The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Summer 2018 | Page 36

OPINION | RACHEL BRIX
goes on to declare “plant-based dairy alternatives are expected
to represent 40 percent of the combined total of dairy and dairy
alternative beverages within three years, up from just 25 percent
in 2016.” As a result, many large and established, yet forward-
thinking animal product-based companies are partnering with
vegan brands.
choices not only when they grocery shop or eat out, but also for
what they wear and how they are entertained. As an example,
luxury brands that have gone fur-free include Stella McCartney,
Michael Kors, Gucci, and Versace, among several others.
Moreover, growing concerns about animal testing has generated
an abundance of cruelty-free make-ups, toiletries and household
products. Cruelty-free labeling and logos like the Leaping
Bunny have made it easier for progressively aware and concerned
consumers to align their purchases with their convictions.
Because of social media and the internet, keeping the public
informed about where their food comes from is easier—and more
graphic—than ever. “Factory farms,” or concentrated animal
feeding operations (CAFOs), are not easy to define, and if you
As more and more clients/consumers become aware of the
are brave enough to Google it for more than a blink you’ll see
difference between +R and other dog training methods— and
why: there is no way to explain the
inhumane confinement and treatment
of the animals, or the inherently
“We consider ourselves animal lovers, and many of us are
violent jobs of the human workers.
The popular website One Green Planet
involved in various animal advocacy issues that align with
reports that “a 2012 nationwide [study]
our belief that dogs and perhaps even other companion
commissioned by the [ASPCA] showed
that 71 percent of Americans support
animals should be treated better. So, it follows that we
undercover investigative efforts by
would extend, or at least consider, that all animals deserve
animal welfare organizations to expose
animal abuse on industrial [factory]
to be treated better.”
farms, and 64 percent oppose making
such efforts illegal.” If factory farm
meat giants or dairy behemoths could
be put on trial as Puppy Doe’s abuser was, the testimony would
that +R is backed by science— we should expect and welcome
be similarly appalling and disturbing even though the victims are
more questions about our methods. Since +R is becoming
pigs, cows and chickens. The only difference is our perception, and increasingly popular, non-positive reinforcement trainers are
our perception is changing.
increasingly using the term “balanced” training, meaning a blend
of something on the spectrum of an Alpha Dog approach with
Just as animal food products are on the decline, expect the
+R. While dog trainers continue to define and label their training
number of trainers not committed to +R to fade as well. According philosophies, these private and public discussions are bringing
to an article by expert trainer Karen B. London, Ph.D., CAAB,
more awareness to the force-free movement. So, expect more
CPDT in Bark magazine, “The change from coercion training
clients to be looking for “cruelty-free” dog trainer “labels” as we
to positive reinforcement is not new, but what is new is that now,
become more evolved and concerned in our relationships with all
most positive trainers have always trained that way. Fewer people
animals.
are learning coercive techniques in the first place and therefore,
there are fewer trainers to cross over.” And with an influx of
Comparatively, as the force-free dog training movement
trainers entering the profession, we can expect an increased
continues to gain momentum, the animal rights movement has
number of comrades. According to the US Department of Labor’s seen an explosion of growth as well. While the number of vegans
Bureau of Labor and Statistics, “Overall employment of animal
in each country remains small (for example, Israel boasts the
care and service workers is projected to grow 22 percent from 2016 most vegans at 5 percent of its population), a continued sharp rise
to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations” and
is expected. Numerous studies and polls have found the number
animal trainers are expected to increase 11 percent.
of vegans in the US has doubled in the past three years, and
the number of vegans in the UK is up a staggering 700 percent
And we’re not just talking about food. Consumers—again, our
in two years according to Plant Based Magazine, bringing the
clients—are demanding more compassionate and sustainable
number to 3.5 billion.
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Building Better Trainers Through Education