What “Balanced Training” Isn’t Telling You - Interview With Will Bangura
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In episode 34 of We Love Dogs, we’re diving into one of the most debated and often misunderstood topics in the dog world—aversive training methods.
From prong collars and e-collars to the idea of “balanced training,” there’s a lot of conflicting information out there. Many dog owners are told that these tools are necessary, especially when dealing with more serious behaviour issues like aggression or reactivity—but what does the science actually say?
To explore this properly, I’m joined by Will Bangura, a highly experienced US-based canine behaviourist with over 35 years of working with dogs, including some of the most complex behavioural cases. Will holds a Master’s degree in psychology and multiple advanced certifications in canine behaviour, and his work is grounded in evidence-based, humane training methods. He specialises in issues such as aggression, anxiety, and severe reactivity, and brings a unique perspective that combines behavioural science with real-world application. Importantly, his perspective is informed by experience across different training approaches, including earlier work using more traditional, aversive-based methods, which allows him to speak with balance and insight on how and why his approach has evolved.
In this episode, we break down some of the most common claims around aversive training—looking at whether these methods truly resolve behaviour or simply suppress it, what’s happening from a behavioural science perspective, and the potential risks involved.
We also explore what effective behaviour modification actually looks like without the use of aversive tools, and how changing a dog’s emotional response is key to long-term success.
Whether you’re a dog owner, trainer, or simply interested in understanding behaviour on a deeper level, this episode aims to cut through the noise and give you a clearer, evidence-based perspective on what really works—and what it means for the dogs we live with.
Want to connect with Will? Details below:
(3) Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/will.bangura]
DOG TRAINING PHOENIX | DOG TRAINERS PHOENIX | BEHAVIORIST [https://dogtrainingphoenix.com/]
Dog Training Today with Will Bangura for Pet Parents, Kids & Family, Pets and Animals, and Dog Training Professionals. This i - Podcast - Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dog-training-today-with-will-bangura-for-pet-parents/id1522544673]
Book: SNIFF TO SOOTHE: Rewiring Neurobehavioral Patterns of Aggression, Anxiety, and Reactivity Through Structured Scent Work - Kindle edition by Bangura, Will, Parsons, Emma. Crafts, Hobbies & Home Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. [https://www.amazon.com/SNIFF-SOOTHE-Neurobehavioral-Aggression-Reactivity-ebook/dp/B0FYYV4CGH?ref_=ast_author_dp&th=1&psc=1]
For questions or to work with Cheryl, you can reach her via:
Website: Chel's Tails | Dog Walking and Training [https://chelstails.co.uk/]
Email: cherylmarney@outlook.com
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