I, too, would like to know what level of consistency and obedience Jean Donaldson trained her chow to. Can she have it off-leash with moose in the area? Does it have obedience titles? Or is this another case of "it's trained to do all sorts of tricks as long as it's on-leash and you have a treat in your hand"?
Yes, dogs are dogs. People are people. Do all people learn the same? Do they all have the same personalities? No, of course not. Do all dogs learn the same? Do they all have the same personalities? Of course not! Dogs are individuals and to train to the same reliable level of consistency in every dog requires the use of various techniques. Some dogs are very willing to work directly with their humans regardless of distractions, just because the desire for interaction with the human is part of their core personality. These dogs are VERY easy to shape with positive reinforcement. Other dogs have a high level of independence. Can they learn to work with humans? Yes, of course. But the means of compliance - whether it be by treats or aversion - has to be much more intense than with a dog that just plain wants to be with its person.
So for those trainers who say aversives (other than a simple verbal) are NEVER needed - can you take each and every dog you've worked with outdoors, off-leash, and have the same reliable response? Of course not! The vast majority of dogs a trainer works with are under control on a leash. The reinforcers/rewards are nearby. Anyone with decent timing can get a HUGE number of behaviors from a dog that is confined and who wants the reward that is obviously available.
My chows follow me everywhere as if I'm a pied piper of chows. I have three little shadows at my heels. If I'm in the bathroom, they're in the bathroom! If I'm upstairs and the door is closed between the levels, they're at the top of the lower stairs - at the door - waiting for me. If I walk around the garage, they follow me. THIS is a result of a high level of reinforcement. I built a desire to be with me by using rewards for being with me and focusing on me.
But this IS a breed that is not as easily controlled as others. It's not nearly as easy to get inside their heads and "own" them in the face of other desirable distractions. Some breeds are SO easy - every German shepherd I've worked with has been so eager to learn that it's almost scary .. *L* .. chows are not that way. Yes, you can get a huge number of behaviors from them. Khana can heel forward, backwards, sideways, pivot 360° left all the way around me, AND do all of that on the right side as well as the left. She weaves through my legs, she covers her face with one paw, she shakes her head "no", she points her nose at the ceiling on command, she high-steps with her front feet. She also retrieves, does jumps, and can do (beautifully) ALL the excellent rally behaviors as well as most of the open obedience behaviors. This is a two year old chow. Most of this has been nearly 100% positive training. But to gain her respect - to have her focus on me AS the one she must listen to, I have used some corrections. I am a good enough trainer to know when that's appropriate, and it shows in my dogs.
I watch my dogs play and there is NOTHING that I do as far as corrections that is as harsh as what they do to each other. Maybe many of you have dogs that play nicely .. *LOL* .. my dogs are wild little h*llions when they play! They leap on each other, bite, grab legs, knock each other over - extremely physical playing. They make each other yelp at times. Does it ruin their relationship?? NO, of course not! They continue to play, but they also ease up a bit for awhile.
Dekka - I have had many JRT's in class and have found them to be extremely bright, easily trained dogs. Maybe yours are more difficult to train. I would expect a typical JRT to give goldens and BC's a run for their money in competitive events. I'm glad you're doing so well. At this point my chows have earned 13 titles. In obedience they are typically in the ribbons. My first chow beat goldens and BC's and others in Open obedience in classes of up to 25 or so dogs. In Open A, she took seven firsts and a couple of seconds in all-breed competitions. Chows are not seen much in the obedience ring and for good reason. They're not easy to train.
OC and Rosefern - thank you for your comments on my chows. I firmly believe that this is a breed that should be versatile (as they once were) and mine do a bit of everything. I'm currently trying to set up a training session on sheep for my young chow to assess her herding instinct (my first chow was an amazing little herding dog). Khana may look like a princess but she's easily one of the most confident, toughest dogs I've ever been around. She's also extremely sweet - just yesterday I was working her outside the local grocery store and two little boys asked to pet her. I told them "yes" and then had to keep a finger in her collar so that she wouldn't lick their faces .. *L* .. she just LOVES people and I have worked hard to keep that temperament in her.
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
... not sure about anyone else, but my dogs are not tigers or whales or hippos .. *LOL* .. they are expected to live in my home, next to me, day and night, ride in my vehicle, interact often with strangers, and to respond predictably under a large variety of distractions.
Also I asked a question, I am curious. Do those who use aversive do so because it is what has worked for them in the past, and don't care to learn something new (the it worked for my grandfather so its good enough for me..) or have they read the science and disagree, don't care etc. 
