Adojrts, I know what you're saying. And I agree that you have to have a picture of the 'other' thing, even to better understand your own methods better....understand the opposites or the similarities. I read Koehler's book and found out about his "methods." I have watched many episodes of CM, enough that when I continued to watch episodes, they became re-runs. And I do get people calling me who need help, who have used CM's methods on their dogs. I haven't run into anyone who has used Koehler's brutality. People can be harsh with their dogs. But I haven't seen anyone
personally, who treated their dogs the way he advocates. It doesn't take a whole
lot of studying or learning about the "methods" (imo) that someone like Koehler uses to get the picture of what they're doing. Most of these "methods" seems pretty primal, unsophisticated and obvious as to what kind of outcome they can produce when you understand behavior, even a little bit.
When I go on a house call, if someone tells me they did this or that aversive to their dog while it was growling at someone who came to their house, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see right away why their dog's aggression has escalated. I concentrate and emphasise on what they should do from now on and explain in basic terms what can result from continuing to use punishment to treat aggression and why. I don't have to know in too much detail what Koehler's methods are because I get why attacking a dog can cause problems. Like I said, I concentrate on fixing the problem and the remedy for most everything with dogs doesn't depend a whole lot on the reasons they got that way. Regardless, the treatment is usually the same.
For instance, even taking a simpler mis behavior like say....barking frantically at kids on bikes. Did this behavior escalate because the people yanked on his collar and said, "no!" when he barked at kids on bikes? Did this behavior come to be on account of punishing the dog (hung him up off of all fours or dunked his head in the kiddie pool until he passed out?) for something else but kids just happened to be in the envirnoment at the time and he associated them with being hurt by the punishment, as a by product? Did the dog get so frantic at the sight of kids on bikes due to being coddled or overly attended to (inadvertantly reinforced?) when this happened?
Desensatizing and changing the dog's view point about kids on bikes would be my way of fixing this. It wouldn't matter what "methods" caused it. I'd still do the same thing. Distance, re-direction, reinforcement for baby steps, all the usual protocal for a desensatizing-counter conditioning program.
Take a resource guarder: Does it matter whether you know if he had a rotten childhood and was deprived food and was hungry all the time? Or that people took away his food? Or that he got punished for mildly defending his food? Or that no one did anything rotten to the dog. He's just like that because it's a natural behavior? Do we have to know what went on, what methods were used on the dog to make him this way? No. The treatment is basically the same regardless.....to change his mind....that people are wonderful when they come close to his food or toys, that there is a big, huge pay off when people come near his possessions, that giving up his stuff gets him better stuff and the same stuff might even be returned to him. It's a win-win situation. Same protocal, regardless.
Shelter dogs frequently come with no known history. Sometimes they're very screwed up...sometimes not. We don't know what methods were used on them, what treatment. But we can shape and improve much of their behavior anyhow.
And for the life of me, I'll never understand how anyone with a love for animals could respect someone who hurts them, hangs them, nearly drowns them, frightens and intimidates them. And I'll never understand this attitude....this blind, robotic feeling of obligation to give absolutely everyone respect. I have people I respect in the dog world. And I have people I do not. Koehler is one of them. I am not buying into this political correctness nonsense that has been purchased by our more current culture in lieu of thinking. Do I think people have the right to throw tomatoes or yell, "boooo" at a seminar? No. But I do think if a debate has been agreed upon by both or all parties, that is not disrespectful....as long as the dialog remains civil. There are usually rules when there's a debate.
And what we think about training methods must depend on what our philosophy is about training dogs in general, I guess. I understand that some of these people wind up with dogs who are explicitly obedient. Who wouldn't be? They're precise in what they do. But to me, that isn't what training a dog is all about. There's a whole lot more to it than that for me. I hate to see a dog so animated, but not having a joyful time. I don't think any training is worth some of the harm that the human race causes dogs. Insult me, compare me to Peta if you like. I am simply a person who loves dogs and will speak my mind on their behalf. I will let people know what I think about what I consider abuse to animals. I will stand up to people who are enthralled with people who abuse animals. No amount of insult or crying about a personal agenda or whining about being like Peta....or other attempts at distraction will dissuade me. I will speak out for the kindness toward dogs because I love them. They can't speak for themselves very well. Actually, no....they do. But too many members of the human race just won't listen.