According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), evidence supports the use of reward-based methods for all canine training. AVSAB promotes interactions with animals based on compassion, respect, and scientific evidence.

Reward-based learning offers the most advantages and least harm to the learner’s welfare. Research supports the efficacy of reward-based training in addressing unwanted and challenging behaviors.

There is no evidence that aversive training is necessary for dog training or behavior modification.

Studies have shown correlation between the use of aversive training and long-term behavior challenges like:

• aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs and

• anxiety related behaviors like avoidance and excitability.

Teaching with punishment also inhibits relationships and makes it more difficult to identify pain in dogs. The risks far outweigh the benefits when we can achieve better results with positive reinforcement and welfare based training!

At Spot On Dog Training, we are committed to using reward-based methods and humane training with every single dog we encounter. This means you will never see us use or endorse aversive collars such as shock or "e" collars, slip leads, choke chains, or prong collars.

Furthermore, we do not engage in yelling, hitting, or any kind of purposeful harm to a dog's physical or emotional welfare.