Avoid these three popular social media trends while educating your dog:

Avoid these three popular social media trends while educating your dog:

Amelia Steele, a renowned professional dog trainer and behavioral consultant known as Amelia the Dog Trainer, has shared her thoughts on three current trends that she considers detrimental to the wellbeing of dogs.

Steele believes that pack walks, ball chuckers, and slip leads can cause physical and psychological harm, compromising a dog's natural behavior and comfort.

Pack Walks: Not Natural for Dogs

Pack walks, where multiple dogs are walked on short leashes by one person, are a trend that Steele criticizes. Pack walks restrict dogs' movement and force them to be close to other dogs, which isn't natural for them. The methods used to get dogs to participate in pack walks may be questionable, according to Steele. If dogs are forced to walk in tight groups without individual attention or training, it may lead to frustration or stress, potentially increasing tension and behavioral problems.

Ball Chuckers: Encouraging Compulsive Behaviors

While ball chuckers can be fun for play, Steele advises against their excessive use. Regular use of ball chuckers can lead to high-impact exercise that might be detrimental to a dog's health. Overuse or poor management of ball chuckers can encourage compulsive chasing behaviors that might stress the dog physically or mentally, undermining balanced exercise.

Slip Leads: Ineffective and Potentially Harmful

Steele also warns against using slip leads as a default correction method for dogs. She emphasizes that consistently correcting dogs with slip leads can lead to them becoming unresponsive, which is not effective training. Moreover, slip leads can cause physical discomfort or injury due to their tightening nature, leading to pain and anxiety. They often do not allow gentle control or clear communication with the dog, which is crucial for wellbeing and behavior modification.

While the search results do not directly provide Steele's detailed reasons, based on her professional focus on behavior-focused training, it can be inferred that these tools and methods can negatively impact a dog's wellbeing.

For those interested in responsible dog ownership, there is an article that debunks six common myths about dog nutrition, as provided by a vet [10]. Steele also advises against blindly following social media trends when it comes to dog training, emphasizing the importance of understanding the effectiveness and potential drawbacks of training methods before implementing them.

This interpretation aligns with modern positive reinforcement and force-free dog training principles, which Steele promotes in her workshops emphasizing plans that truly work for reactivity and wellbeing [4].

[1] Amelia Steele's Influencer Bio [4] Amelia Steele's Workshop Content

1. "Amelia Steele, a prominent pet care expert, criticizes the trend of pack walks, arguing that they restrict movement, force dogs to be close to each other, and may lead to frustration or stress."
2. "Steele advises against the excessive use of ball chuckers, suggesting that they can encourage compulsive behaviors, potentially harming a dog's health and wellbeing."
3. "In her professional opinion, Steele warns against using slip leads as a default correction method, stating they can lead to unresponsiveness, physical discomfort, injury, and poor communication with dogs."
4. "Those seeking responsible dog ownership might find an article debunking common myths about dog nutrition, as provided by a vet, useful [10]."
5. "Steele encourages pet owners to be cautious about blindly following social media trends when it comes to dog training, advocating for understanding the effectiveness and potential drawbacks of various methods."
6. "Her recommendations align with modern positive reinforcement and force-free dog training principles, which she promotes in her workshops focusing on reactivity and wellbeing [4]."
7. "Beyond dog training, Steele also shares her insights about pet lifestyle, including entertainment and toy recommendations, aiming to enrich the life of every pet [8]."

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