How We Train

A common myth about positive training is that you’re supposed to ignore your dog’s bad behavior, never say “no”, and/or are permissive. This couldn’t be further from the truth! But it doesn’t mean that we have to use harsh methods or corrections with our dogs (resulting in long term damage) any more than we would with a child. We focus on giving dogs appropriate outlets for their canine urges, while also proactively teaching them how to behave appropriately in common situations.

No; but we should always use a reinforcer.  We use treats to teach behaviors initially (and when we are raising the stakes, i.e., asking for behaviors when it is more difficult), because for most dogs this “paycheck” incentivizes the behaviors we want to teach.  Over time, we begin to fade the food treats with other “paycheck” reinforcers our dogs appreciate:  i.e., a toy; a chance to go outside; play time; other activities our dog enjoys; praise.  

There are many benefits of positive training, for both you and your dog!

Some benefits of positive reinforcement training include:

• A deeper bond with your dog as you work together and learn how to communicate effectively
• Fewer behavioral problems overall, as your dog learns appropriate skills for a two-legged world
• A more willing and enthusiastic training partner: Your dog will learn how to behave because they enjoy doing so – not out of fear of punishment

Sadly, traditional, i.e., punishment-based training methods, although discredited, are still in use today, primarily because they seem to work quickly.  However, there are well-documented reasons why traditional, aversive-based methods should be avoided; like many “quick fix” solutions, there is considerable fallout from this style of training.  

• Development of or increase in aggression. 
• Removal of warning signals
• Erosion of trust and confidence.  Some dogs completely shut down and give up; the relationship between the dog and person is damaged, sometimes permanently. 
• Ineffective training because the dog often does not understand why he has received the punishment (although the human thinks it is perfectly clear).  If the training were effective, the punishment would not have to be constantly inflicted on the dog. 
• Habituation.  The dog becomes accustomed to the pain and disregards it (unless the human then dials it up again)
• Unreliable.  When the human is unable to inflict punishment on the dog (i.e., the shock or prong collar is not on the dog, the dog is off leash), the dog will not respond. 
• Resentment and frustration.  The dog may respond to the person who chronically inflicts pain on them, but then take out their frustrations on another animal or person.