Tom: Been training for over a year with a positive only trainer, a behaviorist and two different meds and it's only gotten worse? Also Tom: Hold my beer.
@@EarthlingCanine even just using a leash and flat collar to manipulate the dog and put pressure on them to move in your direction and stuff, that isnt positive reinforcement. Yet they use those methods all the times and talk bad about tools, as if leashes and collars arent tools as well
I really felt for this lady because she had obviously tried so many things to try and help her dog. It was wonderful to watch her confidence grow as she applied what she was learning from you. I think you set her up for success... as well as her beautiful dog. 😊
Positive only trainers should be ashamed of themselves. I feel like they’re only ripping people off without any results. This brave woman finally found Tom, thank God! Way to go ladies!
Positive only was born out of a reaction to the bad old days of dog training - excessive force, harsh punishment, ect. Truly, some of the stuff they did was horrible. I think "positive only" initially did a lot of good stuff for dogs, but like any good thing, it was taken too far, and dogs are now suffering. Tom is a voice for sanity in the crazy, polarized world of dog training.
I know this comment is 2 years old but I just wanted to say that I had a positive only trainer help me train my service dog and 2 years later she is still lazy with her skills no matter how much I work her with the skills given to me I actually just hired a new trainer to instruct me on using the mini educator collar and work her public access, teach new tasks, etc.
Listening to this lady, and all the meds that the vets have been recommending --- fluoxetine (prozac), gabapentin -- animal behaviorist. I have literally spent thousands on my pups from animal behaviorists to therapists (water, laser, etc) for similar issues, and zero results. And this was not only on one German Shepherd, but a Boston Terrier and a Doberman. This "positive reinforcement" that is offered by national retailers (in-store) and other trainers, has ruined more dogs, but more importantly, has caused them to be given up by frustrated owners, landing in shelters, labeled unadoptable and euthanized. Since I turned to the type of training that Tom does, zero problems. My pack of four dogs co-exist together, and I can take everyone anywhere with no problems.
Yes, I'm working with a dog whose people surrendered him after four years because he was only getting worse under positive-only trainer and medication-crazy veterinarian. He turned into a reactive little brat, drugged or not. He's a lot better than he's ever been in only a few months.
Our GSD has started to react like this girl there is soo much advice out there it’s difficult to know who to listen to but I find Tom always talks sense always firm but fair. Great work Tom
You really nailed it here. This positive only training is such bullshit. If you get anywhere at all with it, it takes forever to make any difference. There is nothing wrong with positive punishment too. Correcting bad behaviors. I've heard some say prong collars are inhumane and amount to "short cuts." Watching Tom's videos has shown me that that is just inaccurate.
You should start doing follow up videos, maybe just a compilation every now again of previous dogs and handlers to show where they’re at now and how they’re doing. Or even like a before vs however long down the line! I love your videos and always have this thought of “where are they now” keep up you’re amazing work!! Love to see it
So glad that you break down that positive training is limited. I wish more trainers that post videos doing only positive training would be open to the public of their limitations. Transparency is so important for an animal that can not advocate for themselves. * Can we admire the videographer too, her works has been awesome. The close ups of Lakota eyes… chefs kiss. 🐕🦺❤️
These videos are so helpful!!!!! I have a 14mo GSD and she has the same reactivity towards other dogs and strangers. I felt hopeless at first but after watching your content for months I finally feel confident x love you Tom!!!!!
I have a 9m old GSD and he is going through a reactive phase. He is in basic training classes but the things that have helped the most with him is distance, and confidence. Plus making sure that you are giving the “leave it” and “quiet” command when the dog sees the distraction thing, not when the reaction happens and a fast, stern correction if something does happen. Remember that it takes time to train and YOU are in charge, not the dog. That’s what has helped us personally 😁
@@missmaryc3921 this was me with my reactive gsd. definitely find a trainer that works in aggression because they will guide and help you so much. it can be a lot harder when just working with your dog by yourself and no trainer to guide you because of all the misinformation on the internet
Dang Tom this was one of THE best videos I've seen, and I've watched alot of yours. The difference in this gal was astounding but more than that, the owner was so much more relaxed and confident. Bravo!! Now I'm gonna watch again because I pick up on more each time I rewatch each of your vids
I have really been enjoying your videos. I've had dogs for 60 years and I've learned more from you then any other trainer I've watched. Never too old to learn. Thank you
What a beautiful dog! And her owner is trying so hard to give her a good life. And she’s actually listening to Tom! What a breath of fresh air! Love these vids.
Awesome to see this dog's transformation. The owner was so open to new concepts and seemed to want to be a good leader. With a more balanced approach to training and leadership both dog and owner were able be successful relatively quickly. Beautiful to see!
Oh man the beginning with all that "stuff" on that dog...oh boy LOL. Way to confuse the heck out of that dog. So glad the owner brought her dog to you Tom! 🙌😊
I know right?! I thought to myself, the only missing is a saddle and a bit. Bless that woman's heart though. She really loves dog and she really did great. I hope they are able to both be happy girls together.
@@kevinmatthews9469 yes!! Haha she did resemble a horse😂I agree, the owner did so badly want to change her relationship with her dog. She did a good job!
@@tomdavisofficial ugh I know....God bless veterinarian's but boy, they know NOTHING about anything related to behavior or how to properly train a dog.
