Dog Training Definitions Part 1

Through my experiences, readings, and discussions; these are the definitions that I have been coming up with to define terms that I use in dog training. It's important to note that other dog trainers or canine professionals may mean different things when these same terms are used. However, I try to remain true to these definitions, such as these, when I speak on dog subjects.

• Fear (as defined by some dog trainers) Fearful behavior is generally the backward movement (not confident) of a dog away from the feared stimulus, perhaps until they are cornered. When describing a dog's behavior as fearful, many trainers are talking about the defense drive. The dog wants to avoid something that it is not sure of. Normally when a trainer is talking about a fearful behavior in a dog, they are saying their is an exaggerated response to a stimulus that would otherwise be non-threatening to the general canine domesticated population.
• Coddling A human behavior which seeks to give comfort to the dog.   However, this is comfort done wrong, inadvertently instead reinforcing a fearful or unwanted behavior.   With coddling, a behavior gets worse instead of better.  Example:  I used to crawl in the closet with my thunder fearful dog, Jazz.   Instead of getting calmer about thunder, she got worse and worse.   Finally, when I began looking into dog training as a career in 2003, I was explained that not doing that, and instead going about the house as if nothing was amiss would help her more.  I did that, and her phobia about thunder became less and less.
• Temperament The estimation of whether a dog is suitable or not suitable to a particular task based on observation of their responses to that stimuli.
• Aggression ( I tend to untangle my definition from overlapping with fear or dominant as to the best of my ability) A canine with the confidence of forward moving action in order to further a goal.
• Dominant The behavior of confidently or with extreme willfulness to seek to control resources.
• Behavior Modification In dog training this is a series of steps and exercises that seek to improve a behavior in the domesticated canine that is seen as unsuitable to the human family or handler's purpose. (IE being a pet dog, a police dog, a therapy dog and so on) IMO the possibility of behavior modification is greatly enhanced by the knowledge of dog training, and in most cases I feel dog training is necessary to communicate to the dog in order to get to behavior modification practices.
• Dog Training The practice of teaching a way of communication to and for the canine/human relationship to work optimally. IMO dog training in most cases (except the most bomb proof of dogs) requires many elements of behavior modification as well.

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