Zak George: Dog training's BIGGEST fraud

[@TomsWhip]

It actually has me fuming just thinking about the millions of badly behaved dogs with no boundaries or manners being spawned by Zak's method

[@sachahaghighi875]

hello from the US: I am so happy I found your channel, this content is magnificent. You are clear, concise and provide evidence. Love it. You can see how fulfilled the dogs you worth with look, it truly warms my heart.

[@theamziss]

I'm 'force-free', not a fan of Zac and not a fan of you either. It's childish how the less qualified dog trainers are making drama by fighting with eachother, while there are highly educated, qualified, innovative and experienced dog trainers working day in day out developing the field of dog training and behaviour. These are the people who work evidence-based, are part of studies, develop new methods, hold Guiness world records, are champions in many dog sports etc. And yes, they all work force-free because R+ is more effective. You will never have a dog as engaged, as fast and as confident than an R+ trained dog. We know aversives (pain and discomfort), no matter how mindfully applied, will cause your dog to hesitate, get confused or in the worst case scenario develop behavioural problems. Dogs that do extremely well with balanced trainers do so 'despite' the aversives, not 'because of it'. Dogs are extremely forgiving and adaptable. Anyway, these trainers are so far ahead of both you and Zac it's laughable. For anyone interested in real dog training; Susan Garrett, Amy Cook, Denise Fenzi, Michael Shikashio, Modern Malinois etc.

[@zakgeorge]

For those actually concerned with objectivity here is my response. You argue that interrupting and redirecting a dog’s behavior creates a behavioral chain that reinforces the undesirable behavior. This misrepresents how behavior modification works. The purpose of positive interruption isn’t to reward the unwanted behavior but to shift the dog’s focus toward something more productive. The goal is to reinforce the alternate, desirable behavior-not the initial problematic one. Behavior chains only become problematic if the reinforcer is directly linked to the unwanted behavior. However, with strategic use of markers and reinforcement, we teach the dog that only certain behaviors earn rewards. Skilled trainers ensure that reinforcement is well-timed and precise to prevent the type of behavioral chain you describe. You express concern that using a recall to redirect a dog from exciting situations risks “poisoning” the recall. I understand where this concern comes from, but it overlooks the concept of building value in communication through practice in diverse environments. Recall should be trained and proofed in a variety of situations, starting with lower distractions and gradually increasing difficulty. When done correctly, the dog learns to associate the recall with positive outcomes, regardless of what they are being called away from. This isn’t about “stopping fun” but about teaching a dog to respond reliably, which is a critical life skill. A reliable recall can save a dog’s life in high-stakes situations, and proper training ensures that the dog sees the recall as an opportunity, not a punishment. Modern training emphasizes humane, evidence-based methods. Using positive interruption followed by redirection aligns with the core principles of modern behavior science: capturing and reinforcing desired behaviors while preventing the rehearsal of unwanted ones. It is not about compliance for its own sake but about building communication and trust with the dog. Your suggestion to use unfavorable consequences during interruptions shifts the approach toward aversive techniques, which not only carry risks to a dog’s emotional welfare but are also inconsistent with the standards upheld by the most credentialed bodies in the field, such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) and the British Veterinary Association (BVA). Management and proactive redirection, which I advocate, are not ‘crutches’ but responsible strategies that prevent problem behaviors without compromising a dog’s well-being. Every dog is unique, and training is not a one-size-fits-all process. That does not mean there aren’t 1 million ways to train without aversives. The claim that my methods are ineffective because some dogs don’t respond as hoped overlooks the importance of tailoring training to individual dogs. It also suggests that guardians should expect overnight success, which is unrealistic. Patience, consistency, and adaptability are essential for sustainable behavior change. My methods are based on science-backed principles, and many professional trainers, guardians, and behaviorists have found them valuable. Criticism is welcome, but let’s ensure it is rooted in accuracy and fairness rather than rhetoric.

[@k9handler]

You have no idea what you're talking about Zak Joke - nothing but a scam artist that sells feels good to the ignorant.

[@yorkshire_canine_academy]

Hey Zak, for the sake of objectivity, why don't you join me on a podcast and we can talk about it? It's probably best we clear this up for the public.

[@zakgeorge]

@@yorkshire_canine_academy

[@bruceshardware5401]

The consistent professionalism exhibited by Zak is such a massive breath of fresh air in this world of petty squabbles. It is very hard for me, (and I own a hardware store!), to see this video as a 'good faith' presentation of an opposing view. It smacks of 'clout chasing'... Zak has 3.74 million subs and this channel has 12.7k... I only got to this video because I searched for a Zak George video. I want to start scent training with my dog and the first place I go is to see if Zak has covered that topic. With that said, I'm not a trainer. I have been asked 100's of times, by dog owners, if I train and if I could train their dog. If you wonder why that is, it is because I have an extremely well trained dog, with me, at my store, everyday, interacting and being loved by 100's of people ..if you further wonder why that is, it is based on what I learned from Zak's videos. I also have an extremely loving and caring relationship with my dog, the kind most dog owners wish they had. Why? Because I have been able to cultivate both a loving deep connection with my dog combined with significant obedience. To be fair and objective, my dog Rio is the only dog I've owned and there are signs that she is very smart...but what comes with that is what I can only describe as highly emotional. I have never raised a hand or hit my dog. I rarely if ever correct her with force...Why? because I learned early on that behavior by me would negatively impact future efforts. Zak's method absolutely worked for me and my dog. His concern for the entire dog ownership experience, not just execution of commands, is what speaks to me and I assume his many other followers. For me, Zak's methods are more than just training a dog to execute. His methods (for me) address the relationship between dog and owner, of which, behavioral training is a part of. My dog is 7 years old and I could train her to do a new behavior in under a week, I'd accept that challenge btw! I know with absolute certainty that I can do this with my dog because of our relationship. That relationship, I believe, only exist because of the essence of Zak's training, which is love and caring for another being. For me, the divide that exist between this video's author and Zak is based in - relationship vs execution. I see this author's way as being more about execution and Zak's methods are relationship focused first. This author never speaks on the topic of the ongoing relationship and how the training is integrated as a part of the ultimate end goal of having a loving and caring relationship with your companion. Thus, the comparison of methodologies, for me, is 'null and void'. Full disclosure: I don't know Zak and I don't even think I follow him. I have probably watched 5hrs of his videos. His vibe, his authenticity, the caring he exhibits, these elements spoke volumes to me. His way was eye opening to me. When I am asked by my customers, how have I achieved this level of relationship with my dog, there has only ever been one reply - Zak George. For what is worth, I fully endorse him, his methods and perhaps most importantly, his integrity. Thank you for reading this far. I felt compelled to write this. Not because Zak needs to be defended, but rather for anyone who arrived here and didn't know the other side. For the record I thought the author of this video did a decent job of expressing his concern, but ultimately, for me, there's no meat on the bone he's trying to pick with the BIG DOG ZAK!

