Zak George

Last updated

Zak George
Venus and I at the park.jpg
Zak George & his dog Venus at the park, July 2009
Born (1978-12-03) December 3, 1978 (age 45)
OccupationDog Trainer
Years active2006–present
SpouseBree George (married 2018-present)

Zak George (born December 3, 1978, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American dog trainer, writer, and broadcast personality known for his Youtube channel, hosting shows such as SuperFetch in 2009, Who Let the Dogs Out? in 2011, and hosting various shows on the Animal Planet. He is the author of the book Zak George's Dog Training Revolution, published in 2016; he has been a guest writer on many articles and blogs on dog training and obedience over his 16 year career. He is known for using positive reinforcement training methods, and his upbeat and energetic personality on camera.

Contents

Principles

Zak George is a proponent of positive reinforcement dog training, which teaches that only gentle, reward-based methods, without physical aversion, should be used for dog training. He believes teaching is about communication, not domination. He feels we need to treat our dogs with respect and promote a strong, loving bond with them through positive reinforcement, not punishments. [1] He has stated his training philosophy as "I began teaching people how to teach their dogs out of a genuine desire to bring the world of dog training into the 21st century and to show people that through relationship-based training anything is possible." [2]

His methods have been compared to those used Dr. Ian Dunbar and the SPCA, which also focus on positive reinforcement in their training programs.

Career

Dog competing in frisbee competition Border collie jumping up to catch frisbee.jpg
Dog competing in frisbee competition

Zak started training dogs in 2005 when he got his dog Venus; the two started competing in frisbee competitions and he found his passion in dog training. [3] He quit his job in real estate the same year and applied to be a trainer at PetSmart, despite not having any traditional training.

He made his debut on Youtube in 2006 where he uploaded videos with dog training advice and tutorials. He rose to prominence on the platform and has grown his following to over 3.5 million followers. In 2008 he pitched a show to Animal Planet, originally titled Fetch Me a Beer. [3] The show was picked up and he made the transition to television when he began presenting SuperFetch in 2009 on Animal Planet. In 2011 and 2012 he presented and produced BBC children's show Who Let the Dogs Out? . [4] Zak has also presented various programs for the Animal Planet channel such as Dogs 101.

His dog training expertise has landed him on many national talk shows and news programs such as Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Early Show on CBS, Fox and Friends, and Rachael Ray. [5]

In 2016 Zak's first book Zak George's Dog Training Revolution was published by Penguin Random House.

Personal life

Zak is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. As of 2016 he lived in New Orleans with his wife, Bree George, their dogs, and their cat. [6] Zak and Bree met while they were working as volunteers during the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and kept in contact when he went back to Atlanta. [3] The pair married on December 8, 2018. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clicker training</span> Animal training method

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement animal training method based on a bridging stimulus in operant conditioning. The system uses conditioned reinforcers, which a trainer can deliver more quickly and more precisely than primary reinforcers such as food. The term "clicker" comes from a small metal cricket noisemaker adapted from a child's toy that the trainer uses to precisely mark the desired behavior. When training a new behavior, the clicker helps the animal to quickly identify the precise behavior that results in the treat. The technique is popular with dog trainers, but can be used for all kinds of domestic and wild animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog training</span> Practice of teaching behaviors to dogs

Dog training is a kind of animal training, the application of behavior analysis which uses the environmental events of antecedents and consequences to modify the dog behavior, either for it to assist in specific activities or undertake particular tasks, or for it to participate effectively in contemporary domestic life. While training dogs for specific roles dates back to Roman times at least, the training of dogs to be compatible household pets developed with suburbanization in the 1950s.

A dog collar is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A collar may be used for restraint, identification, fashion, protection, or training. Identification tags and medical information are often placed on dog collars. Collars are often used in conjunction with a leash for restraining a dog. Collars can be traumatic to the trachea if the dog pulls against the restraint of the leash, causing severe pressure to the neck. Use of a harness instead of a collar may be beneficial for dogs prone to tracheitis or those with a collapsed trachea. Conversely, dog breeds with slender necks or smaller heads may easily slip out of collars that are too loose. This can be avoided by using a martingale dog collar which tightens to distribute pressure around the neck when training the dog not to pull. Any style of dog collar must be properly fitted to ensure safety and collars should not be worn when the dog is unattended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal training</span> Teaching animals specific responses to specific conditions or stimuli

Animal training is the act of teaching animals specific responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Training may be for purposes such as companionship, detection, protection, and entertainment. The type of training an animal receives will vary depending on the training method used, and the purpose for training the animal. For example, a seeing eye dog will be trained to achieve a different goal than a wild animal in a circus.

