This is a useful playlist for modern dog trainers that believe in Steven Lindsay’s LIMA guidelines but are hesitant to learn about prong style and ecollars.

There are many styles of dog training out there that reasonable people will consider humane.

This specific playlist is inspired by Steven Lindsay’s version of LIMA for dog trainers  It teaches how to use aversives (especially prong and ecollar style collars) VERY differently from what was mainstream 20-plus years ago. Trainers that follow this style generally call themselves “Foundation Style Dog Trainers” because most aspects of the training should not be learned or applied unless there is a solid foundation of concepts on the lower levels.

You will notice that style teaches all behaviors purely through positive reinforcement before adding any aversives into the plan.  When aversives are introduced, it is done as carefully as possible to make the experience as “fear-free” and “force free” as possible.

It is not NePoPo, it is not what is followed at Ecollar Franchises, and not what is taught in the instruction manual that comes with an ecollar, not taught at Leerburg, or currently any seminar.

 I am not claiming that it is better or worse than any style, I am just saying that the particular style is based on the interpretation of Steven Lindsay’s LIMA guidelines and in my OPINION represents a humane way to train with these tools according to those principles because it was designed with those specific principles in mind.

There may be trainers that teach in a very similar way and just call it something different.

 It is good to know the differences in training styles and stay current on what is out there whether you choose to utilize it or not for obvious reasons if you are a professional.

Given the circumstances, I thought this playlist may be useful to a specific niche of trainers looking for more information.

I keep this YouTube playlist “unlisted” because of how easily it can be misunderstood if not played in order, especially when using aversive training tools.  I do not like the videos to randomly pop up, out of order, on an internet search. Yet, at the same time, I feel it essential that base information is at least available to the general public.

The quality of my presentations are not always the best, and I am not the greatest speaker, but I consider myself a person of integrity, humane, and very ethical. Besides nearly 30 years in the “trenches” as a dog training student and professional dog trainer, I also am certified by New York state as an animal science teacher and teach animal training at an accredited vocational school, so I am not in the habit of teaching information that is not broadly accepted as true from an academic perspective.

The playlist barely scratches the surface of everything a professional dog trainer should know at an entry-level (e.g. husbandry, behavior plans, instructing clients, etc..).  But, I choose what I think is most important to START with, and then it becomes easier to find your own direction and recognize bias.

The playlist is explained in terms of classical and operant conditioning and is based on the teachings of Steven Lindsay.  Specifically, guidelines that support cynopraxis and follow HIS original guidelines of LIMA and not any cherry-picked version that fits a specific agenda.

To truly be a LIMA (Least Intrusive and Minimally Aversive) based dog trainer and not just an MA (Minimally Aversive) trainer, you must have a certain level of competence to understand when the level of intrusiveness to the dog and owner’s relationship and overall quality of life is being impeded upon by focusing on just being MInimally Aversive.  LI and MA keep each other in check.

Without these checks it is possible to be overly aversive to a dog when not necessary or to be so non-aversive that a dog ends up managed to the point that it barely spends any quality time with its owners or fails altogether at living a safe life, free from endangering others or itself.

It takes more than an entry-level playlist to master being “LIMA”, but without having a correct definition or entry-level instruction to use modern training tools in a way designed with LIMA in mind, a forward-looking dog trainer has no starting point.

Steven Lindsay states in his teaching that it is not reasonable to have broad success as a dog trainer without knowledge of when and how to apply aversives and it has become my opinion throughout the years that THAT is one of the main reasons an otherwise experienced and knowledgeable dog owner, may need to enroll the help of a professional.  To help make those careful decisions individually, with the overall goal of a better quality of life.

There are also videos that explain in much more depth the real research and usefulness of understanding canine behavior, especially “dominance” from an ethological point of view and not just what an organization or person on TV tells you what it is.  It is much better to know where the source material is, and to form your own opinion about its usefulness as a dog trainer.

In this way, at least you are not blindly following position statements.  Form your own position instead.

I consider myself a bit of a historian on the evolution of dog training over the last century. Therefore, I want to state to keep an open mind to all NEW information.

Many of our beliefs as dog trainers are based on “old school” examples from 30 years ago that certainly are still floating around, and efforts to counter the unnecessary brutality from that time period that in my OPINION over compensate too much and are also becoming “old school”.

As a professional, I believe it is my and our responsibility to always investigate thoroughly before making a decision about what best moves the field forward.  Do not be bullied by others' or organizations' opinions.