On the one hand, we have trainers who don’t hesitate to use aversive techniques to train their dogs (in other words, they will sometimes inflict pain or discomfort). On the other, we have trainers who will jump through hoops to avoid aversives – or won’t use them at all.

 

And these two camps are hardly on speaking terms with one another. 

 

And yet, people change camps. 

 

Frequently. Not as in jumping back-and-forth multiple times, but as in many people choosing to leave one camp and seek out the other.

 

And that transition intrigues me. Specifically because I'm interested in understanding how we might be able to lower the threshold so that it's easier to make that transition. 

 

Since I'm not a dog trainer myself, and I'm not that active on social media, don't know that much about the experiences of these cross-over trainers, but I recently conducted a poll in a Facebook Group to find out more about that journey - and I had some insights that I thought were valuable enough to share. 

 

 

Until next time, take care, 

 

//Karolina