<i>The Littlest Hobo</i> Canadian television series

The Littlest Hobo is a Canadian television series based upon a well-known 1958 movie of the same name directed by Charles R. Rondeau. The series first aired from 1963 to 1965 in syndication, and was revived for a popular second run on CTV, spanning six seasons, from October 11, 1979, to March 7, 1985. The concept of the show was that of "an ownerless dog".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Search and rescue dog</span> Dog trained to locate or retrieve a missing or trapped person

A search-and-rescue (SAR) dog is a dog trained to respond to crime scenes, accidents, missing persons events, as well as natural or man-made disasters. These dogs detect human scent, which is a distinct odor of skin flakes and water and oil secretions unique to each person and have been known to find people underwater, snow, and collapsed buildings, as well as remains buried underground. SAR dogs are a non-invasive aid in the location of humans, alive or deceased.

The alpha roll is a dog training technique that is considered outdated by many modern-day dog trainers. The theory behind the training method is that dogs are hierarchical animals. The technique is used to teach the dog that the trainer or owner of the dog is the pack leader. Methods include when a dog misbehaves to pin the dog on its back and held in that position, sometimes by the throat.

Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan is a reality television series that featured dog trainer Cesar Millan's work with problem dogs. The series ran for nine seasons, from September 13, 2004 to September 15, 2012.

SuperFetch is a show on Animal Planet that stars Zak George. He instructs and advises on how to train dogs to perform tricks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Stilwell</span> English TV presenter and dog trainer (born 1969)

Victoria Stilwell is an English author, dog trainer and television presenter. Stilwell has appeared as a pet behavior expert and served as a producer on several international TV series including Dogs Might Fly, Dogs With Extraordinary Jobs, and Greatest American Dog (CBS), and is best known as the star and creator of the dog training TV show It's Me or the Dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesar Millan</span> Mexican dog trainer and television personality

César Felipe Millán Favela is a Mexican-American dog trainer. His television series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan was produced from 2004 to 2012 and is broadcast in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Sophia Yin was a veterinarian, applied animal behaviorist, author and lecturer. She was a pioneer in the use of positive reinforcement for training dogs, and was widely recognized as an expert in the training of pets.

Patricia Bean McConnell Ph.D, CAAB Emeritus was born November 16, 1948. She is an Ethologist who consulted with pet dog and cat owners for over thirty years regarding serious behavioral problems, has given seminars on companion animal behavior both domestically and internationally, and has written several books on training and behavior relating to their dogs. She has been invited to speak all over the world about canine behavior and training.

<i>Its Me or the Dog</i> English television program

It's Me or the Dog is an English television program featuring dog trainer Victoria Stilwell who addresses canine behavioral problems, teaches responsible dog ownership and promotes dog training techniques based on positive reinforcement. There was also an American television version of the show which ran for four seasons. The show currently airs in about 50 countries worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shock collar</span> Dog training device using electrical pain to change behavior

A shock collar or remote training collar, also known as an e-collar, Ecollar, or electronic collar, is a type of training collar that utilizes electrical shocks to induce pain to the neck of a dog or other parts of its body, depending on the desired outcome. These collars incorporate a radio-controlled electronic device and are worn around the dog's neck. Many European countries view shock collars as animal cruelty and have banned their use. The mechanism behind shock collars involve inflicting varying levels and duration of pain, which generates fear and serves as a deterrent for undesirable behaviors. Some models of shock collar models offer additional features such as a tone or vibrational setting that can be used as an alternative or in combination with the shock. Certain advanced collars include Internet mapping capabilities and GPS functionality to track the dog's location or notify the owner about its whereabouts.

Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and dog trainer. He received his veterinary degree and a Special Honours degree in Physiology & Biochemistry from the Royal Veterinary College, and a doctorate in animal behavior from the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley, where he researched the development of social hierarchies and aggression in domestic dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joel Silverman</span> American dog trainer

Joel Silverman is a celebrity animal trainer who hosted Good Dog U on Animal Planet from 1999–2009.

Jonathan Philip Klein (1956-2016) was an American expert in dog training and behavior consultant based in Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon McMillan (animal trainer)</span> American animal trainer and TV personality

Brandon McMillan is an American television personality, animal trainer, author and television producer best known for his role as host and dog trainer of the television series Lucky Dog on CBS.

References

  1. "Cesar Millan's Animal Cruelty Investigation Is A Wake Up Call For Dog Trainers". HuffPost. March 18, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  2. George, Zak. "The Zak George Facebook Page". Facebook.com. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Answering General Biographical Questions From YOU! , retrieved September 3, 2022
  4. "Who Let the Dogs Out? - CBBC - BBC".
  5. lifewithdogs (March 27, 2012). "An Interview with Zak George" . Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  6. "About Zak". zak-george. 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  7. "Zak George". www.facebook.com. Retrieved September 3, 2022.