[@NateSchoemer]

@@yorkshire_canine_academy First off, fantastic video! I just watched this one along with your video, "Dog Training Was Hard Until I Understood These 5 Concepts"-both were well done and clearly explained. I really appreciated hearing about the Premack marker you use; I’ve always called it the secondary terminal marker, so it was interesting to see your approach to it. A conversation between you and Zak George would be fascinating, though it's probably unlikely he'd agree to it. One of my friends, the highly skilled trainer Robert Cabral, once offered Zak a respectful debate, but Zak declined. I suspect he might feel intimidated having a live discussion with a trainer who’s formally educated in the field. I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve worked with to correct issues that developed after they tried to follow Zak George's videos. Anyway, great work, and I hope your channel keeps growing. It’s refreshing to see a skilled trainer providing quality advice. Cheers!

[@jonetsuhana]

zak george’s videos helped me to have a dog that: - doesnt bark at home, only outside (despite being a barky breed) - respect my food when I eat and not try to steal it or anything - stays put in the metro, or at cafés, or restaurants - walks on a leash without pulling, since he is so strong and would be able to pull me if he wanted to - walk off leash and pass a local certification that allows me to have him off leash at certain spaces :) Everyone asks me how I trained him and I recommend them Zak’s videos lol

[@skylasjourney]

why do dog trainers have to be in competition with each other where there is no such thing as a perfect dog trainer because first you would have to be a perfect human and we all know there is no such thing

You are thinking in black and white terms. You study behavior for a reason, because the answer will always be "depends", there's never one thing, it's always a bunch of them at the same time and following each other that you have to be aware of or else you'll reinforce it. Tthat doesn't mean everyone is doing it right "depending" on their situation but rather that there's deep analysis and shallow analysis. There's no such thing as perfect, that affects the dog's personality and they live very little and very poorly if perfectly controlled. There's only known things and experiments in known ways, so you can actually make an analysis and solve fast to establish a communication line between the dog and you. I have done what Zak did in this examples before and oh boy when the prey instinct kicks in your "training" goes to the toilet and the dog will continue his bad behavior when you are not around anyway, so before talking shit about a great trainer who gives you queue's about how not to affect your dog's personality while training it some manners, be specific with what you mean by perfect, that term is very broad and be specific about where is he competing, he's just criticizing him from a deeper understanding of actual behavior and not just learned tricks to gain followers like Zak and a zillion other attention seekers who don't care about the consequences of their "advise". And having a well behaved dog doesn't make you right by the way, most of the time just makes you lucky. Consistently being able to train any dog to well be have and not lose their uniqueness makes you a great trainer. Show me the follow up other trainers do with their clients and I'll believe your comment.

[@DamePiglet]

wHy CaN't EvErYbOdY dO wHaT *I* wAnT?

[@k9handler]

Zak can't even train himself to not wet the bed lol

[@sunflowerpony]

I agree!

[@AnjuliMack]

Oh wow!! I've never seen anything bad about him until this and this is what took me to your channel - excited to listen to your videos and to learn more on how to be the best owner I can be for our boy Bronco 🎉 Samoyeds are very vocal and stubborn but oh so smart/quick to learn.

[@mickeymouse7432]

I agree! I had no clue that his training wasnt so good

[@zakgeorge]

Lots of misleading information in this video so you are aware.

[@sunflowerpony]

His videos sure helped me get my reactive Collie to walk super nice on a leash.

[@sfdf1979]

I’m so glad you decided to respond to the people who have been deluded by Zak George’s delusions.

[@tagadaki]

People also forget that puppies need to chew so they need occupation toys to chew and make their teeth. What we did with our puppy was redirecting the chew on the right thing. We didn't hide anything on the house except dangerous stuff (like essential oils or stuff like this), after a week she understood that the shoes were forbidden but that she could grab her toy instead. Ofc sometimes she tried to steal one but we only had to say no from far away and she was dropping it on the floor and going to her toy. But yeah, you just need to keep your calm even after the 40th time you said no, it takes time for them to understand what they are allowed to do and what are the rules.

[@MoneyStrategiesSOULutions]

It took my puppy longer than a week. And she kept biting our hands well into her 6th month or so. BUT she has now no behavioral issues. Super sweet and get things. A very balanced dog at 8 months. People can’t believe that she’s that young. I did 98% positive and just a few ‘a-aa’s’ to stop her chewing.

[@tagadaki]

@@MoneyStrategiesSOULutions yeah they get it quite fast. For my hands I keep playing war lmao so it's ok for me as long as she controls her bite.

[@gloriagalaretce]

How is "option 1" not the same as Zak's method? You interrupt your dog's behaviour and tell them to do something you like.

[@raymondbenedetto7942]

Thank you mate for calling out shit training. Unfortunately where I come from in Canada the only educational facilities teach garbage training methods just like these (force free) and I actually watched Zak's videos (my bad). My head instrustor even admitted that after 3 years she could'nt teach her parents dog from resourse guarding everything in the house. OMG! When I got my dog training certification I burned most of what they taught me so I could become a better trainer. I love your videos. Cheers

[@jirikolar8601]

that's actually insane, also I knew Zak is garbage and I knew these force free methods don't work at all, after just 1 month with my reactive Lab . I bet they do with some dogs, but def not with most

[@richardoud5024]

Shield-K9 in Canada

[@YzFool78]

Isn’t America Standard K9 training in Canada also?

[@raybenedetto5559]

​@YzFool78 unfortunately about 2500km from where I live

[@QuinSteph]

You don't need to use force to train a dog.

