Entrevista a Mike Morabito - Adiestrador canino profesional

Welcome to this new video from Animal Expert. Today we've traveled to Santa Colomba de Gramenet to visit Mike Moravito, a professional in training and behavior modification, canine judge and expert in hounds and molossers. Don't miss this interview. Hello, Mike. You're a specialist in training, education and behavior modification. How did you get started? Well, the truth is that I've always been fascinated by the world of dogs. As you know, I've spent about 28 years studying hounds, molossers, terriers, putts and all that stuff. And so I started to take the path of positive education thanks to a friend I met many years ago in Barcelona. And he told me, I see that you have passion in something special with dogs. I said, why don't you do something else? In other words, why don't you start introducing me to the world of training and things like that? Eight years ago, in 2010, I started my first positive training course. And I was delighted to tell you the truth, because it has changed my perspective a lot. It has opened my eyes a lot.

We know that you dedicate a lot of time to continuing to educate yourself.

Why do you think training is important? I have worked in every field of work, and I believe that it is essential because we should not, or at least we should not, as professionals, stagnate in any solid foundation that ends up, as you can see, becoming outdated. Ethology is a relatively young science. It has been formed and created for some 40 years, and in that short period of time, it has already evolved into veterinary clinical ecology. That's it.

Knowing your training methods, why did you choose positive training?

Simply because I see it as more practical and closer to the dog. Well, not this belief that is already in place, of course, that you already know that the alpha male and dominance are outdated. And that is a very old fashioned, very obsolete method. Well, I don't see any need to impose ourselves. I can accept that we have him as a guide, as a leader, in the sense of leadership. Well, in the sense that the leader has to teach, show the way to follow. Returning to the subject of hounds, grip dogs and such, there were people when I was starting to make a name for myself as a positive dog trainer. Let's say that these methods with these energetic hounds, because with these dogs you can't, and you know it. And I also say, well, I don't know, because since I've been working with these dogs or with those. With these dogs, the only way to do it is by imposing what can happen if we use very aggressive Punishment methods during training. For example, we're talking about an electric collar. Okay, well, all the aversive methods, punishment collars that people continue to defend as training collars, which I don't see clearly because we're doing the same thing as always. We're trying to mask punishment with training, and I don't see that at all. Side effects of punishment as a form of training are that the dog practically does not learn, because learning is not caused. What happens is that we do not create a feeling. We do not create a bond with the dog. What we are creating is a situation of fear. By having the dog like this, we are forcing it to do something. The dog becomes mechanized. It will obey out of fear. It is not obeying because it effectively understands what we ask of it and is complying with the order. A dog that is worked on in a positive way is in a positive way, understands perfectly what is asked of it and enjoys doing it. It enjoys being the owner. There is a bond. There is union. In other words, it is much more effective and more pleasurable for both. So do you think that punishment can cause for, for example, a breaking of the bond? No, but it can also cause aggressive behavior on the day. Of course. Think that. Let's see what has been studied. Positive punishment, that is, any aggressive method, callers, punishment, hitting, pulling, yelling, honking, do not create bonds. On the contrary, they are destroying the bond. It can create aggression. Sure, it can create aggression. Uncertainty, confusion. And the issue that causes aggression can be because there are dogs that at best get trapped in this behavior, fear, whatever. It reaches a point where it has three outlets. The dog may freeze, the dog may shy away from you, or simply when there is no room left for it, no solution. It will have to attack, but it will attack out of fear. On top of that, we blame it for our way of teaching, of educating, which is dysfunctional, impractical, and ineffective at any level. Many of our followers, especially on YouTube, when we explain, for example, behavior modification cases, ask us a lot. Why don't you explain the entire procedure? What would you tell them as a specialist? We don't explain as a specialist or professional. If I can afford to call myself a professional, I do not explain the entire procedure because I do not see it as practical. Because many times people think they can imitate what we say, simply explain it and take it as a lesson to follow. It is not practical, it is not functional, because each dog is unique. You have to know how to read the dog. You have to know how to read its language. You have to be aware of all the reactions it has, all the physiological changes that each behavior brings. In other words, if a dog is fearful or aggressive, you have to know how to distinguish each thing and explain a whole process of behavior modification in a case that I do not see as effective.

