When Punishment Has No Place: A Call to the Dog Sport Community
I work in the world of dog training. I live in it. Every day, one rep at a time, with my own dogs and with clients and their dogs too. I also live in the dog sport world — and that world, at its best, is built on teamwork, communication, play, and joy.
But I’ve got to say something. And it needs to be said clearly, firmly, and without apology.
There is no excuse — none — for using tools or techniques that are designed to cause pain, discomfort, or fear in dogs, especially in the name of sport. Not for “better control.” Not for “off-switches.” Not for “drive management.” Not for ribbons, trophies, or podiums.
And definitely not because someone told you to.
I Understand Why Owners Listen to the Wrong Advice
Let me start with compassion. Because I’ve sat with clients in tears after being told by a so-called “balanced trainer” that their dog needed a prong collar, an e-collar, or a hard leash correction to “get results.” These are good people. Kind people. People who love their dogs and are trying to do the right thing. They’re scared. They’re overwhelmed. They’ve often already tried reward-based training and been told “it doesn’t work.”
Of course they follow the advice. When someone with a professional title and a slick website and social media following tells you to punish your dog — that it’s necessary, or worse, that it’s kind — it’s easy to doubt yourself. And when results appear to come quickly (as they often do with punishment), it’s even harder to walk away.
But results aren’t the whole story. And fear is not the same thing as understanding. A shut-down dog is not a trained dog.
There Are Tools That Have No Place in Ethical Dog Training
Let me be specific. There are tools I believe have absolutely no place in the training of dogs — whether for pet manners, behaviour modification, or sport. These include:
The shock collar (also called an e-collar or “remote training collar”)
The prong collar (also called a pinch collar)
The grot collar (choke chain, or check chain)
These tools are designed to cause discomfort, pain, or fear. That is their mechanism. That is how they “work.” And there is no situation in which that is acceptable.
Let me be clear — this is not an exhaustive list. There are many everyday tools that can be used in harmful ways. But these three are in a different category. They have no ethical use in dog training. Not ever.
Now I know what some trainers will say — and yes, a so-called “balanced” trainer may show you that these tools “don’t hurt.” They may even put a prong collar on their own arm or press an e-collar to their palm to “prove it’s fine.” But let me ask you this:
Did you consent to having it strapped to your own neck?
At a level high enough to stop you doing something you really wanted to do?
While you were excited or anxious or just trying your best to engage in your environment?
Because that’s how dogs experience it. And they don’t get to choose. They don’t get to say no.
If you're using one of these tools now because someone told you it was necessary, I understand. Truly, I do. This isn't about shame. It's about choosing differently from today onward. It's about doing better when we know better.
Professionals Must Be Held to a Higher Standard
Here’s where I draw a hard line. While I understand the fear and confusion of clients, I have no such sympathy for professionals who choose to use punishment-based tools and techniques. Especially not those who compete in dog sports or present themselves as leaders in the training community.
If you are a dog trainer — and that includes sports coaches, club organisers, behaviourists, handlers, and seminar speakers — then your job is not just to get results. It is to uphold ethics. It is to do no harm. It is to teach in a way that protects trust, in every rep, every cue, every moment.
And if you reach for pain to solve a training problem, I believe you’ve failed your dog.
Yes, even if it “worked.”
Yes, even if they still wag their tail.
Yes, even if you “only used it once.”
You know better. Or at least you should.
Dog Sports Should Be a Celebration — Not a Compromise
Let’s talk about why this matters so much in the sport world.
Dog sports are supposed to be fun. Fun for the dog, fun for the human. They’re meant to showcase the bond we’ve built — not the control we’ve forced. A dog can’t concentrate and respond to cues with style or power through a canicross trail if they’re afraid of getting it wrong. True flow doesn’t come from fear. It comes from safety, trust, and motivation.
When we use punishment in the name of sport, we don’t just undermine our own values — we betray the dogs who give us everything they’ve got. And for what? A controlled startline wait? To overcome arousal? A heel position that doesn’t drift by two centimetres?
Not worth it.
There Is Another Way
If you're struggling with your sport dog — if they’re over-aroused, distracted, shut down, frustrated, or "too much" — I promise you there is another way. You do not need to punish them into compliance. You do not need to “balance” your training by hurting them sometimes and feeding them sometimes.
You need to learn how to listen.
You need to understand reinforcement.
You need to know when your dog is telling you “I can’t” and not just “I won’t.”
Reward-based training is not permissive. It’s not weak. It’s skilled. It’s science-based. It’s humane. And when done well, it’s astonishingly effective — especially in sport.
And if you're a professional, you owe it to your dog to learn how.
Ask Yourself the Hard Questions
If you compete in dog sports or train others who do, ask yourself:
Can my dog say “no” and still be safe?
Is my dog working with me, or working to avoid punishment?
Do I know how to build behaviour without using pain or fear?
Am I training for connection — or just for control?
And if the answer makes you uncomfortable, good. That’s where change starts.
A Call to Action — For You and Your Dog
If you're reading this and realising you're ready to leave punishment behind, here are some next steps:
Audit your training gear: If it causes pain or discomfort, it goes.
Seek out support: Find a force-free sport trainer, even if it means travelling or going online.
Relearn how to train: Science-based, ethical methods are more accessible than ever.
Talk to your club: Ask how they handle tools, ethics, and professional development.
Be the change: Advocate for kindness, for compassion, and for dogs who can truly enjoy the sports we ask them to play.
Your dog deserves training that builds them up — not training that shuts them down. And the sport world needs more people willing to say enough.
We can train better. We can do better. And our dogs — our teammates, our companions, our friends — deserve nothing less.