[@Kuro_Reaper]

Zak George is the prime example of how everyone does Positive Reinfocement training wrong. Dogs can be trained fully with Positive Reinforcement, it's all about using Option 3 (stop a behaviour before it happens, and do that with every undesirable behaviour you don't want). But doing it the Zak George way won't work at all.

[@Wolf_gate]

All "positive only" trainers do this. It's simply unacceptable. These people cannot be considered serious dog trainers. It's totally damaging to dogs and ultimately frustrating to owners. Zak is a disgrace. But he is not the only one, unfortunately.

[@topperisthedog]

No, all positive trainers do not do this sort of thing, only poor trainers or ones with very limited experience. Good trainers, of any stripe are aware of this problem and don't do it.

[@Kuro_Reaper]

@@topperisthedog Agree

[@Wolf_gate]

@@topperisthedog I have never seen a 'positive only' dog trainer achieve anything of substance other than basic kindergarten stuff. I have never seen them address the most difficult issues, behavioural problems, or deal with large "stubborn" breeds. NEVER! In my opinion and experience, this sort of "training" is not training and it does not work. Balance training is the only thing that works. Unless you are dealing with little puppies, or easy to train dog breeds, but it will never work on tough breeds.

[@sunsteels]

​@@topperisthedogexactly, this is not LIMO or LIFE models. Fear Free or positive only trainers doesn't work like he does, he simply does useless things that only already well behaved dogs might understand (not even sure)

[@Kuro_Reaper]

@@Wolf_gate That's because most dog trainers who do positive reinfocement don't know how to do it correctly. They understand the basics but they don't understand canine psychology. Nearly all training clubs are people who have bred dogs or done a course in training but don't really know anything more. I would say it's rare to find an actual trainer who can do it well. Honestly I personally have only met 1 in person and there are very very few online trainers who can. The thing with breeds we concider "stubborn" (bull breeds, sighthounds, huskies etc) or dogs that are not toy/food motivated. It's not that they are "stubborn" it's more that everything else is way more interesting to them and they will ignore you for that reason. In those situations you need to controle the environment so the dog is as low freshhold as possible and then become the most interesting thing in the world to that dog. Be that running like a loon etc. You want the dog to really want to engage with you more than anything else. Most people/trainers think positive reinforcement is about the treat/toy. When done correctly it's not. The toy/treat is the start to build up engagement and drive to work for you. The dog learns to assossiate that YOU are the best thing and not the food. You don't want to raise a dog who will only do something if you have a treat infront of their nose. Which is where 99% of people go wrong.

[@zsahe21]

Omfg Zak George has a Cane Corso puppy now? I cannot wait to see how terribly wrong that situation will become!

[@LimitlessJayson]

that dog is actually over a year old now! he's only uploading videos of it from being 3 months old 😄😄

[@suefrompa2567]

​@@LimitlessJayson Exactly! And refuses to show any videos of how the dog behaves now, after his awful training 🙄

[@zsahe21]

lol. I hope more info about it will come out

[@freyamariano106]

@@suefrompa2567is he actually refusing to show current videos?

[@suefrompa2567]

@@freyamariano106 Not sure if he has come right out and said it, but I have seen many people post on his vids asking to see current vids of the now 1 yr old dog that he trained, and he totally ignores the requests, or replies with "he's doing great!" If he's doing so great, then he needs to show us the proof.

[@shier_it4956]

hmmm... i used Zak's method when I got my first dog. He was a shih tzu poodle mix. Because of Zak's method, my dog did not exhibit any resource guarding, (my family including relatives can easily get whatever he is holding in his mouth) and will let almost anyone pet him. He does not snap at strangers even if the stranger gets too close to me (except when I am sitting at a restaurant and eating). I can leave him off leash when im walking him in a mall and he will stop and wait the moment he realizes that I am not beside him. The only issue I had with him was the peeing on the sofa especially when the dogs next door to us (my cousin's) are in heat. He does not like hugs though and will immediately squirm away when i try to hug him. He died early this year though because of kidney complications, which the doctor said may have been genetic since he was a sickly puppy even before i got him. My second dog was a combination of Zak's and McCann's method because she was a really high energy puppy with the tendency to chew on anything that moves. She was also very mouthy. I got her March this year. She was very challenging but fast forward now, i have a piglet that I can also walk off leash at a mall, a dog that loves cuddles and playing more than anything in the world, and a dog that knows how to control her mouthing to avoid injuring other people.

[@erinlikesacornishpasty4703]

McCann is a great school of dog trainers! Kayle was the first trainer I encountered who suggested I use a long line and a house leash. Solid advice! Her technique for dealing with a mouthy pup works well. It works less for a dominant dog, like mine who needs REAL consequences. But generally they work very well.

[@Chihuahua-rg]

Hey I watched McCane can someone tell me if there any good?

[@sunflowerpony]

​@@Chihuahua-rgi like the Macane videos too plus Zak George

[@Chihuahua-rg]

@@sunflowerpony thanks that help I’ve been wondering since I’m getting my first dog in June😀😀

[@stormywinde1559]

Please stay in your lane. Not everybody has the same training method, and sometimes, different roads lead to the same city. Zak is a great trainer, and his methods work. You are good as well, but not everybody likes your methods. Some people prefer Zak's method for their dogs while others prefer yours. Zak is doing his thing; do yours, stop hating and making all these videos bashing him, it's not healthy - it shows your inferiority complex.

[@alexandradittmann8588]

Agreed, finally someone here in this comments section stating this clearly.

[@ColorfulBallerina]

I agree. I tried Zak's methods with my first dog and her behavior was out of control. So I took my dog to obedience school with a real trainer, now my dog is well behaved.

[@drunknpriest1]

What we all have to remember about Zak is that he is not a professional dog trainer. He earns his money through viewership and not through. The effective training of dogs. We need to stop funding him and funneling viewers to him through our attention and let him fade to irrelevancy.

