Something that irritates me...

A lot of training programmes, such as The Dog Whisperer (using this as an example, not because of my negative views on it, but because it's popular), have warnings beforehand to advice audiences not to replicate the techniques used.

So why do people feel that it's alright for them to be going straight over to their dogs, carrying out these potentially dangerous training methods?   

 Because they are the 'experts'?

Hmph!

As far as I'm concerned, if a dog programme has to warn people not to replicate the techniques, I'm steering clear of them.

It makes no sense when it's a dog training programme. People will be watching hoping to learn something so surely the methods used should be things that people can use. Don't even get me started on cesar milan   

Well, his programme is one of the main culprits. Because he's famous, people assume that his way is the best way. Now I'm not the type of person to rubbish somebody else's opinion, but I don't agree with his methods. Also, although qualifications don't mean everything, they do mean a lot and teach invaluable information regarding the health and safety of a dog.

Caroline wrote: Don't even get me started on cesar milan   

You'll easily get me started on him!  

A good point. If a certain dog-training trick is so great but is preceded by a "don't try this at home, folks" then where is the benefit? I can only think that it is a) to big up the practitioner who is not like ordinary mortals and/or b) to prevent any law suits being brought against the TV company.

A bit of both in this case, I think.

He's constantly hedging his way around accusations that he deliberately deceives his audiences, making out that the 'amazing' results he gets in his episodes are achieved within an hour, simply by letting the dog know who's in charge and asserting dominance. If that's the case, why did the same audiences then see him deliberately hiding a shock collar remote behind his back in an episode, with the dog cowering and shaking because of it?

I think he and his producers know full well that there are methods used in that programme which, when tried by other people, could result in disastrous consequences.

"deliberately hiding a shock collar remote behind his back in an episode, with the dog cowering and shaking because of it? "

that is just disgusting - on ALL levels.

I can't abide the use of shock collars or prong collars. I just can't see any situation where they will make things better. In fact they both produce fear, and fear makes a dog very unpredictable!

Found the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GptupfqLYwc

The dog was in clear distress, attempting to hide behind his legs from the cat, as he'd associated the shock with the cat's presence, to which Millan responded by forcing the dog to face said cat. As the dog is yelping a few seconds later and attempting to run away, Millan starts using the remote.

He claims that the end result is 'avoidance with submission'. Translate that to 'terrified and hiding'.

The only thing he mentions about the shock is 'giving correction'.