![\"\"](\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/CHarismatic.jpeg\")
True.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not all, though. I wouldn\u2019t even start there.<\/p>\n
To gather a mass of loyal viewers, you\u2019d have to offer a show that helps people develop better relationships with their dogs, shows them how to prevent and solve behaviour problems, and teaches them how to train their dogs to adapt to living with people.<\/p>\n
Besides the personality of the trainer, I can think of three topics that are equally important when planning a successful dog training TV show. In my mind, they\u2019re all necessary conditions.<\/p>\n
Let’s call them the three E’s.<\/p>\n
The show needs to be:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Entertaining<\/li>\n
- Educational<\/li>\n
- Ethical<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I’ll take a moment to discuss these crucial fundamentals.<\/span><\/p>\n
TV dog shows should be Entertaining<\/h5>\n
If it\u2019s not engaging, people won\u2019t watch it.<\/p>\n
This is a dilemma. Some modern humane dog training techniques are mind-numbingly boring to watch. Systematic desensitization<\/a> may take hours, even days, and it may seem like nothing is happening.<\/em><\/p>\n
Sort of like watching paint dry.<\/p>\n
However, with creative editing, a charismatic host and powerful storytelling, that problem can perhaps be overcome. We might even make a thing out of it:<\/p>\n
“look how boring and time consuming this SD\/ CC procedure<\/a> is! But it works, folks!”<\/p>\n
And we might also refocus, rather than solving behavioural problems (which is what most dog TV shows are about), our<\/em> show might be about how to prevent<\/em> them, or simply about how to go about training animals. How to get<\/em> desired behaviour, not how to get rid of<\/em> undesired behaviour. This has two advantages:<\/p>\n
- \n
- There’s heaps of fun and creative training procedures that could be showcased.<\/li>\n
- In some cases, undesired behaviour melts away and shrinks as the desired repertoire is increased – without even having to address the problem head on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Producers, please don\u2019t show the trainer intentionally provoking animals into fearful or aggressive emotional states.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Entertaining.jpeg\")
TV dog shows should be entertaining.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The snarling dog lunging at the trainer may be exciting to watch, even entertaining to some. The problem is that it violates the other two conditions.<\/em> In addition, it\u2019s dangerous. People on TV being confrontational to dogs get bitten, and the viewers watch and learn. The \u201cdon\u2019t try this at home\u201d warning is likely completely ignored.<\/p>\n
Also, animals in highly aroused emotional states may change their behaviour without actually learning what\u2019s intended. They may stop growling because they\u2019re afraid or have given up, not because they\u2019ve learned that they\u2019re “not supposed to growl\u201d. In other words, the problem behaviour may still be there, it\u2019s just that we\u2019re not seeing it in the current context. It will just resurface some other time.<\/p>\n
Which brings us to the next fundamental.<\/p>\n
TV dog shows should be Educational<\/h5>\n
If you\u2019re airing a TV dog training show, you are an educator.<\/p>\n
You educate, whether you realize it or not.<\/em><\/p>\n
People will imitate whatever the charismatic TV dog trainer does to deal with behavioural problems. In my opinion, dog TV shows need to step up and take responsibility for the training techniques that they advocate.<\/p>\n
Is there a need for education, you might ask?<\/p>\n
Well, yes. A big need, in fact. In the US, about 1-2 people out of 1000 gets bitten by a dog severely enough to require a visit to the emergency room, every year.<\/p>\n
Most are children. Bitten in the home.<\/p>\n
Several important scientific studies have examined the correlation between confrontational, punishment-based dog training techniques and aggression \/ misbehaviour.<\/p>\n
One found that \u201cdogs trained using punishment are no more obedient than those trained by other means \u2013 and they exhibit increased numbers of potentially problematic behaviours.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
Another study affirmed that confrontational methods increase aggression.<\/em><\/p>\n
In other words, punish your dog and he is more likely to bite.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Contrary to the belief expressed by some TV dog personalities, dog aggression towards owners is not dominance-related but often an effect of inadvertent training.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Educational.jpeg\")
TV dog shows should be educational.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n There is a clearly a crying need to educate the public on how to manage dog behaviour. Luckily, there are science-based, proven, and humane techniques that effectively reduce aggressive behaviour.<\/p>\n
Producers, please don\u2019t show confrontational techniques that risk aggravating the problem behaviour, create new problems \u2013 or result in more dog bites.<\/em><\/p>\n
TV dog shows should be Ethical<\/h5>\n
This condition may be the last on the list, but it\u2019s as important as the other two.<\/p>\n
Dog training techniques should be chosen with the animal\u2019s best interest at heart.<\/p>\n
Why? For three reasons:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Out of courtesy to the animal, so that he may learn to cooperate without being bullied or hurt. He\u2019ll be better off and the quality of the dog-human relationship will improve.<\/li>\n
- To reduce the risk of injuries, as discussed above.<\/li>\n
- To increase children\u2019s prosocial skills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If a dog trainer on TV is charismatic, compelling, and a good educator, people will start copying the techniques. In turn, they will model those techniques to their children. In other words, the TV dog trainer will indirectly influence kid\u2019s kindness and caring towards animals. And it\u2019s a well-known fact that if kids learn to be nice to animals, they become nicer to people, too.<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/illis.se\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/Ethical.jpeg\")
TV dog shows should be ethical.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Producers, please don\u2019t show TV dog trainers intentionally causing pain, discomfort of suffering to dogs.<\/em><\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t benefit the animal, it\u2019s unethical, dangerous and often ineffective. The audience gets desensitized \u2013 and children don\u2019t get the added benefit of improved humane attitudes.<\/p>\n
If you are that TV producer, give this some serious thought. The ethical perspective is not some insignificant detail \u2013 it could actually make the world a better place, and perhaps put a dent in that depressing statistic on dog bites.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h5>\n
Dog training shows influence how people interact with their dogs, and careful thought should therefore go into considering what kind of viewer learning is desired. Confrontational methods may be entertaining to some viewers, but they increase aggression, are unethical and often ineffective. In fact, there are at least 20 problems with punishment. <\/a><\/p>\n
If, on the other hand, the show is ethical and educational, dog aggression may be reduced, resulting in fewer relinquishments and dog bites. In addition, children may develop prosocial skills by learning to treat animals kindly.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Are there any dog shows that fulfil all criteria, which are Entertaining, Educational and Ethical? I can think of three, but I\u2019m sure there are others:<\/p>\n
It\u2019s me or the dog<\/a> \u2013 with Victoria Stilwell<\/p>\n