[@SaroDogTraining]

I wouldn't blame Zak George (only) for the mess in the dog training world and the negative results that dog owners get from the advice he or you or even I share. I think the blame is on the Zak and Zak likes plus dog training using aversive tools and methods. Some call saying "No" to the dog aversive and others call the use of shock collar aversive. That confusion plus heavy reliance on treats is the problem. A lot of the time, dog owners are simply unprepared for what it really means to have and raise a dog. It’s like buying a car without knowing how to drive-it’s bound to lead to mistakes. Before getting a dog, people need to really understand themselves, and what they want from their dog, and educate themselves on dogs and how to meet their needs. What usually happens, though, is the opposite. People bring home a dog, then immediately break their bond with it by relying heavily on treats in an attempt to fix issues that inevitably pop up within the first few days. Treats become a band-aid for problems instead of building a real relationship based on trust, structure, and communication. If we shift the focus back to educating owners about the basics of what dogs truly need (not just tricks and treats), we can change how dog owners approach training altogether.

[@1packatak]

It has become an instant society. It is rare to find owners willing to put in the time.

[@cfrost87]

Treats have their place, but not as a distraction (which is how the positive only people use them).

[@SaroDogTraining]

@@cfrost87 Unfortunately, positive people use treats only for every move that they make. They and their dogs are addicted to treats.

[@xanderxander08]

Bro I just met your channel and this video points out everything what I think about Zak methods. Thank you for sharing!

[@eskimo3622]

hump > sit > treat. repeat

[@suefrompa2567]

OMG, I almost screamed when I saw that -- rewarding for humping! I've seen him so idiotic things before, but this is a new one! 🙄🙄😡

[@erinhardick4803]

I am maybe assuming wrong, but has he not seen what dogs do to other dogs that they do not want humping them? If he likes I can send one of my female telling a dude no way!

[@Chihuahua-rg]

@@suefrompa2567 lol my girl is fixed and a well behaved sweetheart but she’s small and does not really like dogs she doesn’t know soooooooo😅 it’s hard

[@mickellbrown3]

Excellent comment. One simple comment summing up this entire video.

[@con-can571]

I fucking love your channel. I wish you lived near me so I could take your classes in person. Have an awesome day.

[@remleraand]

Wow... I had no idea... I just watched a video of his and left halfway because it didn't line up with anything any other good trainer said, and I found this. Thank you for saving me and my future service dog!!

[@GoldenWolf248]

All mammals learn pretty much the same way. If you can teach a bear, a lion, an orca, etc. using force-free positive reinforcement training, you can certainly teach a domestic dog bred to work alongside humans using the same methods. There is no need to make your dog scared of you in order for them to listen. I train service dogs and have not had to use corrections to get them to leave food and squirrels alone.

[@dogsfromthecity]

That is a fallacy that most people tend to believe. Yes, you can train amazing things with wild animals. But there are several different aspect of training and handling a wild animal. The very little time the wild animal interacts with people, it is for high rewards. So it is successful because it is a very short time. And once the session is over, they are free to wander off and do literally anything they want, including other animals for their survival. Now try to train that same animal, in confinement, with the goal to train it to not do what was instinctually bread to do? Is that possible? I don't think so. Don't mix a very domesticated dog that were genetically bread for service with a wild animal. That is a flawed argument. But I do agree that is most cases we can use loads and loads of positive reinforcement for training and reduce significantly a lot of unwanted behaviors.

[@finkandelgee]

Would you agree with me there is no place in dog training and learning for aversive equivalent and methods?

[@alexandradittmann8588]

I would - in accordance with the leading animal behavior associaltions of the world. But of course, the uneducated audience of the channel owner here probably won't, they're far too brainwashed into believing that behavioral science got it all wrong. Just like, back in the day, people were convinced that the Earth is flat, and willing to burn anyone on the stake who claimed otherwise.

[@hoa8954]

So funny, mate! Before I got my first dog 3 years ago, I checked YT for training advice... The f-ing algorithm served up Zak George... I thought, 'ok, yeah', but after watching a dozen videos, I realized that he seemed weak, and his channel mostly like a stupid vlog channel and ads for his shite... I watched other videos from other trainers that made much more sense. I'm glad to have found your stuff, mate! I am loving your work... Cheers from the US 😁👍

[@DogTrainingBulledandSon]

I’m with you on this one. People should ask him to show his dog INERTIA in a busy park off leash. INERTIA was a very appropriate name for his Training journey with his own dog. Trigger alert there may be another social media star about to accidentally expose his lack of real skills with his new puppy.

[@doglabdogtraining-gus.8873]

let me give you a piece of advice, cutting a man's legs doesn't make you any taller, I don't like or watch Zak nor most people and trainers in the US, somehow I think you guys in the UK think so. Also I believe you are good enough not to have to trash anyone, it will make look better in the end. Remember we all think we know it all until someone else comes around and show you otherwise , good luck and great job.

[@ElviraNoot]

Whether or not you're correct, I'm always disappointed when professionals feel the need to publicly blacken the reputation of other professionals and use this to get more attention and clicks. Not classy, mate. I've enjoyed a few of your videos, but if you're merely out to educate your clients, please do so without naming names and pointing fingers.

[@CappuccinoDogTraining]

This is an awesome video 💯

[@AUDITCHRONICLES]

Do you have recommendations for multi dog houses?

[@Chihuahua-rg]

lol I do I would say that if you r trying to train ur dog go into a different area and close doors then when ur dog can do that move them with other dogs and keep getting harder like go outside and so on

[@AUDITCHRONICLES]

@@Chihuahua-rg already doing that, thank you for your recommendation ✨

[@denisemurray149]

Big help you were with that simple question. So you don’t answer people’s questions? Too bad. Tom does. Zac does also

[@YzFool78]

Seems like all “Positive Only/Pure Positive” training is about, rewarding bad behavior. I’ve only trained my dogs (and I do ok) & got into it with a Purely Positive dog trainer when she said “every time your dog reacts to another dog, giver her a treat so she will “associate” it with something positive” I laughed & said, so you want me to reward her bad behavior?! Then was told I didn’t understand what I was being told. Once I told her I use a prong collar that made her upset. Then after listening to her spill more nonsense I laughed & was done listening. Funny part is, I wasn’t looking for any advice or help, just came spilling out! Now, I’m not saying I’m some great trainer as I learn things all the time, but I’m not rewarding bad behavior.

