It's so sad that you feel unwelcome just because your opinions differ from the majority on here regarding CM. If you do a search on CM you'll find you're not alone and it's nothing new either.
For what it's worth I think both you and Rottie boy have remained remarkably civil in the discussion and you will find it's really not possible to have a balanced discussion regarding CM on the forum and never has been.

I don't feel unwelcome because the majority differ from me, I don't mind that at all.

I feel unwelcome because as a Buddhist I won't even harm an insect but members here seem to have me down as a dog beater in my first few days so I have obviously not made a good start.

I try to keep out of these threads these days but I feel I must contribute.

Shane - you are MOST welcome, don't leave. I think it is always a good thing to try to see the good in something so I guess that may be where you were coming from with your thread? Nothing wrong in that at all. Yet, people do get upset at watching this trainer making a living out of what many feel is abusing dogs - even in the Alan Titchmarsh show he did not argue when challenged on punching dogs.

So you see for many, there are no positives where this guy is concerned because he seems to have made his name while employing cruel tactics. So many people have been successful using positive methods and genuinely building a trusting relationship with a dog that it is impossible to justify using harsh methods.

Gnasher - I have a lot of respect for you but I think you are being unfair by shouting bigotry and fanaticism. I could no more punch Loki than I could my children to get them to comply, no matter what they did. You are an intelligent woman - can you not see that punching and kicking dogs (however it is dressed up for TV) is abhorrent to many of us? If you can, you should be able to understand why people would rather not have to be forced to accept CM as a "trainer" and so get upset by it. It's no reflection on you or Shane or anyone but you really need to understand that violence is unacceptable to many dog lovers.

It is never my intention to make anyone feel unwelcome
and as has been said in the many many of these threads I dont believe the majority of people posting in places like these actually use the methods that we are speaking out against
In the main - with one exception that I wont mention here - I do not think Gnasher uses harsh methods - or CM methods at all
Obviously newer people on here I dont know - but I always tend to assume that they dont use the harsh methods CM uses

It is not just my oppinion that CM cannot read dogs - it is seen time and time again - most recently with the Holly clip - it was clear to all Holly would bite - yet CM was surprised cos he cannot read dogs

It is not just my oppinion that CM uses cruel methods, it has been scientifically proven that getting a dog so worked up that they react so aggressivly raises stress levels hugly - which can shorten the dogs life. There are plenty other methods to work on to keep dogs below threshold which CM has been told about but he refuses to use them - therefore he is cruel

He does punch, kick, use choke chains, prong collars and he even invented a special collar to enable him to choke dogs more effectivly

Hi and his team DO wind up dogs to make them react - and they all laugh when the dogs are driven to react

He does get bitten and offer advice that will cause other people to get bitten

Yes possibly his methods do work on and save some dogs - but they also fail other dogs and owners, put bite histories on dogs when there is no need
There are plenty of other trainers who work with dogs just as aggressive - and they are careful not to get bitten because that makes it likely that the dog will get put to sleep

These things are not my oppinions - they are the truth

Very good points and so the question must be asked - if others get results with kind methods, why entertain someone who does the horrible things Cm does? Why is it acceptable?

This is why many on Dogsey get upset by it. It's no reflection on you, Shane, for asking your question.

The idea that this guy actually hurts dogs in the name of "training" - and defends it - is very hard for people to bear. So since there are other ways as demonstrated by other trainers, it is hard to see anything positive in CM's methods as anything positive is zeroed out by a negative. If you see what I mean???

Haven't read the whole thread because I've been here before but as for positive CM feedback: I like the concept of the different 'energy' people have and how dogs respond to it. I see it every day at work.

(I myself channel 'senior bitch' energy; kindly and nurturing but don't mess with me.)

Nah, I don't think for a moment that anyone sees you as a dog beater. You raised a discussion question and it has been discussed. I've not read all the replies, but I'm sure that none of those who dislike CM's methods based on your original post believe that you raised it because you copy his techniques.

Hang in there, it's not such a bad place to get help, discuss hot topics or even just have friendly banter

Come on Shane, you were not to know that your thread would touch such a raw nerve with so many.........start afresh with us tomorrow and find out what a lovely site this really is.

I may be wrong, but I think that you are the only Buddhist member so far and I for one will be looking forward to getting to know you and your dogs better.

Hi Shane,

Emotions will always run high around topics such as dog abuse. However, we do not allow members to get personal and had you reported the post our moderators would have removed such comments.

If you look around you will see people with a wide variety of views here, although naturally being a dog lovers site most of our members opinions are in line with that. But we're always up for grown up discussion.

It's interesting you mention you are a Buddhist, would you mind if I asked you how you feel about CM, given he punches and kicks dogs? What does Buddhism teach you about the actions of others - particularly when they are hitting animals?

I ask because it seems contradictory, that a Buddhist would think someone who kicks and punches dogs is 'ok'.

There's the strangely named Dog Psychology Center - I'm sure there used to be a web page which detailed the background of the dogs there, many of which were ex fighting dogs. (The name is bit weird I admit !).

There's his promotion of spay and neuter campaigns - I seem to recall there was a push to capture and neuter street dogs in Mexico - as well as the US campaigns.

Involvement with reuniting dogs/owners after natural disasters (e.g. Katrina).

That's without touching on anything at all to do with training, so to my mind, to say he does no good at all is simply not correct.