@@tomdavisofficial oh man. The wild thing is that I take those same meds for pain and, blah blah blah, PTSD, I won't bore you. I don't think I would have been so well behaved. Lol. Going to join your club. You might say it's my positive reinforcement. I've gotta make some changes in my training. You put it perfectly. I feel limited.
When the camera zoomed out around 9:30 to her poking her head through his legs, I got a good laugh haha. Been binge watching your videos on shepherds. I have three and my two youngest have aggression issues at the door when we leave them outside (mainly the female). I recently hired a trainer who's having us use a spray bottle to stop the behavior and I feel like it's just making her more aggressive (not only to our male but towards the people in the house). The trainer said we might have to moved to an e-collar and I'm super wary of it/skeptical. Your videos make me wish I lived in NY and not Ohio! lol
The fact that the tools used (prongs, ecollars) are in danger of being banned. I struggled for two years to control my Husky/Border Collie and with these videos helped immensely, even got me to where I wanted to really pursue training as a career... but what it took was me working with a trainer, who showed me with MY DOG how to handle these issues, and take control back. (Even resulted in me getting a job) these tools and a competent trainer are invaluable. I'm so glad that because of Tom's videos I finally took the step I needed to get my boy under control.
That GS was looking for a leader and it found one in it's current owner, thanks to your help. Reading your dogs clues early when being reactive, and then providing a timely correction allow you to keep your dog at a low level, as you pointed out. What an inspiring session!
Tom, I'm a fan of yours. You remind me of the guy that helped train me and my husband how to handle our GSD puppy. at 4 mos old we took our GSD to a training facility that trains malinois' and other working breeds, and immediately put our girl on a prong collar. For the first few weeks we used it on a dead pull, and it worked IMMEDIATELY. Just that little bit of pressure communicated to her that she had done the wrong thing. Our Remi is now 14 mos old, and i can hold the leash by my pinky and walk past dogs and kids and people without any issues. It's immediate power steering, and if used correctly, very little correction is required until the dog "gets it". For those who's dogs hate the collar, I would put it on for a 'play' session before a walk... this way they get excited to put it on because it communicates a fun session with their owner. always, always, research your trainer before hiring, or putting your dog on any meds.... if results aren't within the first few days, I'd reconsider and move on. Off to binge watch the rest of your videos :)))
This video healed my broken heart 💔. I was this exact woman many years ago with my rescue German Shepard. I knew I was the problem but did not have the tools or training even though I desperately tried 3 different trainers, many books & videos. The BIG difference is you GENUINELY care about the owner. It doesn’t work any other way. You are truly happy when the dog succeeds!! You can’t fake that. You are 1 in a billion!!!
Every single video is full of concrete training methods I can use right away. And I have seen so much growth in my dogs and myself. The prong collar was a game changer. Im practising with them individually and have also done short distances with them together. That is 200lbs of dog! Thanks Tom!
I love watching these videos and seeing the hope that Tom brings to them that no they don't have to keep living differently to avoid upsetting their dogs. And that yes they can correct the dog and the dog will be fine with it and they will all have 100% less stress in their lives. When I get a dog again (hopefully next year) I'll be ready for anything thanks to Tom and these videos
After listening to this lady, I’m so glad that the first trainer I was drawn to is a “balanced” trainer. Have been going to various classes for a year and a half. Love it. We are just starting e-collar conditioning and Tom’s videos help so much as he explains things so well. All that medication for this dog 😔.
I so empathize with this woman. I recently adopted a 2 year old rescue german Shepherd who lunges at other dogs and people on our walk. I understand how exhausting all the hyper vigilance can be …always finding a route away from other dogs. In doing so, I recently fell and sprained my ankle and prior to that I was pulled off my feet and fell back and hit my head. I now use a prong collar. I am so happy to have come across this trainer. I’m hoping to find a comparable trainer in my area.
You knocked it outta the park!!! Good job, the owner was so much more relaxed and smiling and the pup was FAR less anxious and not throwing hair. Damn you're good!
This is my dog to a tee! We’ve dealt with two different “positive” only trainers and didn’t make a difference. Their method was to distract my dog with treats when we walked by other dogs. It’s been a year of seeing no results, if anything I think she’s gotten worse. After watching your video and another similar style one by a different RUclips trainer I now see how important corrections are! I’ve started implementing them and within 2 days I’ve already seen improvement! We still have a ways to go as we don’t have access to perfectly trained dogs to walk past. But it’s more progress than I’ve seen from over two months of positive only training. We walked past a dog fully barking at mine and she didn’t react! The lady said to her dog “look how good that dog is”, if she only knew the struggle to get my dog to that point 😅
Of course it does - they can stop being on full alert and anxious about EVERYTHING. Hand that job to the owner/handler and life becomes so much less stressful for an insecure dog. Kudos to the owner - almost there, just needed to add a couple of things to the list of skills.
Tom, thank you so much for this! I have a 9 year old lab and 9 month old gsd. I've been binge watching your videos and they have changed our lives! I wish you could come out to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I tell everyone about you. Thanks again!!!
Hi, I am from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I wish we had Tom closer so he could help in person !! I watch his videos for the past 2 years and it is life changing picture for reactive dogs owners.
Great video! I'm in the same situation, only my GSD dog is 3 years older. It has had 4 trainers, hours of work, marginal improvements, and then regression.
