Controversial trainer cancels Strath date

Petition and protest threat over previous visit plan

“I would encourage those in the area using these methods to reconsider their actions and seek advice from the many trained dog behaviouralists and trainers who have found less aggressive and more patient ways to train dogs.

“Trainers like Jeff Gellman should not be encouraged and we ask the host of this event to think again.”

An online petition protesting against Mr Gellman’s methods was signed by more than 80,000 people.

Perth and Kinross Council were set to send an animal welfare team to the twoday seminar in the Strath.

And Strath dog lovers were threatening to stage a protest outside the venue.

However, Katie McCandless Thomas of Dog Friendly Perthsire discovered that Mr Gellman has called off his UK visit when he uploaded a video to his YouTube site on Sunday in which he answered followers’ questions.

Katie told the Herald: “One of the questions people asked him was would there be disabled access to his UK seminars and his response was that he is not coming now.

“We have always made it quite clear what our stance is on some training methods in the dog world and that they are not what I believe in or will associate Dog Friendly Perthshire with in any way.

“I know this is backed by many dog trainers, dog friendly businesses, dog owners and countless other animal lovers out there.

“This is why we are extremely happy to find out that Jeff Gellman has announced himself that he is no longer coming to

England and Scotland for his seminars this summer!

“We do not support his ‘ training’ methods in the slightest and I’m glad to see he realises he is not welcome here.

“Thank you absolutely everyone who took the time to speak out against him. “Your voices need to be heard to protect our dogs.

Crieff’s June McEwan was among those prepared to take part in a demonstration if the seminar went ahead.

She commented: “I was very relieved to hear he is not coming now. A small group had planned to make banners and stand in protest if the workshops had gone ahead.

“I feel that no dog should be trained by his methods.

“Fear is no way to inspire loyalty from any animal.”

Speaking in his YouTube video, Mr Gellman said: “We are actually not going to be doing any overseas seminars in 2020. “We will be announcing that next week. “There’s a lot of stuff going on in the UK with the training element, that is keeping us from doing our seminars.”