An Examination of Ethics In Pet Training with Dr. Zazie Todd and Dr. Eduardo Fernandez

Join me for a live chat with Dr. Zazie Todd and Dr. Eduardo Fernandez. We’ll stream the session directly to our PPG Facebook page via Zoom.

A few academic perspectives to consider and points of discussion that will be touched on

• Ethical Frameworks: A review of some of the ethical frameworks
• Historical Context: Briefly touch upon the evolution of dog training methods and the ethical shifts that have occurred over time, from more traditional, dominance-based approaches to modern, science-based, and force-free methods.
• Professional Codes of Ethics: We will examine existing codes of ethics from professional pet training organizations
• Research Ethics: The ethics of researching pet training, including informed consent (for owners), minimizing harm to animals, and data integrity.

A few operational perspectives:

• Client Communication and Expectations: How do we ethically manage client expectations, especially when their goals might conflict with the pet’s welfare?
• Methodology Choices: A Deep Dive into the Ethical Considerations of Selecting Specific Training Methods. When is a particular method ethically justifiable? What are the potential welfare implications of using aversive tools (e.g., shock collars, prong collars) versus solely positive reinforcement?
• Long-Term Impact on Pets: Discuss the operational implications of training choices on a dog’s long-term behavior, emotional state, and relationship with their owner.
• Addressing Problem Behaviors: How do we ethically approach training for challenging behaviors like aggression, fear, or separation anxiety, where the welfare of both the pet and the human is at stake?
• Trainer Competence and Continuing Education: The ethical imperative for trainers to be knowledgeable, skilled, and committed to ongoing learning to provide the best and most humane care.
• Business Ethics: Ethical considerations in running a pet training business, such as advertising, pricing, guarantees, and managing conflicts of interest.

Register now to access the Zoom link, or watch this live on Facebook from the main PPG Page.