Dogstardaily.com's bloggers have started with a campaign against other methods. Now trainers are all going to disagree, because if they did not believe in the methods that they are currently using, well then, they wouldn't be using them!! I believe I have a fairly open mind about methods. I don't choose a method or tool because it's solely what I have grown familiar with using, but because it's right for the dog and owner. Yes, in most stable dogs, you could totally get away with some form of PP training (I refuse to not say "no" if there is something I want to stop, so I guess I don't ever actually perform Purely Positive training), and (depending on the client's goal and type of dog that they have) get very impressive results.
Some tools are especially useful in sports such as agility and freestyle. I use my voice or my tongue instead of a "clicker" per say sometimes. I believe it is a mistatement to proclaim that no harm can be done using purely positive training methods, even with bad timing, teaching of the client, and training of the dog. Here is what I posted to the following blog on Dogstardaily.com.
Some tools are especially useful in sports such as agility and freestyle. I use my voice or my tongue instead of a "clicker" per say sometimes. I believe it is a mistatement to proclaim that no harm can be done using purely positive training methods, even with bad timing, teaching of the client, and training of the dog. Here is what I posted to the following blog on Dogstardaily.com.
Unfortunately that's not true, unless one is unconcerned about the humans hurt. I know one lady whose cookies at all costs experience caused her Bull Terrier to start climbing up her lead to bite if a cookie was not produced. I was not her next trainer, but a balanced approach later led to a dog that was stable. She went to a trainer that I respect as knowing what they are doing, I was unfamiliar with the previous trainer.
Part of a trainer's job is reading the client/dog situation and being able to offer approaches and alternatives that work for both of them. What may work fantastically for a sheltie displaying problem behaviors (for the humans) out of boredome, may not be the best plan for another type of dog.
A trainer should also be able to back up their teaching skills by not only being able to bring a dog through an AKC obedience trial, but have their client's able to duplicate this success as well on an ongoing and current basis.
Negative Reinforcement=take away something to increase behavior
Negative Punishment=take away something to decrease behavior
Positive Reinforcement =add something to increase behavior
Positive Punishment =add something to decrease behavior
It's also interesting to me how many people use the above to label something a punitive approach, when the behavioral definitions mean something else entirely. A "punishment' could just be a directional cue, for instance. "No" or it could be a leash pop. If you get creative, you can figure out a whole range of things that it could be.
The admission that poor timing could have an opposite effect would seem to indicate that well timed this could make a drastic change for the better in a dog's life. A trainer's job is to make sure that improvements are happening and it is the right tool/method for the circumstances. To dismiss other methods as you feel one improperly done damages more than the other, is first of all incorrect. Bad training or lack of any training can be the downfall to the dog, owner, and greatly decrease their enjoyment of life.
To be a trainer, you must always make a positive outcome of your training, regardless of method, and if you are stuck, it's time to refer to another trainer.
Need your dog trained? Call Mannerly Mutts at 207-361-4395 and ask for Maine Dog Trainer, Robin Rubin. You may also e-mail Robin at mannerly_mutt@yahoo.com for your Maine Dog Training needs.
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