[@erinhardick4803]

Though my dog had regularly (6 days a week) gone to dog parks for months I had issues in public on leash. It was random and never a guarantee but he would occasionally lunge and bark at dogs. When he corrected himself with the prong collar lunging when i had hold of the leash it was done. He corrected himself harder than I ever would have. I can take him out now on any kind of collar though single lady living in a semi shady neighborhood if I am going to a QT or walking at night he has the prong on, makes him (GSD/Husky mix) look even more menacing than his 26" shoulder height already does.

[@danesdogma4322]

I dont think all positve training is about letting your dog do what they want, I think theres a disconnect, I dont like Zak but i do like Susan Garret and she specifically says Purely positive does not mean all permissable, Unfortunately for me the damage was done and our boy is a stubbourn bossy boots that still bites like a mofo at 10 months.

[@Kuro_Reaper]

That is an example of a bad Positive Reinforcement training. There are very few trainers that actually do it right. If you want to use Positive Reinforcement to train a reactive dog you need to start far away from the trigger and reward when the dog is comfortable. (Not always possible to get that distance in the environment which makes it hard) That should be with something they love; toy/food. If you are too close your dogs trigger is already stressed and won't get results. Feeding them the treat is the same as shoving food in your mouth when you are face to face with your biggest fear, it's going to only make you more scared and more likely to redirect and punch that person in the face. It's not "rewarding the behaviour" but it is making the situation more stressful because more is happening and the dog becomes more over freshhold.

[@hanksimon1023]

@@danesdogma4322 If his biting is 'play' and not aggression, look up Bite Inhibition for some methods that will de-escalate. I adopted a Lab mix at 1.5yo with no social skills and a painful bite. I was able to train him to be as soft-mouthed as a Golden, but it took a few months!

[@emmahopps5463]

Yeh i tried his method by rewarding my dog when he stopped barking at a horse. He would look for the horse every walk bark at it then wait for his treat. I thought it was a bad idea to start with but everyone recommended his training, should have gone with my gut and corrected him. Over three years later he'll still occasionally try it to see if he'll get a treat.

[@heathermanion3259]

Well I agree that I would never really use any of the so-called training tips that Zach George does I would like to know your opinion on the other wacko dog Daddy I think he's full of s*** to be honest too

[@MoneyStrategiesSOULutions]

Dog Daddy is thousands of times worse. First I thought he was good but then I woke up. And saw comments of how their dogs were shut down for over a year after he tackled and ‘trained’ them. I even went to one of his 3 hour workshops, but lucky just as an observer.

[@NateSchoemer]

Dog Daddy's approach is problematic, and it's unfortunate that so many people are influenced by it.

[@ursulaatkan]

Thank you very much for sharing!

[@louisegariepy7697]

I don't know why everybody is going after Zak these days! There are still worse! Why not talk about some really good trainers around, and talk about what they do good, explain there training methods. I agree with what is explained here, I do not know why Zak is needed to make a point! Why not Cesar or others that I will not name as examples of bad training?

[@somebodyyoudontknow3980]

For me I love positive training, I like to go with a positive method first usually, however I hate the idea of positive only, every dog is different and sometimes all a dog needs is a firm no, which many of these trainers refuse to do. A lot of positive only trainers seem to tip toe around certain issues because it requires some kind of conflict. It also just takes so long, sometimes a hyper aggressive dog doesn't have months or even years to get significantly better, you can do a 'quick fix' with a bit of aversion and work on a long term method later

[@Annalisesc]

completely agree. I don't know why but it almost seems as though most dog trainers dont even want you to say something as simple as 'no' to your dog because they are so committed to positive only training. not to say that i disagree with positive training, but saying 'no' isn't abusive and doesn't involve you screaming and shouting, it's just a correction. and it works

[@stephaniedonlan6749]

My dog himself proved that Zac’s advice didn’t work. I’m learning how to sniff out real trainers.

[@chrissymissymai]

You speak my language, reassuring 👊☺️

[@Musiclover-uo2oi]

This is the 4th professional dog trainer that I have watched criticizing Zak George. And I respect them all for their intelligent and balanced approach to dog training. Robert Cabral, Joel Beckman, and Garret from American Standard. Zak George is a dangerous fool who has caused a lot of pain and suffering in the dog community. Btw, he also has never accepted any of the challenges posed to him by these professional trainers to actually meet, discuss, and solve an actual dog behaviour problem.

[@HoneyBadger0704]

Ivan Balabanov has invited him for a discussion but I highly doubt that will ever occur.

[@Chihuahua-rg]

@@HoneyBadger0704 yeah lol never I’m glad Ik this stuff before i got my chihuahua puppy in a month

[@littleninjai222]

Anyone validating ZG or pushing back on you is just your basic positive only dog trainer? ZG is not a social media influencer creating conflict in the dog training world. He can teach dogs some cool tricks but he's not a real dog trainer. Like you said, no real dog trainer respects him.

[@elcasanelles5806]

The discussion is tiring but it also can be interesting. I recommend Susan Garrett's interview by Ivan Balabanov's : Training Without Conflict Podcast Episode Seventeen: Susan Garrett

[@cherylmillard2067]

Jenny Gibson too, she's like Susan Garret.

[@ShastaLilyCottage]

Back when I was considering getting a dog, I watched a lot of Zak's videos. After a while, I noticed he never showed his own dog. I started to wonder if he even had a dog. Maybe I had just watched the wrong videos, but I came to believe he was just an actor playing a dog trainer in order to advertise PetFlow (sponsorships like that were relatively rare at the time.) Just my opinion, but judging by what a struggle it was for him to train his Border Collie, I think it may have been the first dog of his own he actually trained. But I could be wrong.

[@EvelineUK]

He had a few Border Collies before getting his current one, he did frisbee competitions with them. That's why he's using frisbee so much now, and why he likes teaching tricks like getting the dog to balance on his back. Very useful to watch when you have a reactive dog and you're desperate to find a solution for that problem....

[@ShastaLilyCottage]

@@EvelineUK Thanks for the correction, I appreciate it. Wish I had time to teach my dog frisbee! Hoped to do agility with my collie but too busy dealing with dog-obsession and anxiety so we can just safely take a walk.

