3 different methods of dog training

Methods of dog training is very controversial for some. My personal take on it is:

Use whatever method that works for the specific dog. I hate when other trainers knock other trainers methods or routines. All dogs are different, all approaches are different, whatever works is whatever works. All have been proven.

Here are the 3 different types of methods. All approaches fall under one of these categories.

1: Compulsion training (Negative) Training. Compulsion training is back when training was solely negative reinforcement. Dogs are pack animals; there is always an alpha dog. When the alpha doesn’t like what another dog in the pack is doing, he immediately goes to correct him. When dogs are left alone, that means he is doing right, therefore, positive is the absence of negative. This training is a communication that dogs already know and live by, it's a quick way to get your dog to learn. However, some of the punishments are really harsh. Dogs are mainly avoiding punishment like, helicopters where the trainer will swing their dog in the air with their collar, avoiding knees in the chest or a beating.

2: All Positive Training. All positive training came about because people started to have a real problem with the above method. It consists of a total opposite extreme. Basically, treats, praise and toys, or whatever motivates your dog is used. If a dog does something right, he gets his treat. If he doesn’t do it right, he gets nothing. Negative is the absence of positive. Negative reinforcement methods are used sometimes in this method, but they are extremely mild. For example, a lot of trainers use ignoring and/or walking away, spray bottles or pennies in a can. This method goes against the pack theory but revolves around the fact that dogs will do things when there is something in it for them. For example, he will sit for a treat.

3: Balanced Method.This method works both positive and negative reinforcement combined. When a dog does something right, he gets praise or treats, and when he does something wrong, he gets some form of punishment, like a leash pop/correction, or whatever the trainer uses to let him know he has done something wrong. Dogs work on consequence like children. If he does something that ended with a negative reaction, he won't do it again. If he does something that ended with a treat, he will do it again.

I am not opposed to any of the methods above as long as its suitable for the dog. I often use the balanced method because I feel that it communicates to the dog exactly what I want him to do. However, if I have a case where the dog is really aggressive, I will use the negative approach (but nothing like the examples I cited above- a more humane approach-I DO NOT condone beating or anything like that), or if I have a dog that is fearful, I will use the positive approach. If my clients prefer one method to the other, I will do that as well. I am open to them all, I have seen them all work.

Tags: training methods, corrections, treats, dog training, dog trainers