scientific justification for using force or corrections. I wish the industry would catch up to that fact!

[@lindzeeschwartz1456]

Yess !!🎉

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Thank you! 🙏

[@deemaalawa1594]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

🙏🙏🙏

[@aasthapiplani3690]

❤

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

♥

[@hasselea8499]

Problem isnt that force tree training doesnt work. The problem is that it is forced on «all» dogs as more «humane» leading to more people seeking dog trainers then ever because for the average dog owner they don’t have the time or skills to execute it properly. its basically a way to get sales at this point. Yes a lot of dogs can be trained with FF training, but what about the ones you can’t? Why arent FF training used at the highest level of bite, protection sports? Why arent they used for police, special ops and military? One thing is for sure, everything is situational, different dogs require different training. You can’t force one method on all dogs and call it a day. Also guess what, there are plenty of research showing that the tools and methods FF trainers use are more aversive then what the average balance trainer ever did to their dog. Stop claiming you are more humane and that everyone else is «abusing» «hurting» their dogs its nuts😂

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

You mentioned plenty of research...Would you mind linking all this research that shows force free is more aversive? I'd like to read it.

[@hasselea8499]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining you need research to understand comman sense? All dogs are are differnt, have different issues, personalities, breeding history, mixing etc etc, some respond better to certain techniques then others. A lot of dogs will find it really frustrating to experience «time out» or «witholding of treats» rather then a quick Pop on the collar. Again the issue here is forcing this ideaology that FF training is more humane. its creating a splitt in the dog world and sadly its the dogs that pay the price

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

@@hasselea8499 I appreciate that you have strong (albeit unfounded) opinions. Re: the research- I simply asked for what you claimed you’ve seen plenty of? Now it’s a problem that I want to see it? Yes, all dogs learn differently. No two training plans will look identical. That in NO way justifies aversive tactics however. I might learn better by video whereas you may learn better from reading… doesn’t justify either of us “requiring” a smack on the head. It’s apparent we’re not going to come to an agreement, so I’ll leave our conversation there. I would still love to see all that research YOU mentioned though!

[@hasselea8499]

@@happyhoundsdogtraining what im saying is, some dogs respond much better and learns faster with aversives instead of «witholding reward» etc. Both are stressful but one might respond better to the other and it might provide a much clearer communication. Now i don’t have the citations of the «research» because i simply relly on field experience. I do know FF training works, there is no question about it, its just way harder to execute properly, and forcing this «if you use aversives you are a dog abuser» mentality forces the new gen of dog owners (including myself) to believe that i must do FF training or im a bad owner. I guess you are right, we wont see eye to eye. But i would assume if you like research you did actually look at the pros and cons of FF training and balance training. Because both has pros and cons. Which is why i really think it makes no sense for me to citate any research, i would assume a well informed dog training just like yourself understand both sides and understand where one might excel over the other, vise versa.

[@jaycnyldwelchkbbhfnyhkll8498]

There is *actual* scientific research showing how much more effective ff training is, and how harmful aversive training is. Many, many educated bodies, such as AVSAB (people with DOCTORATES in animal behavior), agree to that. You mention you have research that proves the opposite. Where is it? Is it peer reviewed? Qualified people with certifications on the board? Or, was that just nonsense you spewed to back your biased opinion? Science agrees unanimously, ff is the way. Balanced training is just based on the ego of people too stubborn and blind to change. Also many police, SAR, protection, etc dogs have been trained R+ and FF. As have bears, lions, orcas, etc. I'd like to see you train those animals with a leash pop. 🤭

[@megyaszaipeter]

This "method" wont work in the real world. If your 6 month old rottweiler doesnt want your treats but chase the cat You cant do anything. Or wait, You want the dog live on a leash forever? Then Yeah, this method is Okay.

[@sarahpoacher7787]

It does work 🙂 I would recommend speaking to a force free trainer as you clearly have a limited understanding of this method. Force free does not mean your dog spends its life on a leash!!

[@lyndsey90may]

It works for all breeds. Tigers are taught by force free methods in zoos to take injections and for blood to be drawn. My GSD. She has highly reactive to people. would chase all wildlife. We can now walk down the road past People. We now recall away from birds before or even mid run. Never corrected or punished her. Totally achievable with some knowledge and understanding.

[@Idiosyncable]

If it doesn't work, you're probably doing it wrong. It's not a quick fix, you have to understand how it works, and to put some moderate effort in it at least in the first weeks

[@kimberlylindsey8144]

It works for any breed! I taught my dog how to be off leash when all he wanted to do was play with other dogs and chase wildlife. We utilized long lines and practiced every day and he is perfect off leash now, even in the real world. He recalled away from a deer and another approaching dog today and heeled past the other dog. I would recommend speaking to an actual certified force free dog trainer as you seem to have a limited view on the method as a whole and everything it can do. ☺️

[@adastracanineco.8907]

Perhaps you are actually thinking of something other than Force Free, Fear Free, Welfare Based, LIMA training. Since those principles work equally across any species that is capable of learning. Which ya know would include a dog.

[@ihelpdogs]

I can feel the bad vibes from the triggered balanced "trainers" who watched this video lol

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

Not as bad as the comments I got from my "Why doesn't FF work?" video haha 😆 I don't think it's what people were expecting to hear...

[@NatalieHawkins_friendsforlife]

Thank you for this accurate and informative video!

[@happyhoundsdogtraining]

🙏