No One Learns When They're Scared

The first time I walked into a dog training class, I was overwhelmed. Not by the dogs—but by the culture. There were expectations, rules, corrections. A sense that obedience was the goal and anything less was failure.

Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of dogs. I’ve studied the science. I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve learned from some of the most compassionate teachers—both human and canine—I’ve ever known.

Through it all, one thing has become crystal clear: I don’t want dogs to obey out of fear. I want them to feel safe enough to learn.

I know aversive tools can change behavior. I’ve seen it. I’ve also seen the fallout: the shutdown, the confusion, the trust that takes so long to rebuild. I’ve been the person who got it wrong, then had to earn my dog’s trust back. That changes you.

So when people ask why I train the way I do, the answer is simple: Because I believe dogs are sentient, social beings doing their best in a world they didn’t choose. They deserve patience, not pressure. Guidance, not control.

This is about asking better questions:

• What’s underneath this behavior?

• How can we meet this dog’s needs and help them succeed in our world?

• How do we build a relationship rooted in trust, not tension?

  
  

There’s a lot of debate right now about what qualifies as “acceptable” in dog training—and that debate matters. In an unregulated industry, where trainers are trusted as authorities and the well-being of our best friends is on the line, we have a responsibility to get it right.

At the end of the day, training with empathy isn’t just kinder—it’s more effective, more sustainable, and ultimately, more rewarding for everyone involved. Isn't that right, Hasselback?

Hasselback, my current office dog at Riverdale Animal Shelter