I dont even have a dog but Im watching Tom’s videos cause I learned a lot from him and his explanation on understanding behavioral were so informational!
Out-friggin-standing Tom. What a great video showing the Shepards' owner a peaceful co-existence with her dog and a peaceful co-existence for the Shepard with the rest of the world.
Great video. I'm glad you mentioned the damage a Head Halti (Gentle Leader) can do to a dog. On the advice of a trainer 9 years ago, I used a Gentle Leader on my then, 7 month old, reactive, large breed puppy. As a result of damage done to his neck, he's been getting chiropractic adjustments for over 9 years and now has intervertebral disc disease in his neck.
Your videos are the reason I never give up! I work at a pet hospital inside a PetSmart and of course the trainer is purely POS and every few months former clients come express frustration and a desire for help and your videos help me reinforce !
Tom identifying a "limited trainer" is so clutch and something a lot of people don't understand when picking a trainer. In my best Tom example, if you were trying to compete in the CrossFit games, would you go to a gym where they only train deadlifts? Or would you go to one where they have coaches who have competed and will train you in a variety of ways to set you up for a variety of challenges so you can overcome them and have the tools and feedback that is required? It's easy to praise/reward train a dog in a controlled environment and think they are trained until you actually go out on that sidewalk and the multitude of things YOU CANNOT CONTROL start coming down on you and your dog, that praise/reward treat program is out the window.
... all GSD puppies, covid pups included! We found Tom (prior to covid) when Shelby was 4mo old & our communication wasn’t what it should have been... positive only training for a dog this intelligent and wanting to work had horrific results immediately. Ex: giving her treats when she was reactive barking to distract her, as trainers told me to do, was literally fueling the fire. Found Tom years ago when she was 16 weeks old... she’s now 2.5 and I thank Tom everyday for our ability to communicate effectively & our unbreakable bond. You get out precisely what you put in with these amazing GSDs Take care.
Im the owner of a 17 month GSD girl. Have spent money in private classes, group classes. Tons of training hours, mental stimulation, grooming to help socializing and playing. Also started in Fluoxetine recently. Vet is aware of what Ive done. I feel this lady is the mirror of what we are going through. My dog is still leash reactive to people and dogs. Walks are challenging. I just watched this video and started everything shared. I loved it. Im curious to know how this lady and her beautiful shepherd are doing now?
I think your explanations make sense. I’ve tried positive only for a year with my four yo rescue and recently another dog trainer has done some positive compulsion and it has been the extra information my dog needed to understand
I told my sister to watch your channel, and she's already taught her son's dog, that she only babysits on occasion, ,the leave it command! I'm so proud of her, and very thankful that you make these videos. They make living with a dog so much more enjoyable.
Great tips! My GSD is same way. Prong collar has increased MY confidence and reduced MY anxiety which changed our ability to walk in public. She hates it when I bring that collar out, but once it’s on she’s a different girl. I hope we’ll get to the point we’ll be able to socialize with other dogs and people. Dogs that supposedly never bark or growl will go off on her while her tail is wagging. Then she goes off. That collar makes the difference but looks and makes me feel mean. Better that than a vet bill or lawsuit.
I felt the same way when I got one for my 12m old GSD (11months at the time). Using American Standard Dog Training's method I was able to teach him to heel within two-three days on my own. I'm so much more confident walking him now and he definitely senses it. He's in love with the collar really, he gets super excited whenever he hears it and struggles to sit still lol. He's come a long way since I first learned about the prong, and I'm hoping he'll stop being reactive towards other dogs soon. He's not reactive towards other people anymore, so it's only a matter of time and dedication. :)
Another great video! I was told to put my GSD on medication but trainer stated they are working dogs, lots of energy, need training. I'm glad she sought you out for help. She will enjoy walking her dog now.
Thank you so much for all the training videos you post! This one in particular relates to me and my shepherd. Almost the exact behavior from my dog, and me as a handler. Thanks for helping me and Buck build a better foundation 😊🐾 Leigh
I had no idea there were so many dogs in Manhattan! When I go to visit then, my dog will not look out of place at all. Thank you for that. Also, good job recognizing your dog had a more specific need. Gentle leader didnt work for my dog much either. She was OBSESSED with maintaining leash pressure even with the head halter. The prong worked and she never pulls now.
I have an almost 1 year old doberman and it's the same story. I've tried gentle leader, flat collar, martingale, slip lead and he just loves, i mean LOVES to pull. I'm going to try a prong to see how that works. I understand he's still a crazy puppy so i factor that into his mentality
I'm very glad that you're spreading the word about proper use of prong collars to HELP with training, not hinder a dog. Unfortunately my husband has had a bad experience so he isn't too keen on prong collars yet. I did want to know how to find the best fit for my dog's prong collar. If you've mentioned this in a previous video can you point it out for me so I can find out? I'm unsure of trusting one of the petsmart employees at this time cause the one they suggested seemed a little too big. I'm not sure what breeds my dog is at this time, he was described by the shelter as a Pitbull Mix, he looks to be a Pitbull mixed with Lab.
New subscriber! Ahh! This was awesome! The owner seemed so much more confident and you can hear how less stress she felt in her voice at the end. This was amazing to watch.
