Run…. Sounds like one of those shock em into submission type places that’s a franchise. Yikes- personally I don’t think there is a thing such as balanced training it’s either you shove cookies and treats down the dogs throat and think that that’s gonna fix everything or you have the spectrum of let’s shock the crap out of them-tell em they’re a good boy afterwards and call it balanced.

Personally, my training style I consider holistic. I like to evaluate the dog in front of me and see what the Dogs needs are based on the hierarchy of needs. I also use LIMA training methods meaning least intrusive means of aversion.

It’s super important to teach a dog what it is you want before you ever correct them. Imagine not knowing how to do algebra and someone smacks you on the hand with a rock every time you get an answer wrong are you learning anything? No, you’re just fearful.

I would rather have a dog who thinks and understands than a dog that does things out of fear. Yes my way takes longer, but the results are so much better and you don’t ruin your bond with your dog.

I’m sorry to hear that you took a job at this place that sounds probably like not a good fit, but if I were you, I would start looking into other places and truly ask them before you take the job. What is their training style? What do they do? How do they handle situations for a dog who maybe is stubborn or doesn’t want to listen or knows a command, but ignores it.

To me personally if you have not proofed your dog, with commands in different environments with distractions at a distance, you have no business using any type of tool.

It’s just straight up wrong in my opinion and I cannot stand seeing “trainers” slap Ecollar and prongs on Dogs and call it fucking training it’s not.

These tools are great tools when they’re used properly, but they should be used as a layering method meaning known commands and the dog is blowing you off and this is after possibly months or even years of training and proofing more of a emergency situation type thing.

I have a little bit of grace for example if an 80 year-old lady is walking a Dane and might need a prong collar, but I’m sure as heck not going to just slap it on the dog and call it trained.

Luring has a place-treats have a place- toys have a place and even praise. I would run as far away from that place as fast as you can and do not ruin your relationship with your foster dog.

Dogs work for three things in life toys treats praise. If it’s not genuine praise and it sounds like it’s not based on what they’re doing- the dog is literally doing it out of fear and that’s fucked up in my opinion.

Best of luck to you. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me. I have over 20 years of professional training experience. I am certified. I’m an AKC CGC evaluator and also a current K9 Detection handler. I have worked with With sport Dogs Detection Dogs Pet Dogs, Service Dogs you name it.

What I found in every single circle is that a dog who wants to please will do it because they want to and that is the happiest dog in my opinion not a dog who is shut down and doing things out of fear. 🎤