There are none so blind as those that will not see
Unless you’ve been in coma for the last 6 months, things have changed a lot in our political arena, and as I wrote in November’s “Too Woke” blog, our current state of the dog training industry mirrors our parlous politics.
Not surprisingly, the line has been drawn between those who hurt dogs for a living and those who do no harm, however what is very unsettling, was finding out recently that a particular certifying board for credentialing dog trainers, just removed their white sheets, so to speak, and came out with a position that basically said that it’s okay to use aversive methods to train dogs!
Since its inception over 20 years ago, the CCPDT, hid behind a vague position statement for trainers that was open to interpretation, meaning that it was suggested to find ways of changing the dog’s behavior before going full-metal-jacket on them! However, the real insidious part of this governing board, is that many of us who have a humane ethic are just finding out that the CCPDT is not now or ever been aligned with our core values!
What a shock, pun intended.
And now I will digress…
I recently discovered a cable station that is home to many popular retro TV series, some of which I had put on my to do list 35 years ago, but never got around to watching. One show, Family Law, had an episode that elicited a visceral response, not because it was about a dog being abused, but because it was a child being unethically treated for behavioral problems, applying the same ignorant rationalization that some professionals use for resolving dog problems that they don’t understand.
What began as grandparents suing the parents for visitation rights to see their grandchild, turned horrific when the situation was investigated and uncovered that the child was sent away to live in deplorable conditions where children were chained, deprived of food and if they disobeyed orders, they were locked in a metal box to teach them a lesson. The judge ordered the immediate release of this child so he could testify in court. At this point, I was thinking that the parents had been bamboozled into thinking that this place was a “nice resort” where their child would receive professional therapy, however, when the photos were shown to the parents, they shot back that they knew exactly the conditions, and insisted that he needed the strict discipline in order to change their teenage son to a model citizen!
When being questioned on the stand by opposing counsel whether the harsh methods worked to get compliance, the boy answered, “Of course it worked. I feared for my life!” The judge then called for a short recess which is when the boy’s mom, hugged her son and told him that she wasn’t sorry for sending him away because it was for his own good. He then hauled off and punched her in the face, Rocky Balboa style!
I figured the judge would send the kid back to the “prison resort” for being “aggressive”, however she gave sole custody rights to the grandparents.
You’re probably wondering why I was so upset, after all the boy was re-homed and his mom got a bloody nose. The problem is that this episode depicted the same kind of abuse and willful ignorance that is prevalent in the dog training industry; moreover, it echoed the pretzel-logic that is being touted by the “Make Assault Gear Available”, trainers, in much the same way this abhorrent “school” believed that they fixed a problem-child using the only tools they understand!
What should be obvious is that aggression gets more aggression (depression, learned helplessness or other symptoms of abuse and behavior suppression), and our poor dogs are often saddled with the aggression label which is justification for the the dog guardian to assault their dog or hire a “professional assaulter”.
The worst part of this is that these delusional professionals convince themselves that they are saving dogs! …
No, actually the worst part is that a trusted organization that certifies dog trainers to work with the public, like the CCPDT wants to help make assault the law!
“There are none so blind as those that will not see.”
This proverb serves as a cautionary message that implores us to avoid becoming those who are blinded by their own refusal to see.
Lady Justice is is a reminder to practice good judgment and reason in accordance with the law. Maybe one day the laws will include fairness to companion animals.
HAPPY TRAINING & ENRICHMENT
© Fran Berry CPDT-KA, UW-AAB all rights reserved 2025
