Without Worry Canine Education - Reframing Choice, Consent And Coercion

There have been great advances towards taking into account animal welfare and providing fear free interactions in all areas but particularly in clinical settings. This is a great step forward, but we still have a long way to go if we are to provide true consent rather than coercion or tolerance training.

The aims of this webinar are to:

• Taking a mindful approach to working with dogs
• Consider the experience of the dog in all interactions
• Understand the changing experience for dogs as we move through an appointment
• Understand the difference between rewards and coercion
• Empowerment - how can we be sure?

Presenters:

Dale McLelland: Co-director

Dale McLelland specialises in complex or challenging behaviours in dogs. Based in Ayrshire, Scotland, she runs her own business "Being Canine" as a practising canine behaviourist. She is an ICAN Certified Animal Behaviourist and Certified Animal Trainer, and an INTODogs Certified Canine Behaviourist and Certified Dog Trainer.

Dale uses non-aversive, positive reinforcement dog training methods to provide effective and practical behavioural advice. The statement "train with the brain not with pain" is one that particularly sums up her ethos. Her philosophy is all about you having fun with your dog.

Lisa Hird: Co-director

Lisa Hird is a practising canine behaviourist and runs her own business "Dog Behaviour Clinic", in Lincolnshire, working closely with local vets and several dog rescues. She is an INTODogs Certified Canine Behaviourist and Certified Dog Trainer, full professional member of the Pet Professional Guild, and an accredited Fear Free Dog Training Professional. Lisa believes in relationship-centred training and consideration for the individual dog.

Position statement:

Without Worry Canine Education promote interactions with animals based on compassion, respect, kindness, and reward-based training. Aversive methods rely on punishment and negative reinforcement and many studies demonstrate that aversive methods can cause stress in dogs.

We disagree with the philosophy some organisations support, framed as Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) hierarchies of method selection. We reject the LIMA strategy which still allows behaviour practitioners and trainers to employ aversive methods when less aversive or intrusive methods have not worked. Without Worry Canine Education believe there is no role for aversive training in behaviour modification, training, or any interactions with animals. There are no exceptions to this standard, even for dogs with aggressive behaviours. There is no place for the use of punishment or aversives in interactions with animals.