Great, great video. Love the tool changes, and the way you explained that everyone has weaknesses in handling and how you have to train the owner. Great video
One of the best videos I've seen from you. Great job! I felt bad for the lady and her dog as she obviously tried to work through the issues ... But amazing to see the results after working with you. Sometimes dogs really need to be taught how to behave and follow the lead.
This is great video!!! I have exactly the same problem with my dog ( luckily small dog - Miniature Schnauzer). The elevators are our night mare (this is when the reactivity started in the past)...people not looking , jumping on without knowing someone is inside the elevator....this is our on regular day basic situation....I set my dog to be reactive and as a puppy and now 5 years later still have the problem. I wish you could teach me in person how to deal with the dog reactivity. Thank you for the great videos you posting for us , Tom!!!
Your channel is really helpful as my nan is a dog walker and she gets dogs who pull on the leash alot and barks at other dogs who the dog knows and plays with so I plan on telling her about this channel and it might help her.
This video really speaks to me! Our girl Kinley, who we rescued December 2019 struggles daily with dog reactivity and the tools you shared in this video were awesome. Thank you Tom for sharing this with us!! 🙏 We appreciate you!
I have the same reactivity, aggression problem with my dog and only with Tom's video I can successful training my 15 months German Shepherd and not lost the hope. Thank you Tom!!!!!🤗❤
Only getting to watch this now and wow Tom, very well done! If you ever come to Canada, I'd love to schedule a session with you for my 76 year old mom and her 14 month old German Shepherd. This video basically sums up their relationship and the issues they are experiencing. Multiple tools, positive only trainer who quit as soon as my mom's dog reacted to another dog, having 2 homes, one that's quiet, one that's busy, etc. I used your videos to help with my Great Dane but I worked on it every single day, even when I felt defeated, I kept trying and I've made so much progress. My Great Dane's not perfect but she's so much better and our relationship is much stronger. I've worked with my mom's dog myself but I can't do it consistently/daily and that's what the dog needs. My mom needs confidence and that's the hardest thing to work on. I feel like my mom would listen to you. I also think that if she could witness her dog not reacting to another dog, it would help my mom's confidence. The trainer who quit on her really set my mom back. She's reached a point where she thinks she can't help her dog and she's afraid she will have to give her dog up. We're trying a board and train so we'll see where that goes. Anyway, if you are ever doing a Canadian tour, please advertise it so I can be first in line to book a session. Thank you for your real videos showing humans and dogs who need guidance.
Tom I just want to say your videos are amazing and I appreciate all your hard work and that you share this with people so they can have a better relationship with their dog
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Tom: Been training for over a year with a positive only trainer, a behaviorist and two different meds and it's only gotten worse?
Also Tom: Hold my beer.
For Tom it would have been more like "Hold my coffee", lol!
@@EarthlingCanine even just using a leash and flat collar to manipulate the dog and put pressure on them to move in your direction and stuff, that isnt positive reinforcement. Yet they use those methods all the times and talk bad about tools, as if leashes and collars arent tools as well
You’re paying that trainer for failure for a year?
Or my Death Wish Coffee! :)
@@rainaquelle365 eh I’ve heard him use analogy’s of him drinking a beer and treating defusing a aggressive dog as defusing a big drunk guy
I really felt for this lady because she had obviously tried so many things to try and help her dog. It was wonderful to watch her confidence grow as she applied what she was learning from you. I think you set her up for success... as well as her beautiful dog. 😊
100%!!
No, she's not helping her dog by yanking the leash so hard. Really, that lady is control freak 😢 I feel sorry for that dog😢
Positive only trainers should be ashamed of themselves. I feel like they’re only ripping people off without any results. This brave woman finally found Tom, thank God! Way to go ladies!
Positive only was born out of a reaction to the bad old days of dog training - excessive force, harsh punishment, ect. Truly, some of the stuff they did was horrible. I think "positive only" initially did a lot of good stuff for dogs, but like any good thing, it was taken too far, and dogs are now suffering. Tom is a voice for sanity in the crazy, polarized world of dog training.
Imagine raising kids with this method!! It has never worked. Spare the rod spoil the child... Rod=discipline
@@cyndifalk
🎯
I know this comment is 2 years old but I just wanted to say that I had a positive only trainer help me train my service dog and 2 years later she is still lazy with her skills no matter how much I work her with the skills given to me I actually just hired a new trainer to instruct me on using the mini educator collar and work her public access, teach new tasks, etc.
Its insane to rx Gabapentin for this dog 😢
What an awesome committed owner. I have mad respect for her hard work and dedication.
YES!!
@tomdavisofficial please back the crew neck!!
she is taking the information and understanding what tom is telling her.
Listening to this lady, and all the meds that the vets have been recommending --- fluoxetine (prozac), gabapentin -- animal behaviorist. I have literally spent thousands on my pups from animal behaviorists to therapists (water, laser, etc) for similar issues, and zero results. And this was not only on one German Shepherd, but a Boston Terrier and a Doberman. This "positive reinforcement" that is offered by national retailers (in-store) and other trainers, has ruined more dogs, but more importantly, has caused them to be given up by frustrated owners, landing in shelters, labeled unadoptable and euthanized. Since I turned to the type of training that Tom does, zero problems. My pack of four dogs co-exist together, and I can take everyone anywhere with no problems.
