Ahead of his scheduled visit to Toronto, concerns are being raised within the dog training community regarding the methods employed by popular social media dog trainer Augusto Deoliveira, known as the Dog Daddy. With a substantial online following of 2.48 million subscribers, Deoliveira bills himself as a trainer specializing in addressing behavioral issues in dogs, such as reactivity, aggression, and high-strung behavior.
Critics argue that Deoliveira utilizes what they describe as “aversive conditioning” to curb unwanted behavior in dogs. Aversive conditioning can involve the use of physical force against a dog or the application of pronged, shock, or choke collars. Some videos on his YouTube channel have depicted dogs being suspended by the neck using leashes, a practice critics assert may endanger the dogs’ oxygen supply.
In a YouTube video from earlier this year, Deoliveira defended his methods, pointing to the behavior of the dogs he has worked with as evidence of his success. He argued that many of the dogs he encounters have been trained using ineffective techniques, emphasizing the importance of using the right methods to control dogs.
Andre Yeu, founder of When Hounds Fly, a dog training school in Toronto, expressed concern over Deoliveira’s training techniques, describing them as “harmful.” Yeu’s sentiments are shared by others, as an online petition aimed at preventing Deoliveira from offering classes in Toronto has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures.
Yeu emphasized the potential for Deoliveira’s methods to provoke adverse responses in dogs, ultimately making them more aggressive and dangerous. Despite attempts to request an interview with Deoliveira by CBC Toronto, no response has been received from the controversial dog trainer.
