One of my former students wrote me about his clients experience with remote collar training. Jeffrey Ong owns a company called K9 World. He lives in Singapore, a country that has regulations in place regarding dogs, the training industry, and accreditation of dog trainers.
Dogs of certain breeds (Pit Bull, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa and their crosses, and the Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd Dog (and related breeds), Rottweiler and Perro de Presa Canario ) are referred to as Scheduled dogs. They must be licensed and are required to undergo basic obedience training with an AVA (Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore) accredited dog trainer.
As part of the process, owners must fill out a feedback from regarding the obedience training programs that they have gone thru with their respective dog trainers. Each dog trainer needs a minimum of 6 feedback forms per year to be included in the list of AVA accredited dog trainers.
Accredited dog trainers have the freedom to choose the training tools they deem appropriate for the dog & client. The feedback form requests information about the training facilities, training equipment, and methods used.
Below is information on one of the client feedback forms that Jeffrey shared with me.
“Regarding the fact that Singapore is a big city I wanted to have a dog who is 101% reliable. Jeffery Ong introduced me to the Ecollar training
The line of communication with my dog is crystal clear after all the training and conditioning. My dog knows what I expect from her and obeys all my commands. I’m also in better control than with the leash because I can react on time which makes my dog extremely reliable and that’s why my dog can walk off leash. The e-collar works for me as an invisible leash-owner and dog react effectively with it. The Ecollar works for me a more reliable tool (of training) than a leash.
Special thanks to Jeffery Ong who put all the effort in our training sessions and the results is an perfectly obedient dog which makes people giving compliments everywhere.”
When Jeffrey attended my course on ways to train and utilize the remote collar, we had many conversations about whether or not the tool would be accepted in his country. He, like many, had concerns about how the tool would reflect on his business. I often hear the phase “well, where I live….” which is followed by a myriad of reasons why dog owners are somehow different in that location. My response is always the same “People are people” We share similar fears and anxieties, have been exposed to the same myths and misconceptions and likewise share commonality in our desires to have a happy and harmonious relationship with our dogs.
Fortunately for us, dogs are dogs. They have no preconceived notions, nor judgement about tools.
Thanks for sharing this feedback Jeffrey, it is always nice to hear that education is helping fear and misconception to fade away…whether in Singapore or anywhere else.