When Netflix debuted its new show Canine Intervention, it should have been a slam dunk. After all, dog owners are always looking for the best pet training advice they can find. But the show has garnered more controversy than expected. Some viewers disagree with host Jas Leverette’s training methods and are calling on Netflix to cancel the show.
Canine Intervention follows Jas and his Cali K9 dog training company as he trains and rehabilitates dogs with behavioral issues that put them at risk for euthanasia. If that premise sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The show The Dog Whisperer hosted by Cesar Millan had essentially the same objective. Jas is now picking up where Cesar left off by bringing hope to troubled dogs and their worried owners.
The new Netflix show dropped on Wednesday, and while many viewers became fast fans, others took issue with what they saw. Concerned viewers claim Jas uses “punishment-based training methods” like prong collars, choke collars, and electric shock collars that are harmful to dogs. They argue that showcasing these training methods for entertainment is “barbaric.” A Change.org petition seeking to get Canine Intervention cancelled was set up and has already amassed over 35,000 signatures.
Clearly many viewers don’t agree with Jas’ techniques, but others see the show in a positive light. The dogs featured on Canine Intervention are last-chance cases that need to demonstrate a change in behavior or risk euthanasia. Jas believes there are no bad dogs and at the end of his training program, the dogs he works with really do seem to change for the better, much to the joy of their owners. It’s hard for some fans to get upset over the methods when the results are so transformative.
Canine Intervention has barely premiered and is already controversial, which isn’t a great sign for a fledgling show. It’s too early to speculate whether there will be a second season—that all depends on the popularity of the show winning out over the controversies. But in the meantime, there are still many fans who are content to enjoy the heartwarming stories without wondering if the ends justify the means.
Source: Change.org