Do you still need to watch every behaviour in case they react
Yes, I'm working with a dog whose people surrendered him after four years because he was only getting worse under positive-only trainer and medication-crazy veterinarian. He turned into a reactive little brat, drugged or not. He's a lot better than he's ever been in only a few months.
Our GSD has started to react like this girl there is soo much advice out there it’s difficult to know who to listen to but I find Tom always talks sense always firm but fair. Great work Tom
You really nailed it here. This positive only training is such bullshit. If you get anywhere at all with it, it takes forever to make any difference. There is nothing wrong with positive punishment too. Correcting bad behaviors. I've heard some say prong collars are inhumane and amount to "short cuts." Watching Tom's videos has shown me that that is just inaccurate.
ya, prozac will never work. Thats nuts!
You should start doing follow up videos, maybe just a compilation every now again of previous dogs and handlers to show where they’re at now and how they’re doing. Or even like a before vs however long down the line! I love your videos and always have this thought of “where are they now” keep up you’re amazing work!! Love to see it
This would be great!
Agreed.
The best thing I like about this guy is he never talks about other trainers no matter how bad they are
It's not helpful... Or professional
So glad that you break down that positive training is limited. I wish more trainers that post videos doing only positive training would be open to the public of their limitations. Transparency is so important for an animal that can not advocate for themselves.
* Can we admire the videographer too, her works has been awesome. The close ups of Lakota eyes… chefs kiss. 🐕🦺❤️
Yes yes yes. I like how he broke it down in a non-judgmental way so people can humbly listen to him
These videos are so helpful!!!!! I have a 14mo GSD and she has the same reactivity towards other dogs and strangers. I felt hopeless at first but after watching your content for months I finally feel confident x love you Tom!!!!!
Thanks so much!!
What did you do? I have a 16 month old reactive gsd and it’s been a lot of work.
These videos are extremely helpful. I have a 7 month old GSD who is somewhat reactive.
I have a 9m old GSD and he is going through a reactive phase. He is in basic training classes but the things that have helped the most with him is distance, and confidence. Plus making sure that you are giving the “leave it” and “quiet” command when the dog sees the distraction thing, not when the reaction happens and a fast, stern correction if something does happen. Remember that it takes time to train and YOU are in charge, not the dog. That’s what has helped us personally 😁
@@missmaryc3921 this was me with my reactive gsd. definitely find a trainer that works in aggression because they will guide and help you so much. it can be a lot harder when just working with your dog by yourself and no trainer to guide you because of all the misinformation on the internet
What a gorgeous dog!
Dang Tom this was one of THE best videos I've seen, and I've watched alot of yours. The difference in this gal was astounding but more than that, the owner was so much more relaxed and confident. Bravo!! Now I'm gonna watch again because I pick up on more each time I rewatch each of your vids
I agree 100 % with all you are saying!
The owner did good job. Props to her to let Tom take care of the issue ..cheers
This woman is at least devoted to solve the situation. I applaud her.
Tom you are great.
I have really been enjoying your videos. I've had dogs for 60 years and I've learned more from you then any other trainer I've watched. Never too old to learn. Thank you
That dog mum was dedicated and I wish her all thE BEST
What a beautiful dog! And her owner is trying so hard to give her a good life. And she’s actually listening to Tom! What a breath of fresh air!
Love these vids.
Awesome to see this dog's transformation. The owner was so open to new concepts and seemed to want to be a good leader. With a more balanced approach to training and leadership both dog and owner were able be successful relatively quickly. Beautiful to see!
Oh man the beginning with all that "stuff" on that dog...oh boy LOL. Way to confuse the heck out of that dog. So glad the owner brought her dog to you Tom! 🙌😊
I know right?!
I thought to myself, the only missing is a saddle and a bit. Bless that woman's heart though. She really loves dog and she really did great. I hope they are able to both be happy girls together.
AND THE DRUGS!!
@@kevinmatthews9469 yes!! Haha she did resemble a horse😂I agree, the owner did so badly want to change her relationship with her dog. She did a good job!
@@tomdavisofficial ugh I know....God bless veterinarian's but boy, they know NOTHING about anything related to behavior or how to properly train a dog.
@@tomdavisofficial oh man. The wild thing is that I take those same meds for pain and, blah blah blah, PTSD, I won't bore you. I don't think I would have been so well behaved. Lol.
Going to join your club. You might say it's my positive reinforcement.
I've gotta make some changes in my training. You put it perfectly. I feel limited.
When the camera zoomed out around 9:30 to her poking her head through his legs, I got a good laugh haha.
Been binge watching your videos on shepherds. I have three and my two youngest have aggression issues at the door when we leave them outside (mainly the female). I recently hired a trainer who's having us use a spray bottle to stop the behavior and I feel like it's just making her more aggressive (not only to our male but towards the people in the house). The trainer said we might have to moved to an e-collar and I'm super wary of it/skeptical. Your videos make me wish I lived in NY and not Ohio! lol
The fact that the tools used (prongs, ecollars) are in danger of being banned. I struggled for two years to control my Husky/Border Collie and with these videos helped immensely, even got me to where I wanted to really pursue training as a career... but what it took was me working with a trainer, who showed me with MY DOG how to handle these issues, and take control back. (Even resulted in me getting a job) these tools and a competent trainer are invaluable. I'm so glad that because of Tom's videos I finally took the step I needed to get my boy under control.
