Force-Free Promise
We are incredibly proud to have a team of experts including professional dog trainers and behaviourists at The Muzzle Movement.
We are educated and experienced in this field and we understand the impacts of different training methods. In our personal and professional lives, we are committed to using force-free, science-based, kind and effective training methods and we are committed to promoting these methods as a company.
What is force-free training?
We use positive reinforcement-based training methods and encourage the use of counter conditioning/desensitisation as well as environmental management in behaviour modification. The basic principle is rewarding our dogs when they do something we like and showing them what we’d like them to do instead if they do something we don’t like. It requires consistency from everyone in the household, patience and plenty of toys, treats or whatever your dog loves!
Positive, force-free training is great for so many reasons; it is scientifically proven to be a kind and effective method of animal training, it boosts dogs’ confidence, encourages them to think and actually learn, it gives them the option of choice and it builds trust between dogs and their guardians and makes training fun rather than scary! Positive reinforcement training works for ALL breeds, ages, background and temperament of dog. In fact, positive reinforcement is the chosen method of training for most zoos, so if it works for teaching a tiger to stand for a blood sample, it will work for dogs with even the toughest reputations! No breed needs a ‘firm hand’.
We are against the use of aversive training tools such as shock collars, prong or choke collars, grot collars, spray bottles, air cans and slip leads (used as a training tool), as well as the use of physical or intimidating corrections as a training method.
What is the problem with punishments?
Most behaviour comes from an emotion and punishment may stop or ‘suppress’ the behaviour, but the emotion remains the same. We have very little control over what our dogs associate punishment with. At best, punishment can be confusing for a dog, at worst it can be very dangerous as these methods can cause dogs to develop fearful associations and ultimately a risk of aggression.
If there are training methods available to us which are kind, fair and effective, why would we want to use methods which result in a dog doing as they are asked through fear of retribution, rather than understanding?
What does this mean for me, as a dog guardian or professional?
Muzzles have traditionally only been available from companies who also make or sell aversive training product. We know, as passionately force-free consumers ourselves, that we prefer to support companies whose ethics align with our own personal beliefs. This hasn’t always been an option before now and we are the first muzzle company to stand proud in our dedication to using and promoting positive-based training methods.
Memberships
The Muzzle Movement is a proud corporate ambassador of the Pet Professional Guild
Meaning we support their guiding principles and join them on ‘a mutual quest to educate, engage, and empower the pet-owning public with the science-based reality that no aversive methods are ever needed to train and care for their fur or feathered family members’.
To be a corporate partner of the Pet Professional Guild, we commit to a strict force-free code of conduct.
The Muzzle Movement are delighted to be a supporting company of the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter.
This shows our support of the UK Dog Charter’s ethos and aims.The Charter is ‘a collaboration of many of the UK’s leading behaviour and training membership organisations who for the first time have come together cooperatively under the Charter umbrella to work in unison for the benefit of dogs, dog owners and guardians, and the wider profession’.
By supporting the UK Dog Charter, we are committed to not using, supplying or promoting aversive equipment and methodology.