Consent in Training

Last updated on: May 23, 2021

In this episode of K9 Conservationists (previously called Canine Conversations), Kayla speaks with Erin Jones.They discuss the topic of consent in dogs. They cover what consent is, why it is important, and how you get – and maintain – a dog’s consent to participate in training or a behavior treatment plan.

Consent – what is it? “permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.” What does that mean in a training scenario?

Dog is willingly participating – does dog understand what they are consenting to?

Dog has agreed to engage
Dog has a choice to participate or not
Dog has a choice of what behaviors they can offer

Dog needs to understand what the agreement is
Consent implies a power dynamic

Can we help dogs understand what they are consenting to by using systematic training? Instead of expecting the entire finished behavior

It is easier when you have direct information to offer, such as displaying a brush or nail clippers for a groom, so it depends on the situation
Observational learning help inform a dog about what they are consenting to

What role does choice play in consent?

True choices (two options equal in quality) allow for true consent

Is it ever okay to ignore lack of consent?

Should be done only when necessary

Needs to be done conscientiously
Trust bank account
Make choice vs no choice clear

Why is it important?

Practical reasons
- Dog participates more enthusiastically
- dog generally offers more complete behaviors – discretionary effort
- less likely to trigger aggression during behavior modification
- Builds trust

Ethical reasons
- evidence that having choice increases emotional welfare (link to study or article?)
- less likely to trigger unpleasant emotions
- Builds trust