Educational program „Train Instead of Abandon“

Educational program „Training Instead of Abandon“

(dog training and ethology)

Good dog training promotes safety, strengthens the bond between owner and dog, and makes daily life more enjoyable for everyone involved. But: What constitutes “good” dog training?

In Chile, there is no tradition of studying behavioral science or using it as a basis for dog training —knowledge of these topics is virtually nonexistent among large segments of the population. This results in a great deal of suffering and, among other things, helps explain, at least in part, the deeply rooted practice of abandoning dogs, with its dramatic consequences for animals, people, and nature.

Fortunately, however, awareness of these issues is growing among the Chilean population. This is accompanied by a significant increase in demand for “educadores caninos”, the Chilean term for dog trainers. While this trend offers hope, it also carries the risk that charlatans will see it as a lucrative opportunity, peddling their (if any) superficial knowledge and thereby causing further harm.

Our new educational program “Train Instead of Abandon” is designed to help steer this development in a meaningful and positive direction, as all projects within this program aim to create qualified training and counseling services for dogs and people.

We launched the program in March 2026 by supporting a dog trainer in Chile who, upon completion of her six-month intensive course, will have acquired sound, scientifically up-to-date, and ideologically neutral expertise that she can then pass on to others.