I was researching ways to work through Maxwell's crate guarding the other day, and came across this article. I found it to be a level-headed and fair assessment of the TV show 'The Dog Whisperer.' As a bonus, I completely agree with the author's conclusion: the show gives dog owners bad information that is not based in canine behavior or psychology. And in my opinion, the show could easily lead well-intentioned but poorly informed owners to make matters worse.
For the record, let me say that I have watched many episodes of the show myself. Before I learned about clicker training, I even tried to apply the show's methods to Sadie, hoping to stop her lunging and growling at other dogs while on walks. Far from teaching her to be calm and mind me, it made her even more sure that dogs are bad. Her behavior escalated until she actually pulled me off my feet one day while jogging, in front of a car turning into a driveway, on a dark sidewalk. I had horrible bruises on my hip and arm for weeks, and was afraid to walk Sadie without a prong collar.
Once I switched to positive reinforcement and worked through Control Unleashed, she began to ignore dogs. She even walks on a plain flat-buckle collar. Yes, I still have to keep an eye on her when I see other pups on walks or at trials, but I know that all I have to do is say her name. No matter how intense her interest is in the strange dog, she will whip around to me for a treat.
She is my recovering reactive dog. Like a recovering alcoholic, it will always be easy for her to regress. I will always have to be vigilant, but I no longer have to worry. We are both much happier.
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