Over where I live, unfortunately both prong and e-collar are banned
11:17 "What am I chopped liver?" hahahaha. I think she would have not ignored that! ;)
That GS was looking for a leader and it found one in it's current owner, thanks to your help. Reading your dogs clues early when being reactive, and then providing a timely correction allow you to keep your dog at a low level, as you pointed out. What an inspiring session!
Beautiful GSD, heartwarming to see the transformation, both with the dog and owner.
Tom, I'm a fan of yours. You remind me of the guy that helped train me and my husband how to handle our GSD puppy. at 4 mos old we took our GSD to a training facility that trains malinois' and other working breeds, and immediately put our girl on a prong collar. For the first few weeks we used it on a dead pull, and it worked IMMEDIATELY. Just that little bit of pressure communicated to her that she had done the wrong thing. Our Remi is now 14 mos old, and i can hold the leash by my pinky and walk past dogs and kids and people without any issues. It's immediate power steering, and if used correctly, very little correction is required until the dog "gets it". For those who's dogs hate the collar, I would put it on for a 'play' session before a walk... this way they get excited to put it on because it communicates a fun session with their owner. always, always, research your trainer before hiring, or putting your dog on any meds.... if results aren't within the first few days, I'd reconsider and move on. Off to binge watch the rest of your videos :)))
That's really good advice! I'm going to try this with my doberman. He's almost a year old
This video healed my broken heart 💔. I was this exact woman many years ago with my rescue German Shepard. I knew I was the problem but did not have the tools or training even though I desperately tried 3 different trainers, many books & videos. The BIG difference is you GENUINELY care about the owner. It doesn’t work any other way. You are truly happy when the dog succeeds!! You can’t fake that. You are 1 in a billion!!!
Every single video is full of concrete training methods I can use right away. And I have seen so much growth in my dogs and myself. The prong collar was a game changer. Im practising with them individually and have also done short distances with them together. That is 200lbs of dog! Thanks Tom!
That was a great explanation about matching the tools to the owner’s skills
So happy you are helping! Love that you explain it so anyone can understand!
THANKS SO MUCH!
I love watching these videos and seeing the hope that Tom brings to them that no they don't have to keep living differently to avoid upsetting their dogs. And that yes they can correct the dog and the dog will be fine with it and they will all have 100% less stress in their lives.
When I get a dog again (hopefully next year) I'll be ready for anything thanks to Tom and these videos
Heck ya! Thankks so much for wtching!
After listening to this lady, I’m so glad that the first trainer I was drawn to is a “balanced” trainer. Have been going to various classes for a year and a half. Love it. We are just starting e-collar conditioning and Tom’s videos help so much as he explains things so well. All that medication for this dog 😔.
Why would you need a e-collar?
I so empathize with this woman. I recently adopted a 2 year old rescue german Shepherd who lunges at other dogs and people on our walk. I understand how exhausting all the hyper vigilance can be …always finding a route away from other dogs. In doing so, I recently fell and sprained my ankle and prior to that I was pulled off my feet and fell back and hit my head. I now use a prong collar. I am so happy to have come across this trainer. I’m hoping to find a comparable trainer in my area.
By then end of this video you can tell the owner just felt so much relief. And more confidence. Along with the dog finally feeling secure.
You knocked it outta the park!!! Good job, the owner was so much more relaxed and smiling and the pup was FAR less anxious and not throwing hair. Damn you're good!
This is my dog to a tee! We’ve dealt with two different “positive” only trainers and didn’t make a difference. Their method was to distract my dog with treats when we walked by other dogs. It’s been a year of seeing no results, if anything I think she’s gotten worse. After watching your video and another similar style one by a different RUclips trainer I now see how important corrections are! I’ve started implementing them and within 2 days I’ve already seen improvement! We still have a ways to go as we don’t have access to perfectly trained dogs to walk past. But it’s more progress than I’ve seen from over two months of positive only training.
We walked past a dog fully barking at mine and she didn’t react! The lady said to her dog “look how good that dog is”, if she only knew the struggle to get my dog to that point 😅
Tom you are doing a great job teaching us how to lead our dogs. Thank you 😊. Elly and my fearful Lovely Patty
*So happy these two found Tom!* 🙏🏻
*The shepherd actually looked relieved as the lesson progressed.* 👏🏻
Of course it does - they can stop being on full alert and anxious about EVERYTHING. Hand that job to the owner/handler and life becomes so much less stressful for an insecure dog. Kudos to the owner - almost there, just needed to add a couple of things to the list of skills.
Tom, thank you so much for this! I have a 9 year old lab and 9 month old gsd. I've been binge watching your videos and they have changed our lives! I wish you could come out to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I tell everyone about you. Thanks again!!!
THANK YOU!!
I’v been binge watching too!
Hi, I am from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I wish we had Tom closer so he could help in person !! I watch his videos for the past 2 years and it is life changing picture for reactive dogs owners.
Tom, I get absolute joy watching u work w/these dogs. @60, I know I missed my own calling. LUCRETIA
“She seemed normal” caught me so off guard😂
LOVE watching the transitions from out of control insecurity in both the handlers and dogs into confident security. It’s beautiful!
Great video! I'm in the same situation, only my GSD dog is 3 years older. It has had 4 trainers, hours of work, marginal improvements, and then regression.
