I don't believe there is a privilege for a show to use copyrighted material--particularly in a wholly "non-news" puff piece. Even in the context of real news, the argument of fair use was was rejected in a case involving the unauthorized airing of videotape of the Rodney King beating.

The other issue is where 20/20 got the videotape. It would seem plausible that they got it from the trainers they chose to portray in afavorable light.

I'm also going to comment a bit on what is printed on the 20/20 website regarding that episode.

Stossel discusses that Arden ( one of the featured trainers in the episode ) teaches reward training ( hmmm....just like Ed does in the tape "Your Puppy 8 weeks to 8 Months", which they didn't bother to show :rolleyes: )which is "the technique that's recommended by groups like The Association of Pet Dog Trainers. "

Hmmm....the APDT...oh yes, that's the association that charges $75 for membership so you can indicate that on your advertisement - but it requires no testing, you just fill out a form . ( you can take a test for $350 to become "certified" at a later date.)

Arden then went on to call the "helicoptering technique" as "one of the most common" techniques for dog punishment. *WHAT*?!?.....I've trained dogs since I was fourteen years old in multiple dog sports, and I've seen "helicoptering" twice - one time resulting in charges being brought against the women that did it.

Then there was the "dog whisper" trainer -the one that told Stoffel that his dog was "a shark in a teddy bear costume. He is a very loving animal, but he's also potentially a very dangerous animal." ( this was for a Tibetian Terrier, usually not known as man killers... :rolleyes: ) Cripes.....I could imagine what she'd say about some of the high drive dogs that many of us own.
And to top things off, Stoffel's dog *still* bites ( " He did bite a vet, and my son (not badly — he didn't draw blood)" after all the training it has recieved from those trainers - man....I'd be embarrassed to admit this guy was my client.

Will.. why don't you let Stossel take Fetz for a week or so...

I can see it now.. FETZ in the big apple. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Might give him a new feeling for his little kick-dog.

Unfortunately, I missed the program. One of the side effects of not watching the tube I suppose.

Ahh...I'm pretty attached to 'ol Fetzer now, and he's just hate the big city.
And everything in it.
Maybe Mr. Stossel could buy a puppy from Todd's next breeding..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hehe...if the one trainer thought that terrier was a dangerous shark...I wonder what she'd think of Fetz?

But I serious think that there are several trainers here that could have fixed the major part of his canine problem in maybe three sessions and 1/10 the cost. I hate to see *anybody* get taken. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well, I just e-mailed Mr. Stossel (like he'll read it :rolleyes: ) and stated that he showed the video clip in the wrong context and to visit the web-board for FREE help. So if anyone wants to jump on the bandwagon..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Rock on Ed!

Deanna and Will, you guys had me cracking up! Very on target comments, if I do say so myself!

I was reading the article(thanks for the link,Deanna) and it just highlights and feeds the average pet owners ingorance. I usually regard 20/20 as a decent program, but here I found myself amazed that someone as "intelligent" as John Stossell could be so stupid. And of course there is the underlying message that to train a dog ( ineffectively, to boot) it is necessary to seek out experts from APDT and fork over TONS of cash.
Not too long ago I might have thought that alot of the APDT trainers were decent for pet owners, but I have since been enlightened....stories like his just don't help anyone, except the 2 trainers in the article ......What exactly WAS his purpose here? To scare people from buying killer Tibetan Terriers?????
SHAME ON YOU 20/20!!!

I guess I got a different message from it. To me, the subtext was that a lot of people get puppies without knowing what they're in for, and that this is one major reason that shelters are overflowing with adoptable animals. I think Stossel's portrayal of himself as an incompetent nincompoop was intentional, so that the average Joe Schmoe who doesn't know a thing about dogs would be able to relate to him, and would be more open to the message. I thought the central message (responsible dog ownership is hard work) was a valuable one, whether I agree with Stossel on training issues or not. Remember who the target audience is; it was certainly not US.

Hello distinguished board members. I just got done reading that story on the web and... did anybody else get the impression that Oscar is a fear-biter?

He is afraid of crowds and strangers, and has not hesitated to show it by biting his owner's ear off, the vet's face, and even his son????

Sounds to me like that dog is an accident waiting to happen!!

Well this digresses from the original subject of using one of Ed's videos without his permission and out of context, but I found it odd that they would pick a potentially dangerous dog as an example...

I sent Stossel an E mail regarding what I considered poor research skills on his part. I'll let you all know if I ever hear back from 20/20 on it.