New Channel 4 show where a dog trainer uses treats, clicker training and ‘doggy tapas’ to control a feisty TODDLER alongside a cocker spaniel sparks fury from campaigners and autism charity
- Channel 4 show Train Your Baby Like a Dog sparked outrage among campaigners
- Dog trainer and animal behaviourist Jo-Rosie Haffenden gives advice to parents
- She tests her techniques on three-year-old Greydon and 18-month-old Dulcie
- More than 20,000 people have signed petition demanding show is cancelled
- Campaigners claim it dehumanises children who are shown no dignity or respect
A controversial Channel 4 show teaching parents how to train their children like dogs has sparked outrage among campaigners.
‘Train Your Baby Like a Dog’ sees dog trainer and animal behaviourist Jo-Rosie Haffenden showing parents how they can persuade their children to behave by using techniques including clicker training.
But the show, which is set to air tomorrow, has led to a furious backlash from autistic groups who claim it ‘dehumanises’ children, and shows them ‘no dignity or respect’.
More than 21,500 people have now signed a petition to have the show cancelled, arguing it will make the children a ‘target for grooming in the future’.
Train Your Baby Like a Dog: Three-year-old Graydon cries when he is denied treats
Dog trainer and animal behaviourist Jo-Rosie Haffenden uses dog training techniques with children
The programme demonstrates reinforcers used in clicker training, such as taking a child’s favourite object and using it to bribe a child into doing a chore or task.
According to Channel 4, Ms Haffenden believes in motivating and helping children to understand what ‘to do’, having tried the technique with her own child.
She says she wants exhausted parents ‘to turn their backs on discipline, and the naughty-step and instead embrace positive dog training for children.’
Ms Haffenden said: ‘If everyone parented their child the same way we’re training our dogs, we’d end up with much more caring and compassionate human beings.
‘Our homes could be transformed from exhausting battle grounds into oases of calm.’
In the show, she works with three-year-old Greydon, whose daily tantrums and violent outbursts make his parents Jo and Garrett’s lives ‘a living hell.’
Ms Haffenden says she wants exhausted parents ‘to turn their backs on discipline, and the naughty-step and instead embrace positive dog training for children’
More than 21,500 people have now signed a petition to have the show cancelled, arguing it will make the children a ‘target for grooming in the future’
The programme demonstrates reinforcers used in clicker training, such as taking a child’s favourite object and using it to bribe a child into doing a chore or task
She also tests her canine training techniques with 18-month-old Dulcie who refuses to sleep in her own cot.
But the group Autistic Inclusive Meets claims clicker training is used in the behaviourial therapy Applied Behaviourial Analysis, used on autistic children, which they say is shown to cause PTSD in adults that were subjected to it.
While the children in the show are not thought to be autistic, the group claims the show ‘should not be given a platform.’
Channel 4 has been contacted for comment.
- Train Your Baby Like a Dog is set to air on Channel 4 on Tuesday 20 August at 8pm