of the Dog - Association of Pet Dog Trainers

woman named Fawn, who said to me, “You must meet
Ian Dunbar, he’s so cool and he’s the best.” I was very
impressed so she called Ian and said, “Ian, she came all
the way from France to the APDT conference, can you
believe it?” I discussed a little bit of the situation in France
with Ian and he understood I needed some support. So
he said to me, “Don’t worry, keep going, don’t give up,
this is the right way.” Believe me, a little sentence can give
you enough strength for years! I went back to France, and
anytime I got discouraged, and felt unsure of myself, I
always heard Ian speak to me with this simple sentence,
“Don’t worry, keep going, don’t give up, this is the right
way.” Because, after all, back in France everything had to
be done and it was very difficult to find a way to start.
The kennel clubs in France did a lot in a few years with
the introduction of puppy schools and the lure and reward
method. It was revolutionary for French trainers and they
started to promote positive training and early puppyhood
training. Still, there was always constant arguing over the
use of food rewards in training instead of looking at the
changes in their dogs’ motivation.
Because after all, it was not only about dog training,
but about how to change the way people understand dog
behavior and how to make owners and trainers realize
that dogs can think, feel and demand without being
disobedient or dominant.
One technique could change everything: fast shaping
with clicker training. Why? I believe when you see a
dog practice shaping with clicker training, what is there
to argue with? You cannot see dogs as you used to see
them—their behavior “talks” for them. Well, it was time
for French trainers to think and realize this.
After a few years of hard work, filled with a lot of
discussions, workshops, more and more trainers learned
about and used clicker and positive training. This was a
big challenge but we are so grateful after all our work.
So where are we now, in 2008, in positive dog training
in France? A lot has changed since 1999.
• Everyone has heard about positive dog training and
clicker training. Many trainers and owners now
practice training this way and we there are very
good trainers in France.
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Puppy schools are encouraged for all professional
and non-professional classes.
New sports like dog dancing are taking place.
A national dog training school now exists.
Discussions with the government about “dangerous
dogs” are ongoing.
Shelters are using professional and positive training
to rehabilitate dogs.
Many people in France now want to become positive
dog trainers and we being a professional dog trainer
is now fashionable.
And far away from that point in 1999, Ian and I
www.APDT.com
founded MFEC (Mouvement professionnel francophone
des éducateurs de chiens de compagnie or Francophone
Professional Pet Dog Trainers Movement). The MFEC has
the same goals as the American APDT. We promote positive
dog training and the work of professional dog trainers.
We organize a conference every year and our third one
occured in 2008. We issue a newsletter and promote the
APDT in France.
For the past three conferences, we have had the pleasure
to welcome Dr. Ian Dunbar for a three-day conference
at the Paris National Veterinary school. Donna Duford,
Roger Abrantes, Kelly Gorman, Turid Rugaas, and French
and European veterinarians and French professional dog
trainers were in attendance.
What is next in 2009 in France? One piece of good news
is a new invention by Dr. Dunbar: the four-day K9 Games.
Our next conference will have new lectures on scientific
topics, training methods, clicker training, and workshops
with veterinarians. Many projects will take place with
MFEC, such as professional commitments between breeder
s and MFEC dog trainers.
Above all, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is only
one way to train and treat dogs he right way. There are
many ways to do this well, and if we keep this in mind, we
will all do good job for us and for dogs.
For more information on MFEC, visit its web site at www.
mfec.fr.
Catherine Collignon is a professional dog trainer in France with
a specialization in behavioral rehabilitation. In 1993, she studied
psychology at the Center of Study, Research and Formation
in Applied Psychology in Nice with a special interest in canine
social behavior and aggression. She is the founder and owner of
ANIMALIN (www.animalin.net), the School of Clicker Training,
Dog Training, and Animal Behavior. ANIMALIN was the first
training school in France with a specialization in clicker training.
Since 2001, she has taught dog training methods and clicker
training to the Toulouse National Vet School students. In 2003,
she started her collaboration with the Toulouse Guiding Dogs
School, and she advises on the further education of the French
Federation of the Guiding Dogs Associations. In 2004, she
produced her first DVD, The Clicker Upside Down. In May
2006, she founded MFEC with Dr. Ian Dunbar. Currently she is
the manager of a new publishing company, Les éditions du Génie
Canin. She writes articles for the following French magazines:
Rottweiler News, Molosses News and Cyno Mag. In 2007,
Catherine will also introduce, as a dog-training teacher, one of
the first French high schools preparing future professional dog
trainers with government certification. Says Catherine: “Along
all these years, my education has been mostly built close to
dogs, and I would like to thank all the dogs I have met, they
will remain my Masters as far as animal behavior is concerned.
And I won’t forget my own dogs, who taught me that this whole
story is just about communication.”
November/December 2008 w The APDT Chronicle of the Dog w 37
Positive Dog Training in France