Is the Heal Ethical?

Ethics is a life-construct that we as humans define in many different ways. It depends on the individual, group, culture, even religion - all of which are governed by a belief system that guides their behaviours. And if all of them sat down to discuss morality, there would be a variety of answers, all being the right one.

So, what about dog training? What makes training ethical? Is it force-free? Positive Reinforcement? Giving agency to the dog?

What about neutering? Is that ethical? Or not ethical? Because we provide the voice for the dog, are all our decisions on their behalf actually what they would want for themselves? And just because they want something different to what we want for them, is that necessarily what is best for them? Who decides what’s ‘best’?

The science of ethics is a big driver in the development of the Heal lead. And in some ways, it has juxtaposed my ideals. I am a trainer of dogs in which I am an observer, a learner and an advocator. I truly believe that dog training is not about dogs at all. It is about us looking at ourselves in the mirror and asking ourselves what we plan to do with the power we have as the dogs’ voices.

But, I am also a trainer who sees a large number of dogs yanked, choked, yelled at and deprived of a life that could be better. The biggest breakdown in our relationship with dogs is the combination of not meeting a dog’s needs, and expecting dogs to adhere to our arbitrary rules . There is a sad world out there of dogs who are given up on, because they are not able to integrate into a human lifestyle. I have never seen as many dogs in pounds as what I see nowadays. Mostly medium to large dogs - most of which are anxious, fearful and untrained. Or, should I say un-human-trained.

Dogs see the world differently. They observe through their nose. They laugh with their play bows. They roll in shit to smell good. They lift their leg as high as they can to communicate their size. They pull on the lead because they have needs that are not being met. They do what they do to tell us something.

Here is where my ethics become challenged as a trainer:

Dogs who pull are less likely to be walked.

Pulling can cause dogs to injure their necks, noses, and chests, depending on the tool they are fitted with.

Dogs who pull are less likely to share a walk that is enjoyable, safe and bond-building.

A dog’s life is invariably less full, if they are deprived of sniffing, moving and thinking each day.

In an ideal world, every dog would have a personal fear-free trainer alongside them, working with their human until the relationship between human and dog was based on unbreakable trust and respect. But, it is very much a chicken/egg conundrum. If you can’t walk your dog, can you give them everything they need in life? For some, yes. But for the majority of dogs who exist for our companionship - the answer would be an unequivocal ‘no’.

I remember working at the zoo, watching the Keepers training the tigers to voluntarily present their shoulder for a vaccination, or the gorillas willingly open their mouths for a dental check. Then, on the weekend I would take my dog to the local obedience club where a correction chain was mandatory. I look back now and shake my head. We should have done better by our dogs.

The Heal is not a perfect tool. It uses the physical definition of force to reduce pulling. Clipping around the dog’s front legs, if the dog pulls beyond the threshold of their full leg extension, the cuffs naturally put pressure on the legs to stop the pull. Force is an interesting word. Keeping our feet on the ground is a result of gravity, which is a force we all literally owe our lives to. But, then there are forces that cause harm and stress.

Does the Heal cause harm and stress? If you think about movement, fully extending the front legs are an essential part of free motion. If there is a force that is stronger than the full extension of the leg, then the Heal equals the force in the opposite direction. Simply, it halts the pulling action. Its mechanism can be compared to a head collar, however it does not obstruct the dog’s main sensory system, or cause such distress that the dog spends the entire walk trying to remove the device.

Dogs who are brachycephalic are particularly in need of a safe tool, given their airways are easily restricted and damaged by the pulling action. A warm day, pulling on the lead could end in death for a Frenchie.

So, in essence, the Heal does use a force to reduce pulling. It is not by definition force-free, but nothing is. If we use it for good, it could be life changing for thousands of dogs and their guardians. I’d like to see this tool used as an adjunct to awesome training by qualified professionals in the field. The days of tethering a dog by the neck or nose are surely gone, aren’t they? Let’s make that happen. Together, we can walk on a mission to improve dogs’ lives, harnessing a relationship that needs to be nurtured. Focusing on the heel is so outdated! Let’s start to Heal instead.