Welcome to my channel! I'm Alexandra, a former Schutzhund/IPG- and pet dog trainer. In recent years, I have freelanced as a Project Manager, Lead Content Writer (books, video scripts, SEO texts & social media articles), Dog Breed Consultant, Training Coach, and Head of Operations for K9 businesses like Fenrir Canine Leaders, DIYK9 and American Standard Dog Training. Since then, I have embraced a force-free approach to dog training and consulting: The side-effects of causing pain and fear in dogs to suppress behaviors have been scientifically proven and range from increased fear and anxiety all the way to increased aggression. This channel has no association, or affiliation, with other dog trainers. It is an indipendent platform for sharing dog content, and discussing all aspects of canine ownership and dog training. If you like, join us in my private FB community "Support Group for Dog Owners (Force Free)": facebook.com/groups/1025973829177264
Agree very confusing. Owners are trusting trainers that they are being show the right way....being influenced. Balanced trainers are now using new terminology. Relationship training, Canine Mental health
Hi Alexandra- Just found this video and subscribed in less than a minute- your message and vibe is so relevant, spot on and honest. ☺️👍 My own journey to R+ training began as a sudden simple realization followed by a gentle yet persistent internal feeling. 30 years ago, I loved dogs, but didn’t know anything about training. I was working in my first job as a trainer for a (now defunct) organization, using their prong and choke collars. Again, I didn’t know much, but after a couple of years a simple thought suddenly popped into my head while on a leash walk with one of my dogs: the collar corrections were happening, but they were continuously “needed”: there was no real, sustained improvement in the leash walking skill, and there should have been, if correcting unwanted stuff was “correct”. I saw the flaw in the logic (hard not to), stopped using their punitive equipment, and focused on more dog-friendly methods, teaching *what I wanted*, in smaller steps when needed, and without any corrections. Again, I still didn’t know what I was doing, I was just feeling my way, thinking it through on my own, following my own logic and gut, watching and following what my dogs were telling me, and trying things out as I thought of them. It was great, and great fun- my dogs and I were loving it, having a blast, and they were learning easily and happily. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong- how could something so cooperative, fun and effective be wrong? But apparently it was to my then-boss. She didn’t like it, and told me (I’ll never forget it), “I’m the boss, and if I tell you to put a prong collar on a puppy, you’ll do it.” I looked at her and quietly said, “No, I won’t.” And that was it- I was out. I was very sad to leave my dogs of course, but the feeling that I was on the right track and the freedom I felt at that moment was strong. Still didn’t really know much about R+ training at that point, or even that it had a name or was a distinct training philosophy, but I was sure my instincts were right, and I was on my way. I’m so glad to see how far things have come since then. ☺️✌️❤️
Hi - thank you so much for your kind words, and for subscribing! Much respect for your decisions to flat out refuse putting prongs on puppies. Because you're right: The corrective tools and measures will always be needed once people start going down that route, it's not a one-and-done thing. To a large part because aversive training is based on suppression, not cooperation. My own journey out of my previous job went similar to yours; I flat out refused to give advice to clients with problematic dogs that relied on prong- and e-collars, and of course, shortly thereafter, I was out ;-) But HAPPY. I still remember waking up happy every day after leaving that aversive training firm. I'd say the first few days were the hardest, but then, also thanks to the support of my former team of moderators and training consultants, I quickly adapted to my new life of being finally free! It felt like a giant burden had been lifted off of my shoulders, and I soon realized that a whole new world had just opened up for me. And now, I feel privileged to making my own videos, rather than promoting my former employers' videos featuring e- and prong collars on dogs.
@@alexandradittmann8588 It’s funny how similar our backstories are. I was very happy to be set free, and like you, the freedom and happiness are what I remember most about that day. I think aversive training goes so against the grain of basic kindness and common sense that its problems are impossible to ignore for very long- at least to those of us who hear the call. From there, it’s really just a quick mental somersault to R+ where you suddenly see how easy it is to lighten our tight grips and simply start rewarding our dogs towards better behavior. Not to mention how much better it is for them, and our relationships with them. Win-win-win. ☺️❤️ I’m happy there are so many leaders, schools and organizations who teach and promote R+ now. I also have to say that, in my experience, the concepts and tenets are so simple and easy to grasp that even an old lone wolf like me was figuring it out before the schools were much of a thing, and the bibles of R+ training, (which were the only real help at the time), provided an excellent foundation on which to build knowledge and skills. Having said that, learning never ends, of course. A bit more fyi while I’m at it, if you don’t mind. This boop page is my very small private page, which I’d forgotten I was on when I responded to your video. 😜 I’m currently coming out of a few years of a professional break, and rebooting my business. My new website is currently under construction, so my only current professional online presence atm is my fbook business page: “Progressive Dog Training and Behavior Consultation.” I’d love to see you there if you care to be, and I’ll look to see if I can find you on Fbook as well. If not, I’ll continue to subscribe to you here, of course. Anyway, I enjoyed your post and our conversation, and hope to keep in touch. Take care til then, Alexandra. 🙂✌️
