Choose the right person to train your dog
As a dog trainer, it’s rare for my clients to ask what will happen to their dog whilst in my care. They hand over the leash with blind trust, unaware that dog training is completely unregulated, requiring no licensure, no minimum education requirements and no evaluations for basic competence. Absolutely anyone can call themselves a dog trainer and charge money for their services.
This unfortunate consumer protection issue has resulted in a flood of contradictory and sometimes downright dangerous advice being disseminated online and amongst trainers themselves. It has also left the door wide open for notorious TikTok celebrity trainer Augusto Deoliveira, aka the “Dog Daddy,” to visit the Bay Area and mete out his brutal brand of dog training at an upcoming appearance in San Francisco. Deoliveira claims to save the lives of aggressive dogs on the verge of behavioral euthanasia. The dogs in his TikTok and Instagram videos show clear signs of being deeply scared. He often drags them along the ground whilst they struggle to stay with their guardian, sometimes voiding their bowels in fear.
Once he gets them close, a few collar jerks and jabs in their side provokes an explosion of aggression, exactly the kind of thing that makes a flashy 10-second viral video. With the so-called aggressive dog writhing in panic at the end of his leash, he proceeds to hang them into the air by their necks and swing them, an outdated and dangerous technique called helicoptering, usually on a choke leash to restrict their airway. The terrified dogs struggle and yelp desperately, pawing at the leash trying to breathe until finally they give up and stop moving. At this point, Deoliveira claims victory. While the helpless animal sits panting, exhausted at his feet, he announces he has tamed the savage beast and “saved” them from certain death. For the layperson, it’s easy to buy into the hype. A lunging, aggressive dog suddenly starts behaving, but for an educated dog trainer or savvy guardian, the overt animal abuse is plain to see.
Although we have eliminated corporal punishment from our school systems to great effect, we have not yet extended the same courtesy to man’s best friend. But as public outrage builds, leading animal welfare and training organizations like the Pet Professional Guild have released public position statements raising the alarm. They warn of the public safety risk created by Deoliveira’s methods. A dog that is punished with pain for growling remembers the experience and is more likely to go straight to biting next time.
Deoliveira travels the world holding classes in secret to avoid interventions from police and animal welfare organizations. Animal welfare advocates routinely locate him and protest outside his events. The resulting public pressure forced cancellation of the Australia, Italy and United Kingdom legs of his current world tour. Advocacy group Stop Dog Daddy San Francisco will protest outside his next event Saturday and be on hand to provide support and ethical dog training advice.
Marin Humane strongly urges the public to be smart consumers. Ask your trainer, “What will happen to my dog if they get things right? What will happen to my dog if they get it wrong?” If the answers make you feel uncomfortable, keep shopping. Any “Dog Daddy” ticket holders having second thoughts about attending are encouraged to get in touch with our behavior and training team. We can refer you to competent trainers who will treat you and your dog with respect and empathy.
Christina Cambie is a certified dog training instructor at Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Go to marinhumane.org, find us on social media @marinhumane, or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.