Dog Training: Two Schools of Thought

Yesterday morning I worked with a new client who contacted me for help with her year-old German shepherd.  She was broken-hearted about previous training methods she had been taught from her last dog trainer - methods that involved exerting dominance over her dog by yelling, smacking him in the head, and using harsh leash corrections (that lifted her dog off the ground by the collar and resulted in her dog yelping in pain) to get him to work with her.  “You have to do that with a shepherd,” she has had friends tell her.  She reached out to me as a last hope.  She certainly didn’t want to give up on her dog, yet the methods she had been advised to use were increasing her dog’s anxiety level as well as the stress levels of everyone in her household.  There had become too much yelling, too much physical manipulation, and nobody was happy about this tension.  There has to be another way, she pleaded.

During our first session together, this client was delighted to learn that yes, there is a better way – and it doesn’t involve intimidating her dog into submission or any kind of hitting or pain at all.  We discussed what was leading into her dog’s anxiety, how to teach him to cope with that, and how to use her own energy, body language, and clear direction to set him up for success.  We demonstrated exhibiting leadership based on respect, since dogs are living, emotional beings with feelings and deserve as much respect as any of us wish to have from others.  After less than 12 hours, my new client contacted me, thrilled, to share that she was already seeing positive results and a change in her dog’s behavior!

Sadly, I hear of this situation all too often.  We are still surrounded by television shows, books, information from Google searches, and local dog trainers who still practice the traditional-style training methods that were created long before scientific research had delved into the psychology of how dogs learn and how they process information and emotion.  Even though these traditional-style, dominance-based, punitive training methods are outdated and have been disproven, trainers who practice these methods are still out there practicing because they’re too proud to accept that there is a better way.  A way that will instill confidence, security, and a positive relationship with our dogs rather than one that instills fear, pain and tension in the relationship. 
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Let’s take a look at the differences between these two methods:

Traditional Style
Dominance-Based, Punitive Methods

• ​Focuses on adding punishment and correcting inappropriate behavior
• Uses unpleasant equipment such as prong/shock/choke collars to manage
• Exhibits leadership as the “alpha” or pack leader, intimidates, bullies; instills fear
• Involves providing harsh jerks/leash corrections, raising your voice, hitting the dog in the nose or on the rump (or any other action of force such as kicking), rolling the dog onto its back, and spraying in the face
• Dog responds out of fear that if he doesn’t he will get punished; detrimental to human-canine relationship.  Dog doesn’t want to work with you and may shut down or act out to protect himself
• Leads to higher stress level, anxiety, fear and aggression (which can then become a safety issue)

Modern Style
Relationship-Based, Positive Reinforcement

• Focuses on teaching the dog what TO do and setting up for success, reinforcing good behavior​
• Uses non-invasive equipment because focus is on communication
• Exhibits leadership through calm confidence, appropriate support, setting boundaries, conviction; instills respect
• Involves breaking into smaller slices that your dog can comprehend, using praise/treats/play/toys/real life rewards to reinforce, bad behaviors that aren’t reinforced are extinguished
• Dog responds out of respect because learning is fun and his good behavior makes you happy; strengthens relationship.  Dog enjoys working with you and wants to learn
• Leads to confidence, respect, and harmony in your household (and in other areas of your life!)

If we truly love our dogs, why would we want to treat them like lesser beings that we can dominate rather than the emotional beings that they are?  Most people who practice these traditional methods do so because they buy into the “dominance myth” of the past – the one that says dogs are like wolves, they fight for dominance, and we must show them we are the “alpha” and put them in their place.  This involves rolling them over onto their backs to force them to submit to us, not letting them walk in front of us or eat before us, and having a heavy hand. 

But the truth is, wolves and dogs are separated by thousands of years of evolution.  They are no more like wolves today than we are like Neanderthals.  Even if they are descendants of wolves, they are NOT wolves.  So we do not need to treat them like wolves.  If a dog sits on our couch with us, he is not trying to assert his dominance over us; he’s just looking for a cozy place to take a nap.  If he walks in front of us, that does not mean he thinks that he is in charge; he just wants to explore his world. 

While dogs do crave structure and confident leadership, they do not need a heavy hand to get that.  And while some breeds are stronger, more independent-minded, and have bigger personalities than others, there are extremely few dogs (if any) that you cannot reach by using relationship-based, positive reinforcement methods.  But the majority of dogs do not do well with punitive methods, and for most rescue dogs or sensitive dogs, these methods can create much bigger issues as a result of the fear and anxiety.  Even “stronger” breeds like shepherds, Rottweilers and pit bulls have feelings (they can be sensitive too) and want to be respected.

Any healthy relationship is grounded on clear communication, patience, understanding, trust, and respect.  There are many highly skilled and reputable trainers out there who see dogs for the wonderful beings that they are and recognize the joy they bring into our lives.  Having respect for a living being does not include intimidation and physical discomfort – that is considered abuse in today’s standards and I couldn’t agree more.  I don’t see how a trainer who actually cares about dogs and has their best interest in mind could ever suggest these tactics.

There is a great movement to educate dog owners about how the training methods we use can impact our dogs’ development and emotional state, as well as influence behavior.  This education is a major mission of mine.  Thankfully, more and more responsible dog owners are listening and realizing that they love their dogs too much to inflict painful methods or cause their dogs to fear them.  To these owners I say, Congratulations and welcome to the first step in finding harmony with your four-legged friend!  Please help to continue to spread the word so we can all share better lives with our canine companions!