Who is Dog Daddy?

If you have a social media account or pay attention to the news, you may have heard the name “Dog Daddy” in the past several months. Currently, there is a large activist effort on social media platforms calling for this so-called “dog trainer” to be canceled for his inhumane methods. Dog Daddy is a self-proclaimed expert in curing extremely aggressive and reactive dogs. Most of us in the dog training world, particularly the positive training world, would like to see him and his methods banned in the US and other countries for their cruelty and ineffectualness. Activists, led by renowned YouTuber and Positive Trainer, Zak George, have been successful in preventing Dog Daddy from training in the UK, Australia, Italy, and Los Angeles so far. They have also been successful in getting his TikTok account banned.

Why are people protesting Dog Daddy?

Augusto Deoliveira, aka Dog Daddy, is known for his outdated, abusive methods and his abominable track suits. His methods rely heavily on fear, punishment and intimidation. These methods, in the last several decades, have become considered by the leading experts in behavioral sciences to be outdated and inhumane. They are condemned by many leading organizations in this field, including the RSPCA, The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, The Animal Training and Behavior Council, The Pet Professional Guild, The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, and others. Dog Daddy’s methods are actually so horrific that I find myself unable to finish watching some of the videos I have come across. In fact, what Dog Daddy does is not training at all—it is animal abuse. Dogs behave aggressively most commonly because they are experiencing fear. Suppressing an animal’s outward expression of their internal emotional state is not dog training, it is just an unskilled, uneducated person abusing an animal into submission.

What are some of the aversive methods and accessories Dog Daddy uses?

Helicoptering. According to the CCPDT, this is “the act of lifting the dog off the ground and, either holding it off the ground OR swinging the dog off the ground by the collar or leash for any period of time” (CCPDT). This method is banned by the CCPDT, meaning that all trainers certified by this organization have vowed not to use it, and will lose their certification if they are found to be using it.

Fear and Intimidation. Deoliveira is seen snapping in dogs’ faces, pointing at their eyes from inches away. He speaks harshly, saying “Enough!”. In many videos, I have seen him using his body to threaten bodily harm against the dogs.

Hitting and Poking. He is seen in many videos hitting, poking, or prodding dogs repeatedly. I’ve also seen videos of him pulling and yanking dogs by their collars as they yelp and scream in fear or pain.

Pressure and Release. A Traditional dog training method in which one applies pressure to the dog, usually around the neck, but sometimes the abdomen as well. When the dog performs the desired behavior, the pressure is released.

Prong Collar. A collar with metal prongs that poke the dog’s neck and throat. Many traditional trainers say this does not cause the dog harm or discomfort. However, that is not true. Research has long shown that these collars cause pain and distress for dogs, and can also cause injuries including punctured and inflamed skin and muscle, cervical spine injuries, and damage to the windpipe and thyroid glands (RSPCA).

Who is speaking out against Dog Daddy?

As mentioned earlier, a large number of credible organizations have released position statements condemning Dog Daddy and his methods. The organizations I am currently aware of with position statements are The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, The RSPCA, The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, The Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and The Pet Professional Guild. Zak George, a dog trainer and YouTuber, is leading the charge against Deoliveira. Please look him up on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or YouTube.

What does this have to do with you?

Everyone in the United States should know that there are currently no legal requirements to become a dog trainer. There is very little regulation in the industry. Anyone can wake up in the morning and decide to call themselves a dog trainer. They don’t need any knowledge or training themselves. There are also very loose legal restrictions on training methods. For something to be illegal, it must be considered abuse by the law. But this standard is too high, and there is currently no efficient way of monitoring trainers and their methods, as evidenced by what is happening with Dog Daddy. This is unfortunate because this means that many dogs out there are currently being and will continue to be harmed by abusive, uneducated people calling themselves trainers. So when selecting a trainer, just know there are credible organizations out there certifying dog trainers. When trying to identify a trainer who will use science-based, force-free, and positive methods, look for any of these initials as proof that they have been certified by a reputable organization: CPDT-KA, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, CSAT, CDBC, VSA-CDT, KPA-CTP.

Petition to stop Dog Daddy from operating in Arizona

If you are looking for a way to help, please consider signing the petition to stop Dog Daddy from coming to Phoenix. The petition can be found at here.

AVSAB. “Position Statement on Humane Dog Training.” AVSAB.Org, 2021, avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf.

CCPDT. “Dog Training and Behavior Intervention Practices.” CCPDT.Org, Aug. 2011, www.ccpdt.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Dog-Training-and-Behavior-Intervention-Practices.pdf.

RSPCA. “RSPCA Raises Concerns about Controversial USA Dog Trainer’s UK Visit.” RSPCA.Org, 7 Sept. 2023, www.rspca.org.uk/-/news-rspca-raises-concerns-about-controversial-dog-trainer.

ACVB. “Statement 9.13.23.” Dacvb.Org, 13 Sept. 2023, www.dacvb.org/page/sep2023statement.

ABTC. “Statement from the Animal Behaviour and Training Council.” ABTC.Org.Uk, 25 Aug. 2023, abtc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Statement-from-the-Animal-Behaviour-and-Training-Council-25.8.23.pdf.

Facebook, The Pet Professional Guild, 30 Aug. 2023, m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0271hazQy1nodjgQFDhq33GcEMdfAaqtCwZ9y2bJFDVdZWpmMEPHKTUrR3MUdcZubMl&id=100067779339862&mibextid=qC1gEa.