[@louismartineau1596]

Wait, 5 guys has a milkshake? Thanks for the video

[@LasDivine]

I want to see a collab video then haha. Rehabilitate Zach

[@sydneymeyers3774]

Yikes on bikes. Don’t reward what you have to interrupt/fix or you’ll always have to fix 😅 Only reward true EFFORT to make the RIGHT choice!

[@krisniznik3953]

I find it very funny that Inertia is such an excellent example of a poorly trained dog.

[@stephendurnan3609]

What qualifies YOU or any dog trainer? Do you have any accreditation form reputable schools? Have you even read any of the hundreds of papers on animal behavior over the last 40 years?

[@dogzentraining]

Im all for positive interrupters. But when a puppy is whining for attention and you **give them attention** in the form of giving a command…you are just rewarding the whining 😂😂 Ignoring them is the best punishment. He just shows how little he understands a dogs mind Also, he treats dogs like they’re made of glass and they’ll shatter into a million pieces if you correct them. It’s just silly

[@SuziQ.]

It’s a puppy. I would check to see why it’s whining. Does it need water? Outside potty? I’ve regretted ignoring my 12 year old, the “dog who barked wolf,” because there usually is a reason, like an empty water bowl, or the younger dog getting into mischief.

[@dogzentraining]

@@SuziQ. I’m referring specifically to whining for attention when all other needs have been met

[@brendad7559]

I do not consider Zak George a dog trainer! I've never been a watcher or subscriber of his. You, on the other hand, are wonderful! 😂 I find your videos very informative.

[@echasebrannen]

@@brendad7559 He's a dog influencer. 😂😂😂

[@KathySierraVideo]

I don’t know enough about dog trainers to know about this guy. But what about Susan Garret? She is also a no-punishment (even verbally) trainer but seems extremely successful. I’m a 98% force-free horse trainer for the last 15 years, and while it IS far more convenient in the short-term to use aversives, they can come with side-effects downstream I don’t want. That said, I don’t adhere to the pure R+ training views either. There are other options for force-free training besides just “positively reinforce what you want and ignore the rest.” If I felt my life was at stake, I’d use force/aversives. It just hasn’t come up in at least a decade. And that includes a troubled stallion and an unhandled (left “wild” in a large herd for first three years) youngster. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Dogs seem easier, but then… my horses don’t live in the house with me.

[@p.honauer9029]

Thank you mate! Well done! 🎉🍺

[@gwen.1210]

Yess thanks for saying this hahah some people have nog idea how to train a dog

[@adamm5054]

Zaks' number one biggest mistake is using R+ on every behavior, leaving him with no other tools. It's like building an entire house with just 1 screw driver. He's literally a fraud.

[@magalieg273]

P+? Don't you mean R+?

[@adamm5054]

@@magalieg273 yes thank you. Type o

[@mmmmmlemons]

Diesel is very hard to ignite. It might actually be possible to put out a fire with diesel.

[@MaximillianandRubyGrace]

I have to agree I used his method when I had a puppy male Newfie Total disaster! I got dragged, dropped and ignored. It’s crap

[@brehoutby3693]

Awesome calling him out! Nice front!

[@PaulaDTozer]

Who docked that puppy’s tail? That’s cruelty to me.

[@Pedro-and-Kail]

Zak george fan boys incoming. Haha

[@karenstrain1152]

His methods are great for puppies, not problem adults

[@EvelineUK]

I need to remind myself to never have anything to drink when watching your videos, I nearly choked. I've watched Zac for about as long as he's been on KZbin an while he is a good trick trainer, I would never recommend anyone who has issues with their dog to ask him for advice, or heaven forbid, have him foster their dog... He has made lots of mistakes with his own dog, and his wife's dog currently still has quite a few behavioural issues that should have been addressed ages ago, but hey, she's cute, so.....

[@foreverandever1111]

I just saw a video of you training a tiny chihuahua pulling him by the neck, when you should know tiny dogs get easily injured....you are not that great, you are just full of ego, I prefer Robert Cabral's training videos.

[@TheWoofiShow]

There is no such thing as a "REAL" dog trainer. Dog training is not regulated and anyone can get a certification from a variety of organizations. People need to understand different dogs require different training methods, there is no ONE WAY to train a dog. What might work for one dog will not work for another. You should listen to who you believe in and who makes the most sense to you. There are thousands of "dog trainers" on the internet all with a variety of training methods, no one is right, not even this guy on this channel, he has his method which works for some but not others. To discredit someone who is out there as the biggest advocate for a dog's well-being is just sad. Also, this is just a marketing gimmick by using the popularity and likeness of people like Zak George/Victoria Stillwell to boost your influence and clicks. I would take Zak Georges' training over any abusive trainers any day.

[@wendymould3489]

Well said

[@cherylmillard2067]

Please answer the following questions: 1. How many dogs have you worked with in a training capacity or helped train? 2. Have you been educated in the proper use of the training tools such as the ecollar and prong collar? 3. Do you realize that balanced training is 98% positive reinforcement using praise, ball/toy or food drive? 4. Have you ever worked with a dog who had severe reactivity, aggression or behavioral issues as well as some with a fighting or bite history? 5. If so, what was the breed, type of reactivity or aggression and how long did it take you to get the dog past those issues? 6. What role does a high state of arousal play in dog training, redirection and aggression? 7. What are your hands on experience with dogs exhibiting a high level of prey drive? 8. What corrections do you use to discourage bad or dangerous behavior. 9. Do you believe in medicating dogs to mask behavioral issues? 10. If you cannot get the desired outcome, what happens to the dog in the end?

[@TheWoofiShow]

@@cherylmillard2067 instead of wasting all my time answering all of your questions, I will say again as I said in the first comment, there is no RIGHT or WRONG way to train, the "balanced" method will work for some dogs and not for others. All the comment is saying is that this guy seems to be using popular names in his KZbin videos to get clicks. You should always start with positive training and if that doesn't work or if the dog has some underlying behavior problems then yes you can try other methods. You are not going to jump right to an ecoller or aversive methods with a puppy right away are you? I hope you answer no to that question

[@Here_This]

All people that want to dominate their dog didn't understand what's important . You all only want to imprint Your dogs , to train them reactions without knowing why they have to act this way . At positive training the dog thinks . The dogs understand why they do what we want them to do . They are trained to think . Dogs are highly intelligent , they are no robots .

