WHEN EVERYONE ELSE THINKS THEY’RE A VETERINARY / DOG-TRAINING, OR BEHAVIOUR EXPERT!!
It often makes me (& others in my profession) cringe, or become irritable when I come across posts on Facebook groups & forums etc. where people are asking for advice on matters which are really topics for the vet, or a qualified behaviourist to address.
In these days of social media, it seems that people would rather take to Facebook & Google etc. to resolve a medical, or behaviour-related query with their pet!
FRAUDSTERS, OVER-CONFIDENCE, INSURANCE & RISK OF LEGAL ACTION!!
Just recently, I saw a post where someone was seeking behaviour advice on Facebook – well all of a sudden, all the ‘behaviour experts’ descended on the post offering their advice – all well-meaning, but unfortunately totally not in a position to be stepping in to ‘help’. One person even said they do not have any behaviour qualifications but was willing to help & wouldn’t charge!! Others were dog people who declared that they had owned dogs all their life, always had that particular breed, maybe regularly walked or looked after dogs for someone else, had done some training with their own dog, just ‘knew dogs’, or were great with dogs, etc. ……………..but none of these people had any qualifications for behaviour help!
So much harm can be done by people claiming to be able to help, but who have no formal qualifications, nor experience. Especially in cases of aggression, resource-guarding jumping-up……..the things I see people post online to offer their advice!! Oh my goodness!!! Some of it is even taken from watching You Tube videos etc. & some of the advice is downright dangerous & can either worsen a behaviour, or give rise to even more serious problems in the fallout of terribly incorrect ‘advice’.
I should note here that as with anyone in a position of working with the general public & animals, it is also vital to be properly insured & particularly if doing behaviour work, to also be adequately covered with professional indemnity. Dog behavioural matters & health conditions are not exempt from becoming legal issues, if something were to go wrong…….but people are oblivious to how they could end up being sued by offering advice, they are not in a position to give!!
The same gripe goes for people who suddenly class themselves as trainers / behaviourists because they have owned dogs for X number of years & decide that they would like to suddenly now offer their services to the general public, without even bothering to undertake any study in this field.
DID YOU KNOW?:
I mean, why would anyone in their right mind hire an electrician, or a dentist etc. who wasn't suitably qualified, let alone part with money, to deal with things which could be potentially damaging / dangerous etc. if not knowing what they are doing?
THE POINT OF THIS POST:
The point of this post, although it may come across as passive-aggressive / unprofessional / arrogant, is to consider that the real qualified professionals, the vets, trainers, behaviourists etc. don’t spend years & years & lots of money studying & taking exams, just for their expertise to be undermined, or undervalued.
For example, if I am unable to take a behaviour case, or fit a training client into a class, then I refer the client on to another suitably qualified person in my profession & never to someone who is just eager to be like the ‘trainer’ off the TV & has no mention on their website etc. of having studied & therefore taking seriously, the undertaking of entering into charging money for dealing with the responsibility of helping a client & their pet with possibly quite serious issues – either health / behavioural.
To summarise:
....................aaaaaannnndddd breathe!!! :)
It often makes me (& others in my profession) cringe, or become irritable when I come across posts on Facebook groups & forums etc. where people are asking for advice on matters which are really topics for the vet, or a qualified behaviourist to address.
In these days of social media, it seems that people would rather take to Facebook & Google etc. to resolve a medical, or behaviour-related query with their pet!
- The vet should ALWAYS be the first port of call with anything medical, even just a niggling doubt about something, concerning about the pet.
- This is also the case with behaviour problems in a pet, in order to rule out, or indeed factor in, any medical cause underlying a change, or worsening in behaviour.
- Without actually seeing the dog, no-one should be making a ‘diagnosis’, or assumption as to what is wrong.
- For matters which could be serious, asking Google, or other members on a social media group, could spell disaster, but also takes up valuable time which could be spent in the presence of an actual professional who is well-qualified to help.
- Time could be critical & by delaying & trying other things which other people suggest, could make things worse, or tip the condition into being past treatable.
- Unbeknown to the owner, the dog, for example, could well be in an already grave medical condition e.g. they could be bleeding internally, so waiting to see if other Facebook users make a comment which they are just hoping to hear, i.e. ‘don’t worry it’ll be this, or probably that’, or ‘my dog had that, just let them be & they’ll be fine’,
- or practically even worse!!..... advising them to give the dog a medication meant for humans,
FRAUDSTERS, OVER-CONFIDENCE, INSURANCE & RISK OF LEGAL ACTION!!
Just recently, I saw a post where someone was seeking behaviour advice on Facebook – well all of a sudden, all the ‘behaviour experts’ descended on the post offering their advice – all well-meaning, but unfortunately totally not in a position to be stepping in to ‘help’. One person even said they do not have any behaviour qualifications but was willing to help & wouldn’t charge!! Others were dog people who declared that they had owned dogs all their life, always had that particular breed, maybe regularly walked or looked after dogs for someone else, had done some training with their own dog, just ‘knew dogs’, or were great with dogs, etc. ……………..but none of these people had any qualifications for behaviour help!
So much harm can be done by people claiming to be able to help, but who have no formal qualifications, nor experience. Especially in cases of aggression, resource-guarding jumping-up……..the things I see people post online to offer their advice!! Oh my goodness!!! Some of it is even taken from watching You Tube videos etc. & some of the advice is downright dangerous & can either worsen a behaviour, or give rise to even more serious problems in the fallout of terribly incorrect ‘advice’.