I dont even have a dog but Im watching Tom’s videos cause I learned a lot from him and his explanation on understanding behavioral were so informational!
Out-friggin-standing Tom. What a great video showing the Shepards' owner a peaceful co-existence with her dog and a peaceful co-existence for the Shepard with the rest of the world.
Great video. I'm glad you mentioned the damage a Head Halti (Gentle Leader) can do to a dog. On the advice of a trainer 9 years ago, I used a Gentle Leader on my then, 7 month old, reactive, large breed puppy. As a result of damage done to his neck, he's been getting chiropractic adjustments for over 9 years and now has intervertebral disc disease in his neck.
Well this just proves that positive only cannot work in these situations. Love how you change equipment to suit. Thanks Tom : )
Your straight forward explanations and the way you give owners the tools they need to handle their dogs is amazing! You are the best!
Your videos are the reason I never give up! I work at a pet hospital inside a PetSmart and of course the trainer is purely POS and every few months former clients come express frustration and a desire for help and your videos help me reinforce !
wow, she said clicking and giving a treat. I feel like that's just telling her yeah that's okay to bark and be crazy. ahhh
Tom identifying a "limited trainer" is so clutch and something a lot of people don't understand when picking a trainer. In my best Tom example, if you were trying to compete in the CrossFit games, would you go to a gym where they only train deadlifts? Or would you go to one where they have coaches who have competed and will train you in a variety of ways to set you up for a variety of challenges so you can overcome them and have the tools and feedback that is required? It's easy to praise/reward train a dog in a controlled environment and think they are trained until you actually go out on that sidewalk and the multitude of things YOU CANNOT CONTROL start coming down on you and your dog, that praise/reward treat program is out the window.
What a great session Tom. I was impressed with the changing to a prong collar made a big difference to the controlling of the dog.
This was probably one of your best videos. Very helpful for those of us with covid GSD puppies
... all GSD puppies, covid pups included! We found Tom (prior to covid) when Shelby was 4mo old & our communication wasn’t what it should have been... positive only training for a dog this intelligent and wanting to work had horrific results immediately. Ex: giving her treats when she was reactive barking to distract her, as trainers told me to do, was literally fueling the fire. Found Tom years ago when she was 16 weeks old... she’s now 2.5 and I thank Tom everyday for our ability to communicate effectively & our unbreakable bond. You get out precisely what you put in with these amazing GSDs
Take care.
Im the owner of a 17 month GSD girl. Have spent money in private classes, group classes. Tons of training hours, mental stimulation, grooming to help socializing and playing. Also started in Fluoxetine recently. Vet is aware of what Ive done. I feel this lady is the mirror of what we are going through. My dog is still leash reactive to people and dogs. Walks are challenging. I just watched this video and started everything shared. I loved it. Im curious to know how this lady and her beautiful shepherd are doing now?
that's me, I hope I can make a difference with my dog after watching this. Thankyou for sharing.
I think your explanations make sense. I’ve tried positive only for a year with my four yo rescue and recently another dog trainer has done some positive compulsion and it has been the extra information my dog needed to understand
I told my sister to watch your channel, and she's already taught her son's dog, that she only babysits on occasion, ,the leave it command! I'm so proud of her, and very thankful that you make these videos. They make living with a dog so much more enjoyable.
This is my favorite No Bad Dogs video. The owner was sincere and put in the time and effort. The 3 day training made a Big improvement.
Great video, and the owner was wonderful, so willing to do as u asked, best of luck to her!
Great tips! My GSD is same way. Prong collar has increased MY confidence and reduced MY anxiety which changed our ability to walk in public.
She hates it when I bring that collar out, but once it’s on she’s a different girl.
I hope we’ll get to the point we’ll be able to socialize with other dogs and people.
Dogs that supposedly never bark or growl will go off on her while her tail is wagging. Then she goes off.
That collar makes the difference but looks and makes me feel mean.
Better that than a vet bill or lawsuit.
I felt the same way when I got one for my 12m old GSD (11months at the time). Using American Standard Dog Training's method I was able to teach him to heel within two-three days on my own. I'm so much more confident walking him now and he definitely senses it. He's in love with the collar really, he gets super excited whenever he hears it and struggles to sit still lol. He's come a long way since I first learned about the prong, and I'm hoping he'll stop being reactive towards other dogs soon. He's not reactive towards other people anymore, so it's only a matter of time and dedication. :)
it's just amazing to see the transition unfold what seems immediately! love love love it!
Another great video! I was told to put my GSD on medication but trainer stated they are working dogs, lots of energy, need training. I'm glad she sought you out for help. She will enjoy walking her dog now.
Very cool to see how willing the owner was to learn!
What a beautiful German Shepherd
Thank you so much for all the training videos you post! This one in particular relates to me and my shepherd. Almost the exact behavior from my dog, and me as a handler. Thanks for helping me and Buck build a better foundation 😊🐾 Leigh
😂 Lakota is so good 😂 That heel is amazing
She's a good one!
This lady is strong. Props to her for doing everything possible to help her doggie!
I had no idea there were so many dogs in Manhattan! When I go to visit then, my dog will not look out of place at all. Thank you for that. Also, good job recognizing your dog had a more specific need. Gentle leader didnt work for my dog much either. She was OBSESSED with maintaining leash pressure even with the head halter. The prong worked and she never pulls now.