[@AnnJo24224]

Seriously still there is somebody watching him? 😮 I thought he was done and gone after his BS with DD and few others.

[@sunsteels]

I think LIMO or LIFE models (Least Inhibitive Functionally Effective) works to an extent. Zak goes beyond, he didn't even train the dog at all!

[@Patsagilitybits]

When you look at a dog trainer always look at the trainers own dogs. Do they look happy? Are they well behaved? Zak uses methods that are similar to Susan Garrett's methods. Both trainers have dogs of their own that are exactly the sort of well balanced and well behaved dogs everyone wants. I don't think you've quite understood Zak's method.

[@EvelineUK]

HIs wife's dog Veronica has quite a few behavioural issues, though....

[@denisemurray149]

Do we know for sure this dude has trained his dogs? I’ve e only seen previously perfectly trained dogs that he shows you how to get your dog that way. It his is trained and yours is like what did you want me to do. Speak English.

[@Patsagilitybits]

Watch Zak's videos. He takes the most difficult dogs from rescues and he trains them. His own dogs are perfectly trained.

[@EvelineUK]

@@Patsagilitybits I have, for decades. The fosters he takes on are certainly not 'the most difficult ' and Veronica still has issues. We don't know about Inertia because they never show them in normal urban settings aside from very short clips clearly filmed early in the morning.

[@Patsagilitybits]

@@EvelineUK I followed the story of Moira and watched every episode. She definitely wasn't an easy dog and even Zak wasn't sure about taking her on. I've watched many others since then. The thing is, as soon as you start training positively the dog responds and stops behaving in a way that you don't want. I've had many dogs in my life and it's a constant learning experience.

[@beksc9209]

Does ZG not realize that if a new dog or puppy doesn't know any commands yet, it's gonna be bloody hard to interrupt a behavior without physically interrupting the undesirable behavior? Bad advice, from the very get-go!

[@ricelwr5255]

This video alone made me a subscriber. Stop the “positive only” lies. Look at a mother dog with her pups. Good lord- nothing on Gods green earth is positive only- Ahhh but Zak knows better. Smug.

[@hanksimon1023]

It is a shame, b/c Zac learned by following Dr. Ian Dunbar, DVM. Forty - fifty years ago, Dr. Dunbar researched and documented puppy training. Most modern methods, such as distraction, bite inhibition, etc. came from Dr. Dunbar's work. You have to search for his work, and watch carefully for the precise timing and redirects. One recent video had Dunbar 'correcting' then rewarding a puppy that had been fighting. People criticized the method, and Dunbar had to break down all the steps, then post the edited out portions to show the puppies playing together nicely [as if nothing "violent" had happened a few moments before]. In contrast to Cesar Milan and possibly to Zac, Dr. Dunbar's methods have been developed specifically for the pet owner. Someone compared Dr. Dunbar to Charlie Chaplin. ;-) If you watch a Charlie Chaplin movie, it may not seem funny, b/c many of his gags are old and repeated. But, if someone explains that he invented or perfected the joke, you might appreciate his execution. It's the same with Dunbar's training methods - they may seem familiar, or old fashioned.... because he was the one to document them before many of the current trainers were born. ;-)

[@esaflaka9155]

I only liked watching zaks vids for the trick training.... not realistic behaviors on how to behave with manners in the real world.

[@Mister_Racer]

Title:Zak George: Dog training's BIGGEST fraud Thumbnail: EXPOSED!!! SCAM!! Acual video: Zack teached you in one video how to say no wrong.

[@beam3250]

Good you point out the details, because some Zak-followers do not dive deep enough. It’s way to easy just reward and feed when positive behavior happens. Keep on telling the truth

[@PositivePup-t1h]

Well done, mate, you just got your defamatory video reported to KZbin, and not just by only me either ;-) Once the shock-collar ban comes into full effect, all your income from getting flashy results with shock collar training will be history.

[@denisemurray149]

Looks and sounds like another “balanced trainer” that’s just getting started on KZbin needs to go after Zac before he goes after you. All positive can work when you know what you’re doing and Zac knows what he’s doing. But recently he has been spending lots of time on giving feedback to newbies or just plain awful trainers who need to be swung by a collar as they do to their dogs. I thought you were sounding fair,y good, a bit too militant and show offy for me, but hoped you calm down to normal training. I thought you’d eventually get to a Tom Davis type of trainer.. But honey, you are no Tom Davis. He doesn’t waste time on the latest KZbin fracas. He s how’s you how to train. He has a Malinowski that does the fancy military training, but he doesn’t do it every show. He trains the dog in front of him, not one that’s pre-trained. So I’m not impressed with you anymore than you are with Zac, who taught me to teach all my basic commands and 3 yrs later they’ve not forgotten one and we could quickly live with two calm dogs. So give it a break and be your own trainer.

[@zsahe21]

[@rubigee4397]

The Dog Daddy has been calling him out FOREVER I’m no professional dog trainer, but the #1 rule for any potential dog owner is to make sure YOU are the alpha. How? Learn how alphas think & behave in a pack.

[@CharlieTheCaneCorso]

I feel sorry for those who fell for sacks garbage

[@kathleenlewis1954]

16k

[@janel4582]

👍

[@cherylmillard2067]

Dr Orion, a wingnut on YT is right up there with Zak.

