Before I start, I'd like to say that I had no single person on Chaz in mind when I wrote this, and I'm not lashing out at anybody in particular...
I've noticed that some people (both on Chaz and in RL) seem to think that there is only one correct way to train a dog...and that this must never be varied from.
Tell me (I know we have a few teachers on here), is there only one correct way to teach a class full of thirty students? Let's say you have a math problem. Now, there might be three different ways to get this problem done, but chances are, if you only teach one of those ways, only a third of the class is actually going to get it...you have to adjust each teaching method to each student...
And, you're never going to know which way works best until you try them all.
Just like there is no one right way to train a dog...you must adjust each training method to the dog.
And many people think that the only "right" way to train a dog is through 100% positive reinforcement training only.
I disagree.
With the dogs that I have raised from puppyhood, I have used 99% positive reinforcement training. When I laid my hand on the dog it was something positive, never negative. I never scruffed those dogs, or physically restrained them in any way. They never learned what negative behavior was, therefore, physically correcting them when they were bad would do no good...they didn't know that what they did was wrong.
Now, with the adult rescued dogs that I have had, and the dogs that are in our rescue program, it's different. They have had years of reinforcing of negative behavior, and they must be taught what good behavior is (sitting, walking well on a leash, staying off of people, etc.), as well as what bad behavior is (pulling on lead, jumping, mouthing, etc.). Simply rewarding the good behavior and ignoring the bad behavior doesn't always work.
I never, ever, physically hurt the dog. I do nothing that would cause them harm. However, when teaching leash walking skills to a 2 year old, 80lb shepherd that has never had leash training, I see nothing wrong with, when the dog pulls, to stop, and give a light jerk on the leash to communicate that pulling is wrong...
Now, back to the one method training...I know of many people that use many different methods of training...and all of those people's dogs are extremeley well trained and well behaved.
-Rosefern
I've noticed that some people (both on Chaz and in RL) seem to think that there is only one correct way to train a dog...and that this must never be varied from.
Tell me (I know we have a few teachers on here), is there only one correct way to teach a class full of thirty students? Let's say you have a math problem. Now, there might be three different ways to get this problem done, but chances are, if you only teach one of those ways, only a third of the class is actually going to get it...you have to adjust each teaching method to each student...
And, you're never going to know which way works best until you try them all.
Just like there is no one right way to train a dog...you must adjust each training method to the dog.
And many people think that the only "right" way to train a dog is through 100% positive reinforcement training only.
I disagree.
With the dogs that I have raised from puppyhood, I have used 99% positive reinforcement training. When I laid my hand on the dog it was something positive, never negative. I never scruffed those dogs, or physically restrained them in any way. They never learned what negative behavior was, therefore, physically correcting them when they were bad would do no good...they didn't know that what they did was wrong.
Now, with the adult rescued dogs that I have had, and the dogs that are in our rescue program, it's different. They have had years of reinforcing of negative behavior, and they must be taught what good behavior is (sitting, walking well on a leash, staying off of people, etc.), as well as what bad behavior is (pulling on lead, jumping, mouthing, etc.). Simply rewarding the good behavior and ignoring the bad behavior doesn't always work.
I never, ever, physically hurt the dog. I do nothing that would cause them harm. However, when teaching leash walking skills to a 2 year old, 80lb shepherd that has never had leash training, I see nothing wrong with, when the dog pulls, to stop, and give a light jerk on the leash to communicate that pulling is wrong...
Now, back to the one method training...I know of many people that use many different methods of training...and all of those people's dogs are extremeley well trained and well behaved.
-Rosefern