Thousands sign protests to boycott US dog trainer

Controversial figure who uses shock and prong collars due in Perthshire in August

Tens of thousands of dog lovers have added their names to petitions calling for a controversial US trainer to be banned from hosting a seminar in Perthshire.

Calls are growing for the Scottish Government to step in and halt Jeff Gellman’s two-day class, due to take place in Braco in August.

The news has outraged dog lovers, many of whom have condemned his techniques – which include the use of shock and prong collars – as outdated and cruel.

Gellman, who owns Solid K-9 Training, based in Rhode Island, was recently forced to defend his methods after a video of him throwing a rolled up towel with force at the head of a dog during a seminar in Las Vegas went viral.

An American petition set up following the incident last September has gained thousands of signatures in just 24 hours, while a new UK-based petition calling for Gellman to be banned from hosting in Scotland is also gathering support.

Katie McCandless-Thomas of Dog Friendly Perthshire said the reaction reflected the strength of feeling in the canine-loving community.

She said: “From the comments on Facebook and from the petitions circulating, it’s clear to see that countless people do not want to welcome anyone who uses the cruel methods of e-collars and even prong collars.

“There is no place for them in the dog world and certainly not in our dog-loving county of Perthshire.”

Stirling SNP MP Alyn Smith, honorary president of the SSPCA, echoed the condemnation of Gellman’s methods. “People are understandably horrified by what they’ve seen from Mr Gellman’s methods, and there’s just no place for it,” he said. “There are plenty of great local dog trainers around who promote positive reinforcement training with dogs of all ages. You’ll likely also find they come at a fraction of the price too.

“We understand enough about our furry companions in this modern age to know that we don’t need to be cruel to our dogs to promote good behaviour.”

However, Mike Flynn, head of the SSPCA, said the charity will not be able to monitor the seminar. “As this is a private event, the only way we can attend is if we receive a complaint,” he said. “If someone who is at the event wants to make a complaint and give a witness statement, this can be done confidentially.”

Mr Gellman has not responded to request for commen.

A capture from a video of the controversial US dog trainer Jeff Gellman. Tens of thousands have now signed online petitions to stop him holding a seminar in Perthshire this summer.