I have an almost 1 year old doberman and it's the same story. I've tried gentle leader, flat collar, martingale, slip lead and he just loves, i mean LOVES to pull. I'm going to try a prong to see how that works. I understand he's still a crazy puppy so i factor that into his mentality
Great session. Love Lakota, she is so engaged with Tom.
Your videos have been so valuable in working with my 8 month old GSD
I was really astounded by the change. Really tremendous
I'm very glad that you're spreading the word about proper use of prong collars to HELP with training, not hinder a dog. Unfortunately my husband has had a bad experience so he isn't too keen on prong collars yet. I did want to know how to find the best fit for my dog's prong collar. If you've mentioned this in a previous video can you point it out for me so I can find out? I'm unsure of trusting one of the petsmart employees at this time cause the one they suggested seemed a little too big. I'm not sure what breeds my dog is at this time, he was described by the shelter as a Pitbull Mix, he looks to be a Pitbull mixed with Lab.
Its so nice to see how happy the dogs are after they have the right structure around them, no bad dogs! :D
I love how well you listen to the owners and really hear how things are going for them to find the right tools to help. 💗
New subscriber! Ahh! This was awesome! The owner seemed so much more confident and you can hear how less stress she felt in her voice at the end. This was amazing to watch.
Great, great video. Love the tool changes, and the way you explained that everyone has weaknesses in handling and how you have to train the owner. Great video
Thanks so much, Jessica
She’s a beauty. I love German Shepherds.
Brilliant brilliant, I have just learned so much, thank you from New Zealand
Tom , you are a treasure ! 💕🐾💕🐾💕
That was amazing training for both the owner and the dog!!
Great job, Tom! Beautiful 🐶. You are so good at what you do; keep up the fantastic work!
Loving ❤ The Home alone Face!.. keep empowering TOM! Epic stuff
Great work Tom, and wonderful teacher. You definitely know you stuff!
This is wonderful. Ive spent so much money on my now 2 year old German Shepherd for the same reasons. Im so happy for thsi dog and owner
Great video! You could see the confidence growing between this dog and owner as they built their bond and trust. Nice work Tom!
Such an excellent video. Your explanations are always so easy to understand and apply. Thank you for making these videos.
You're such a brilliant teacher. You managed to gain my trust and respect from across the ocean. Thank you so much for the free content as always!
One of my favorites...reminds me of my Silver.. Same thing....thank you Tom for sharing. Would love to get my girl up there to you.
Man I love these videos
They help me with my training of my clients dogs!!!
You are very very good at caring about dogs. Great job!!!
Your ability to communicate what to do is superb. Thank you for great training videos.
I loved this video! Both of their progress was amazing!
This is such a great video. I've put a link to it many times in my GSD FB groups.
One of the best videos I've seen from you. Great job! I felt bad for the lady and her dog as she obviously tried to work through the issues ... But amazing to see the results after working with you. Sometimes dogs really need to be taught how to behave and follow the lead.
This is great video!!! I have exactly the same problem with my dog ( luckily small dog - Miniature Schnauzer). The elevators are our night mare (this is when the reactivity started in the past)...people not looking , jumping on without knowing someone is inside the elevator....this is our on regular day basic situation....I set my dog to be reactive and as a puppy and now 5 years later still have the problem. I wish you could teach me in person how to deal with the dog reactivity. Thank you for the great videos you posting for us , Tom!!!
Your channel is really helpful as my nan is a dog walker and she gets dogs who pull on the leash alot and barks at other dogs who the dog knows and plays with so I plan on telling her about this channel and it might help her.
This video really speaks to me! Our girl Kinley, who we rescued December 2019 struggles daily with dog reactivity and the tools you shared in this video were awesome. Thank you Tom for sharing this with us!! 🙏 We appreciate you!
I have the same reactivity, aggression problem with my dog and only with Tom's video I can successful training my 15 months German Shepherd and not lost the hope. Thank you Tom!!!!!🤗❤
What a great job Tom. Thanks for taking the time to make a awesome video.
Only getting to watch this now and wow Tom, very well done!
If you ever come to Canada, I'd love to schedule a session with you for my 76 year old mom and her 14 month old German Shepherd. This video basically sums up their relationship and the issues they are experiencing. Multiple tools, positive only trainer who quit as soon as my mom's dog reacted to another dog, having 2 homes, one that's quiet, one that's busy, etc.
I used your videos to help with my Great Dane but I worked on it every single day, even when I felt defeated, I kept trying and I've made so much progress. My Great Dane's not perfect but she's so much better and our relationship is much stronger.
I've worked with my mom's dog myself but I can't do it consistently/daily and that's what the dog needs. My mom needs confidence and that's the hardest thing to work on.
I feel like my mom would listen to you. I also think that if she could witness her dog not reacting to another dog, it would help my mom's confidence. The trainer who quit on her really set my mom back. She's reached a point where she thinks she can't help her dog and she's afraid she will have to give her dog up.
We're trying a board and train so we'll see where that goes.
Anyway, if you are ever doing a Canadian tour, please advertise it so I can be first in line to book a session. Thank you for your real videos showing humans and dogs who need guidance.
Omg that was such a blessing👍🏻you helped her and the dog so much
Tom I just want to say your videos are amazing and I appreciate all your hard work and that you share this with people so they can have a better relationship with their dog