Of course, we do not explain all the techniques on our channel or on the page for this reason. But then, of course, what would you say to those people whose dogs have a behavior problem and who of course, want to solve it themselves? But why should it be important to go to a professional?

Look, that's like with everything. I would say that instead of the basics, there are people who sometimes insist on trying to solve a behavior problem themselves, depending on the severity of the problem. I think it's a good idea to try. Because if the severity is low, or if it's not such a serious problem that we're not talking about aggression, separation, anxiety or whatever, I think it's fine, try it. But if you see that things are getting out of hand, don't wait until things have become unsustainable. Do you understand what I'm saying? There are people who often go to a professional when things have already gotten out of hand, when the problem has already gotten out of hand, that's too late. They ignore the previous signs. I don't know if there's a growl, if the dog shows its teeth, if the dog curls up, if the dog is in any discomfort or whatever. And then when we talk about cases that are so serious, for example, a case of very serious aggression. Is it possible to Recover these dogs 100%? Aggression is a very sensitive issue because it is often not possible to recover a dog 100% because it will always have some behavior that can return. And I believe no professional can guarantee 100% total success. It depends on many things. The breed, the genetic factor, the breeding, the selection. There are many things it is not learning and with the help of a specialist. Do you think it could be controlled a little so that the situation does not happen again? Of course, of course. A good professional will tell you the key things first. No one is going to guarantee 100% success, as I just said. But they will tell you that within certain parameters, depending on the scarcity, with behavior modification or modeling or whatever, are also using, how do we say it? Nutraceutical food supplements and other things, the aggression or impulsivity parameter can be controlled and reduced. Of course, we have plenty. But of course you need a good professional and people who know what they are doing and do not lie to Yourself. Tell us three things that are essential when training a dog. The three basic things that are essential when you are training a dog or we are training a dog should be patience, consistency and above all, knowledge, consistency and perseverance. Because it takes a long time. And as we say, many people want something and they want it now, and many things they do cannot be achieved overnight. How can we detect that a dog training professional is not a good specialist? Basically, what I recommend is asking for credentials, getting information, asking for second opinions. Also, many times you see that people who are not true professionals or are not very good professionals, you will see that they try to, if you will allow me to use the term, sell you the bike. With a lot of technical jargon, with many words that are almost incomprehensible to people who do not know and why not, at some point demand a degree? Because I do not see it as a bad thing.

And in terms of techniques, how can we do that too? Because, for example, we might think that they know a lot and ask them for qualifications, they have them. But when it comes to working, how do we know if they are a good specialist?

I suppose that is evident. As you say, there can usually be a lot of paperwork, many diplomas and a lot of training. But in practice they are not as good as they are advertised. And this is evident in a class or two. When you are working with them, you see how they move, how they behave, when they get scared by the dog. You will see. As a professional, we would like you to give us some advice for the people who are watching us now. What would you tell them? What would you recommend for training their dogs? Well, the basics are that avoiding any type of punishment, I mean, when we start to see who has scared them or we get stressed, the dog shows signs of tiredness. I didn't insist. Don't exaggerate. You can do sessions on the coast. Keep in mind that each dog is different. The dog's age can also have an influence, as can their physical condition and the weather itself. I mean, the heat, the cold, the rain, the wind. There are many factors to take into account. The point is to have a lot of patience, perseverance. And this is the same thing that we notice when we are tired, stressed or we start to get frustrated. Leave it. Finish any type of class exercise, do it in the best possible way, and leave a period of time, a day, an afternoon, whatever, to start again. Short and effective sessions that the dog enjoys as a game. Well, thank you very much, Mike. You're welcome. You're delighted Tam Sam.