Does aversive control mean fear and pain?
Does it leave dogs traumatized?
Can every behavior be taught with rewards alone, making aversive control unnecessary?
Does science truly show that aversive methods are inferior to positive reinforcement?

The debate around aversive control in dog training has reached a fever pitch. Any trace of discomfort is now equated with abuse. Certain tools are branded as instruments of fear and pain. This thinking has spread beyond training circles into vet offices, shelters, and professional conversations about canine welfare.

But have we gone too far?

Are we drowning in what looks like science-backed certainty while ignoring thriving, confident dogs in the real world?

Are we overlooking flawed and incomplete studies, forgetting what biology shows us across species?

And in doing so, have we lost the ability to distinguish true abuse from a different—yet thoughtful—style of training?

In this 2-day seminar, Michael Ellis and Dr. Melanie Uhde will go deep into what science actually demonstrates, what it cannot demonstrate, and how careful translation into practice shapes modern dog training. Alongside the science, the seminar will be filled with discussions of practical applications, new ways of thinking about how we train, and live demonstrations with dogs that bring these concepts to life.

This is not a glorification of tools. It is not a defense of sloppy or uneducated application of aversive control. Instead, it is an examination of flaws, nuances, and the broader landscape of how dogs learn under varied motivators and emotional states.

The goal is clear: to raise confident, capable dogs who can navigate the world with resilience, minimal conflict, and optimal welfare, whether as family companions or high-level sport partners.

Because curiosity is not optional. Understanding never ends. And our dogs deserve both.