Group rules
Rule 1. Members must support the ethos of the group
This is a discussion group for people who want to train gun dogs with a minimum of force. We aim to support and encourage gundog owners who want to train with minimal force or to eliminate force entirely.
Members do not have to be force-free trainers but should be interested in positive-reinforcement training, interested in reducing the amount of aversives used in gundog training. And in supporting and encouraging others who want to do so.
It is expected that members will not disparage the group or its aims, or make comments outside the group which may discourage others from joining.
Rule 2. Members may not post inappropriate material
All material posted on this group must be appropriate for a family viewing: posts, must not contain hateful, racist, obscene, or inflammatory content in any form including but not limited to text, photographs,video, etc
Advice to others should be appropriate and relevant. If you are making claims about the efficacy of alternative healthcare products you are asked to include links to evidence that supports your claims. Anecdotal “it cured my dog” type comments are not sufficient.
Inaccurate or misleading information and advice may be deleted.
The group may not be used for personally naming and shaming, for discrediting mainstream trainers who have still not abandoned the use of physical corrections, or for posting photographs or reports of cruelty. It is fine to discuss the behaviour in general terms (where such discussion makes a worthwhile contribution to the topic), but it is not ok to discuss the person or persons behind it.
Rule 3. No commercial posts or advertising
Please do not use the group to promote your business, or hobby. That includes your own Facebook group or page. Even if you are a dog photographer, breeder, trainer, artist etc., the group is not an appropriate place to use for direct advertising.
Rule 4. No puppies or dogs for sale
The group may not be used to advertise puppies or dogs for sale, or for rehoming. Please ask before advertising dogs for rescue, or dogs lost.
Rule 5. No inappropriate links
Inappropriate links may be removed and include but are not limited to, links to to websites containing any of the content types prohibited in rule 2, links to advertisements, links to inaccurate or misleading claims with potential welfare or safety implications, including links to ‘veterinary’ treatments that have been proven not to work (e.g.homeopathic remedies) or based on pseudoscientific principles. Inappropriate links may be removed.
Rule 6. No promoting causes
Please don’t use this group for promoting a cause without asking first. By promoting a cause, I mean asking other members to take some action in support of you, or in support of another person, organization, charity, political party,religious group etc. This might be in the form of asking for votes, likes, donations, reviews, or asking for signatures on a petition.
Rule 7. No propaganda
If your post fulfils all the following five criteria, it is propaganda
It is a statement, or opens with a statement.
It is biased, misleading, or extreme
It is intended to promote a ‘cause’ or stance
It is an attempt to divert away from the topic of the thread
It implicitly condemns those that do not share your beliefs
Posting of propaganda is not permitted.
Rule 8. Be nice
Please be polite and friendly. Lively discussion is welcomed but personal attacks are not permitted. Discuss the issue at hand, but do not comment on the character or worth of the person you disagree with. Criticism should be politely framed and constructive. If you are telling someone that you think they are training in the wrong way, you need to offer an alternative method or technique
Rule 9. No promotion of aversive techniques
We don’t want to create a situation where people cannot even mention the word ‘aversive’ or discuss the way in which aversives are generally used in gundog training. But if such discussions are dominating the group or creating bad feeling, admins may remove the entire thread.
Promotion of aversives
We would caution members against promoting the use of aversives. Especially aversives that cause pain, fear or distress. This group does not permit the promotion of methods that involve doing any of the following to a dog
Scruffing
Shaking
Lead jerking
Pushing
Pulling
Slapping
Tapping
Hitting
Kicking
Ear tweaking
Ear pinching
Toe-hitch
Nor does it permit the promotion of the following dog training ‘tools’
Electric shock collars
Rattle boxes
Dog dazers
Training discs
Prong collars
Choke chains
Spray collars
The group promotes training using effective modern positive reinforcement techniques and there is information in the files on how to get started. Members are encouraged to ask for help and advice.
Rule 10. No deleting threads
Many group members put a great deal of time andeffort into supporting others and answering their questions. They need to be confident that this time and effort will not be wasted. Therefore members may not remove their own posts once others have contributed to the thread. Only administrators may delete entire threads
Summary
The administrators of this group give up their time to help group members train their dogs. This is a generally very friendly and non-judgemental community of gundog owners. But from time to time people join with the express purpose of disrupting the group.
In order to minimise this disruption, avoid wasting administrators time, and help enable the vast majority of members to enjoy the group, admins are at liberty to eject anyone that break these rules, and to do so without warning if they see fit.
Thank you for reading, and for keeping to the rules