[@yorkshire_canine_academy]

Download our FREE PUPPY GUIDE here - mailchi.mp/yorkshirecanineacademy/ytpuppyguide Transform Your Dog’s Life - Get your FREE YCA Dog Reactivity Guide now: mailchi.mp/yorkshirecanineacademy/ytreactivityguide

[@DunbarAcademy]

What do you think is the most important thing that distinguishes your training philosophy from Zac George? Do you think it's important that the "Something unfavorable" in this example is a physical correction? Is that the main distinction? What if you just said "Hey, Quit it!" in a gruff voice and that got your dog to stop without you having to get off the couch. Then you add the little delay, and then you redirect. Or, maybe, instead of saying "Hey, Quit it" you give a specific instruction like "Off" or "Sit" or "Come."? Then, again, you add a little delay before any reinforcement to break the chain. I get what you're saying about not wanting to "poison a command" by using commands to stop the dog's fun, but when you physically stop the dog from having fun, isn't that poisoning your relationship with your dog? We teach our dogs commands specifically so we can manage their behavior (without getting up from the couch!), but then we make sure we reinforce those commands with meaningful rewards often enough that it more than makes up for the times we use them to redirect undesirable behavior and it works well for us. It kinda seems like you and Zac are training dogs very similarly, except you are using a physical correction, and adding a delay before reinforcing. It seems like, if you can make it work with a gentle physical correction, you could make it work with a verbal correction. I haven't actually watched Zac's video, but my guess would be Zac also would recommend a delay and is aware of the danger of chaining. I dunno, maybe not. But I'm sure he's a fan of "Management" and "Preventing Undesirable Behavior" in the first place! Who isn't? And actually, I think you've got even slicker editing and effects, nice work on those!

[@jacobmorgan3120]

ZG constantly sets his dogs up to fail. That is the main difference.

[@sunsteels]

His training gives the dog a reason to stop doing it. Force Free methods (L.I.F.E.) teach to give your dog another valid chance and positively reward him if he choose that one. Zach Bryan is telling to call the dog (without giving other options), let him sit and give him a prize. If he does it with a delay he simply gives the dog a treat only for keeping sit down.

[@jessicadisabella]

What puppy is going to listen to you telling them to stop it from the couch lol? In ZG’s video he does nothing to manage or prevent the behaviors, that’s probably why he brought that up. A pop on the leash or physically removing it from the situation with a leash will not ruin your relationship with your dog.

[@sfdf1979]

I would have to disagree with your statement that Zak is aware of the danger of chaining. If he was that aware, he would not have presented his video as an appropriate way to redirect a dog. And if he’s that aware, what does that say about the quality of his teaching methods? The reality is that ZG has made it his life’s mission to insult, degrade and devalue any training method besides his own. (And his dogs aren’t very well trained, in my opinion. I am not a trainer, and my dog has better behavior and obedience than his.) I don’t think anyone really cares how he effectively he trains dogs. What people do care about, however, is his witch hunt against those who don’t train like he does.

[@echasebrannen]

A verbal correction can work with some dogs and the goal of physically correcting would be to eventually only have to use verbal corrections. But many strong willed, highly motivated puppies will completely ignore just a verbal command. Also dogs that have been desensitized to verbal corrections by having no enforcement afterwards. Once they realize nothing will happen when you speak at them, why would they stop? Our verbal queues have to be backed up by either reward or correction especially at the beginning of training a new behavior.

[@canine_coach]

I would never respond positively to unwanted behavior. So i guess you got a good point. I never watched many of his videos. Mostly McCann dogs and Dog Daddy.

[@olekdh]

Zack george is explaining things step by step, here i got 3 min mumbling why you're the best, than book ad, than other video ad and fast cut of how to do things, rocky training style. Cut the talking head moment and show something useful, god damn ego bloat is not useful whatsoever. If your book is like this video 3 chapters would describe life in your village, next 2 your family genealogic tree, and at the end of the book would be something like..... and than we got Fido, and I trained him to be a dog, and he was a dog nonetheless. the end oh and drop the clickbait. or name the next video: The real truth about Cesar MIlan: I'm not him. Will click I'm sure

[@alexandradittmann8588]

Wow, quite the libel and slander committed here - reported to KZbin for such. How would YOU like having videos made about you calling you "dog training's BIGGEST fraud"? Calling a competitor and renowned trainer a fraud is a very serious allegation, and legally quite risky. And it's not just legally risky to do this, it's also risky because you're in violation of KZbin's community standards. Believe me, I've seen before just how quickly people can loose their channel - another "trainer" like yourself who thought it's a great idea to keep committing libel and slander against force-free trainers recently lost his KZbin channel. Gone without a trace, wiped off the internet. I strongly recommend you research KZbin's community standards, and change the title & thumbnail of your video; knowing our community of dog-lovers and positive reinforcement trainers, I won't be the only one reporting your video for it's title and/or its content. Have a nice day.

[@macedoniangangster8085]

Zak George? Dog trainer??? Marketing influencer? Yes Dog trainer?!?!? 🤣🤣🤣

[@border304]

He's worse than dangerous. He actively tries to impact the careers of the trainers who actually know what they are doing.

[@joebloggs4191]

That cane corso is going to eat Zak one day!

[@carolchapin8326]

I was thinking along the same lines, will have to see

[@EvelineUK]

@@carolchapin8326 Nahh, the pup was only a foster. I doubt he's seen him after the week or so he had him. He's not given any video updates from the owners, either.

[@stephenrowson9524]

I was a signed up member of your training! Sadly you have just destroyed all faith in you. You are doing exactly the opposite of what you teach. You are reacting to distraction and behaving badly! A clear cut case of do what I say not what I do. Zack won't be around if he is that bad and he is making lots and lots of badly trained dogs if what you say you stand by. Result more work and penny's for you to make out of his sh1t training. If I wanted to listen to someone rabbit on how great they are and how sh1t everything else is. I would be watching Trump on CNN. NOyou just lowered yourself to your competitors level not a good look my friend. Please get back to what you are good at. Not this hear bashing rant I have a wife for that and she is better than you will ever be at it!😢

[@sarahcash9943]

Might be kind of a reach to suggest that Zak George is legitimate “competition” to this guy, don’t you think?

[@foreverandever1111]

Exactly

[@Loki-Rosies-mom]

Bye 👋 😂

[@denisemurray149]

I don’t agree.. Zac has his talents, just might not be what you need right now. He’s been around a longtime on his own show, then private training shows, and now at least 5 or so years on KZbin. I’ve trained 2pups with him and Tom Davis. They’re awesome now, and had no other training.. Zac may be older, but it doesn’t mean he has no skills. Tricks alone make his training useful to watch. You need a well trained dog to trust you enough to perform tricks like Zac does. And Tom handles any problems that arise when older, but he’s also got almost the identical class to Zac to “Kickstart Your Dog.” This guy is full of himself. I was so disappointed. Hopefully he’ll get passed the newbie stage and work on his own training and let others do their thing.