I should note here that as with anyone in a position of working with the general public & animals, it is also vital to be properly insured & particularly if doing behaviour work, to also be adequately covered with professional indemnity. Dog behavioural matters & health conditions are not exempt from becoming legal issues, if something were to go wrong…….but people are oblivious to how they could end up being sued by offering advice, they are not in a position to give!!
The same gripe goes for people who suddenly class themselves as trainers / behaviourists because they have owned dogs for X number of years & decide that they would like to suddenly now offer their services to the general public, without even bothering to undertake any study in this field.
DID YOU KNOW?:
- A lot of studying, assessments, attending courses & years of gaining experience & annually attending seminars, workshops etc. for CPD (Continued Professional Development) goes into the process of becoming a professional trainer & behaviourist….....or at least there should be.
- This industry unfortunately is not yet regulated, which means any old Tom, Dick or Harry can suddenly call themselves a trainer & start advertising as such.
- Training & behavioural knowledge go hand in hand,..……..or again, it should do.
- Knowledge of canine body language & micro-signs of stress in a dog, is vital to ensure clients’ dogs / puppies are in a suitable emotional state for learning – to the untrained eye, missing such things can result in major problems.
- Are the people offering training etc. for young puppies, aware of arranging safe & supervised socialisation for puppies in a class & recognising problem areas & how to help the owner with them?
- I often hear dreadful tales of rugby-scrum-type puppy classes / or puppy romp sessions, where all pups are allowed off lead at once to run amok & bundle each other unfettered & unprotected, as well as awful handling games such as ‘pass the puppy!’.
- Whilst the humans think this is all great fun & is doing a great job ‘socialising’ their puppy, those of us who know better, know this is disastrous, can lead to behavioural problems & totally not the definition of a careful socialisation experience.
- Can a ‘wannabe’ trainer help with complex issues, such as resource guarding? Reactivity to dogs or people? Help with pulling on the lead or jumping up? or the different reasons why a dog may do these behaviours? or do they just offer knee-jerk, or ‘one-size fits all’, corrective techniques, which are often aversive & perhaps learned from watching a TV programme (which unless the television company has done proper research into consulting qualified professionals, often shows ‘quick-fix’, old-fashioned aversive methods, delivered by ‘trainers’ (with no formal study etc.) who I certainly wouldn’t allow near my dog if I was the client!).
- The drama & entertainment value of the show is what is aimed for & no consideration given one little bit to the dog.
- Hence, I guess why so many people become armchair experts, because so many people have dogs & the proper disclaimers are never mentioned on the programme, as to the steps to take before seeking proper behaviour help & it almost encourages people to just try dealing with serious problems themselves.
- Can an unqualified, inexperienced ‘trainer’ offer other ways of training something, or tweak a technique, all-reward-based of course, to help dogs or owners who are having difficulty with something – i.e. is the trainer conscious of how different people (& dogs, breeds, temperaments), learn in different ways?
I mean, why would anyone in their right mind hire an electrician, or a dentist etc. who wasn't suitably qualified, let alone part with money, to deal with things which could be potentially damaging / dangerous etc. if not knowing what they are doing?
THE POINT OF THIS POST:
The point of this post, although it may come across as passive-aggressive / unprofessional / arrogant, is to consider that the real qualified professionals, the vets, trainers, behaviourists etc. don’t spend years & years & lots of money studying & taking exams, just for their expertise to be undermined, or undervalued.
For example, if I am unable to take a behaviour case, or fit a training client into a class, then I refer the client on to another suitably qualified person in my profession & never to someone who is just eager to be like the ‘trainer’ off the TV & has no mention on their website etc. of having studied & therefore taking seriously, the undertaking of entering into charging money for dealing with the responsibility of helping a client & their pet with possibly quite serious issues – either health / behavioural.
To summarise:
- If you have a query regarding your pet’s health – ask your vet.
- If you have a query regarding your pet’s behaviour – see your vet first, to give your pet a thorough check to ensure nothing medical is underlying their behaviour.
- Afterwards, consult a qualified, professional, reward-based behaviourist.
- If your dog needs training, consult a qualified, professional, reward-based trainer / behaviourist.
- If you want to become a dog trainer or behaviourist, please undertake relevant study & practical courses, get assessed by a professional body to ensure you are in a position to go ahead & provide a reputable service.
- Take regular CPD (Continued Professional Development), to keep your knowledge base up to date & expanded with new material.
- If you are neither a vet, nor a qualified behaviourist, then absolutely you should not be giving out advice over the internet, or anywhere for that matter.
- Do not administer human medications to your dog, just because so & so on the internet says it’s okay to do so.
- If you are looking for a trainer / behaviourist, check out their qualifications & credentials.
- If someone is asking for recommendations, then recommend them to a body of qualified, professionals, or to someone you know who is suitably qualified.….not to your friend, nor Aunty’s third cousin removed, just because they love dogs!
- Assessments & qualifications are there for a reason – it means the person who has invested their time & money to gain them & also to gain relevant practical experience under mentor-ship, knows what they are doing….much more so than ‘Sally’ down the road who has just gone to a few dog training lessons herself, ages ago with her puppy, or partakes in some sort of recreational pastime with their dog!
....................aaaaaannnndddd breathe!!! :)