Dog training channels

[Levistico]

What are your favourite/go to YouTube dog training channels? I recently discovered “Happy Hounds”, which I really like (force-free/positive reinforcement only) and have been using successfully to teach my dog “leave it” after a horrible human poo eating incident at a picnic site recently 🤮. But I’d love to hear about more good channels, and equally about others to avoid.

Oooh, intriguing! Thank you, will do that. I bought his puppy book which seemed to give sensible advice

Oh-oh. I can't delete my above post. Should I be worried?

I wouldn't be - MN will give you the option to delete if his team gets wind of it, don't worry!

So basically I just wonder if dog trainers in general are ever willing to acknowledge that certain breeds are not able to be, for want of a better term, reprogrammed, to override their inbred need to do a particular job... It would be interesting to see them work with an Anatolian, Maremma or Komondor and try to really get inside its mind from a handling perspective.

All dog trainers should acknowledge the predatory motor pattern of dogs. If that is used for training and motivating then this will be more successful. Some trainers will have more experience and knowledge of some breeds than others

I'm not saying they can't be trained - we do know someone who did obedience with her Pyrenean, it can be done with the LGD's but it takes a lot of commitment from the owner.

We once had an acquaintance, a poodle man, who believed he could "train" our boy Pyrenean. After a single outdoor training session he concluded that our dog was so stupid he didn't even know his own name. We meanwhile, were trying not to laugh. The dog was bonded to us, he listened to us, he understood us but this guy wasn't part of the flock, thus he was being completely tuned-out and ignored. Because to LGD their flock is everything. We have complete trust in our PMD and they in us.

This is why I am curious as to whether any of the YouTube trainers have videos of working with LGD, because to get the best out of them you need to understand their mindset.

With LGD the prey drive is extremely low and they are bred for this so presumably that makes a difference as to how to get the best out of them in training, assuming that the trainer/handler has this knowledge...

I'm on the fence with him. Arrogant-yes-also uses aversive training. What do you dislike about him? I'm just interested in other peoples opinions.

I think the main problem is that in the UK, there are very few LGD around. Most people haven't heard of them as we don't tend to have the land or need them to work the land and protect their flock. They are absolutely fascinating to learn about though. I spent some time fostering a young Anatolian X and that was eye opening. He came from Greece but that's another thread. I did tons of research on LGD because of him. Amazing dogs.

Also, I don't think most trainers will have much, if any, experience with them other than textbook stuff. There just aren't enough around.

Can I ask how your dog treats visiting family members or friends who visit I frequently? Does he guard if you tell him it's ok - or again will he make up his own mind?

Ditto Sighthounds
They will come back with a mouthful of small rodent that they have stalked and caught independently of any human intervention.

Their hunting is hardwired and getting them back when they are stalking isn’t easy as no food is as “ Rewarding “ as the catching of rodents.

I don't agree with any use of aversive training, so he's an automatic "no" for me.

As I said above, I'm reluctant to say much because his legal team are very good at what they do and have threatened people (on here) before for criticising his methods. MN basically told me I had to remove my post or I could expect legal action - and I know I wasn't the only one.

They totally accept people provided we are okay with someone being here. Because they're a natural guard, not trained to guard, they are very good at instinctively knowing right from wrong. Our dogs have all (and the new pup is our eighth PMD) been friendly and welcoming towards visitors. If it's someone they've met before it is perfectly safe to leave them unsupervised. Obviously if it's a stranger to them, like someone doing work in the house, we wouldn't leave them alone with the person but I can honestly say that none of our PMD have ever grumbled at anyone within or around our home. They recognise familiar people that they see out and about and that includes neighbours etc.

You can't really "tell" them to guard, it is in them from birth so they do it instinctively and you should never encourage them to be guardy. They are very subtle about it, they don't make it obvious but you totally know they are in control and would protect you if you needed them to. They should not be overtly aggressive and we've been lucky that ours have all had pretty bomb proof temperaments.

This!!!
And any dog trainer whose response to negative feedback is to jump to their legal team is one to avoid like the plague!

I wouldn't let him within a mile of my dogs!

I don't see how they could take legal action really when they are being openly critical of The Dogs Trust, the RSPCA and the methods of other dog trainers by name including Victoria Stilwell... However, I am glad you've warned us to be careful. Thanks.

What I just can't get past with dog trainers and training is how much abusive practice is tolerated and even promoted!

Look at Charlotte Dujardin and what's just happened in the dressage world. What she did was wrong for sure. Yet everyday we see dog trainers promoting and teaching far worse and crueler techniques on our dogs. Then we wonder why some dogs snap and bite! We need to all start calling it what it is. Abuse! And stop promoting these techniques.

@Pyreneansylvie I'm not sure it would go anywhere either, but he is excellent at PR and social media, and knows exactly how to work the algorithm etc. in his favour.

There was a thread here a few years ago about him and a few people posted to say they didn't agree with his methods - and a lot to the posts ended up "withdrawn".

Love this guy
If Billy Connolly was a dog trainer....

m.youtube.com/user/glasgowdogtrainer

He is proudly force free but admits that was his background initially and he has a massive rescue dog that had huge behaviour issues that he has transformed all with force free methods.

In terms of livestock guardians I found it interesting to watch this US trainer with his rescue Caucasian shepherd, Kevin. There is a series of videos. He does use aversives including an e collar but he seems a lot more properly balanced than many people who use that label and in this video he is using food and play and he seems to really 'get' Kevin and their bond is lovely to see.

caucasian shepherd training you youtube video

I accidentally have a livestock guardian, a Mioritic sheepdog mix who we rescued not knowing that's what he is. He definitely is not like a lab, a goldie or a spaniel. His guarding is very instinctive and he is just not as obedient and people pleasing as those breeds for all the training I have tried over and above what most people do with their dogs. I have just had to accept he will never have 100% reliable recall and I need to manage that.

Sorry link didn't work

m.youtube.com/watch?v=x4AqQmgHJjM

@ThePure
Thank you. I will check that out.

I love Mioritic dogs! I bet your boy is gorgeous!

Yes, I think you really only understand the LGD mind when you actually live with one. I can tell people until I'm blue in the face that my dogs won't do recall but they never believe me. It's always "you can train them like any other dog". But you really can't. They are free spirits.

We've had one we could trust off the lead, three we could allow off occasionally if we were careful and it was very quiet but with three of them, no way. They were never going to be safe off lead because if they saw a speck in the distance they would be gone, running off to investigate it. So we did miles and miles of long-lead walking. But that's just the nature of the beast with LGD. I love em for their wild souls.

Well obviously I think he's gorgeous...

I was a force trainer. I used fear and pain. Then I adopted a rescue for which that made her worse. Dangerously worse. So I went looking for another way. FF training changed our lives.

Some of the best trainers I know have come from this background.

@ThePure

He really is lovely ❤

LGD are the bestest dogs ever (said with absolutely no bias whatsoever...😉)

What methods do you see that are worse than whipping while a horse tries to dodge the whip?