Choke chains and whips...

SinceAiM was founded at the beginning of 1996, we have come across some awful advice being given to owners on how to take control of their animals. The advice ranges from giving sound beatings to strangulation and starvation.

We are very disappointed by the numbers of people that are devised by behaviourists and trainers to use violence and aggression for solving schooling and behaviour problems in all species of pet animals.

As common as muck
The two most common forms of brutal training advocated in this country are choke chain for dogs and riding crops for horses, another form is starting to becoming more common and that is the electric shock collar.

In recent years science has made tremendous strides in the understanding of animal behaviour, we simply don't need to use force or aggression to get an animal to do what we want. Yet still the advice from an awful lot of animal trainers involves the use of physical fear and pain.

Choke chains
The big problem with the choke chain is that unless you apply sufficient force to inflict severe pain on the dog, they simply do not work. We talk to at least 5 people a week who tell us that they have tried and failed with a choke chain to prevent a dog pulling on the lead. Not to mention the physical damage they can do to a dog's neck. More information on choke chains

Riding crops
If you ask an average rider would they use a crop on their horse, they would probably say that they only 'show it' to the horse. Imagine what must of happened to the horse during their schooling if the mere sight of a whip makes them buckle under and do what they have been told?

Empty threats
What both the choke chainand the riding crop have in common is that in order for them to be effective the animal must first be conditioned with them so they understand what will happen if they don't respond in the future.

If, after conditioning, the 'threat' isn't heeded then the owner must inflict punishment otherwise chains and whips become a totally empty threat and that puts the animal in a position where they know that they can get their own way. Exactly the opposite to the desired effect.

So, what's the alternative
The behaviour of all animals that we keep as companions has been extensively studied over the last 50 years. We know enough about their behaviour to get our own wayand have a mutual respect with them. We don't need to resort to the old fashioned methods of domination and violence.

For horses there are a quite a few books on how to school without aggression. For dogs there are literally hundreds of books on training with respect and rewards, most dog magazines available in the high street only advocate gentle methods of schooling.

Animals in Mindproduces a booklet that explains how to school your dog in the basic exercises of sit, down, come, leave and stay, as well as build a mutually beneficial relationship with your dog.

Very often animals are accused of having behaviour problems because they respond badly to situations that they can't cope with, if we apply the same yardstick to people then surely people who consider it necessary to use violence against a creature with considerably less intelligence than they have, has a very serious behaviour problem.

If you have any questions or comments on any part of our work, please contact us:
Animals in Mind, 31 Magdalen Way, Worle, North Somerset, BS22 7PG
01934 516714 - email us