Cog-Dog Radio Coercion with Adam Skandarani
Jul 27, 2021
In a thought-provoking discussion, Adam Skandarani, a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor from Massachusetts and owner of Flash of Brilliance Dog Training, dives into the complexities of coercion in dog training. He shares personal stories about his dog, Flash, and the struggles faced in competition obedience. Adam critiques coercive methods, advocating for positive training environments. Additionally, he highlights the importance of understanding each dog's unique needs and the emotional bonds that shape effective training, all while promoting kindness and ethical considerations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Breakdown Linked to Dental Pain
- Adam Skandarani shares how his dog Flash's dumbbell retrieve broke down over eight months despite various training attempts.
- The decline was linked to pain from severe dental issues, unknown at first due to subtle symptoms.
Coercion Harms Trust and Behavior
- Desperation in trainers often leads to trying coercion like force fetch or withholding food, which harms trust and the dog-human bond.
- Even seemingly mild coercion can feel icky and worsen behavior, highlighting need for ethical boundaries.
Dental Surgery Revealed Root Cause
- Flash had 13 teeth removed due to malformations and gingival hyperplasia causing severe oral pain.
- This extensive dental surgery explained his avoidance of fetching behaviors linked to mouth pain.