05/09/2025
DOG TRAINING
How do we ‘EDUCATE’ a Dog as to the appropriate behaviour in various situations…
“Anything We Reward We Will See More Of”
The implications lie within the interpretation…
‘POSITIVE’
= ‘Reward Based Training’ *
Also known as:
- Purely Positive
- Positive Reinforcement
- Positive Only
- Force Free
Or
- Science based’
* Herein known as PP…
Each are terms you’ll have heard recently (or rather have had rammed down your throat) 😝😆 (sorry not sorry)…
What does it ACTUALLY mean??
And why do some trainers use it and others don’t?
I don’t use the terms to describe my training!! Why?
Well here’s the thing - ALL trainers use POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT for training behaviours!
You cannot expect a Dog to want to do something that they’re being ‘told off’ for doing… it’s just common sense!
By the way, ‘yelling’ at a Dog doesn’t cut it! 😉
Conversely, a Dog will not continue to do something that they’re taught not to do…
And therein lies another valid point…
BALANCED TRAINING
Where all ‘tools’ are utilised, TEACHING a Dog an appropriate response…
Positive REINFORCEMENT means we ADD SOMETHING NICE when a Dog does what we want them to do! ie Sit = Reward (a treat for example).
It really is that simple!
So why aren’t ALL trainers saying we are ‘Positive/Reward Based’ if we all use it?
Simply because we cannot FIX (replace) a NEGATIVE BEHAVIOUR by delivering a treat!!
Ie: if your child painted your walls psychedelic pink would you sit them down with a bowl of ice cream - therefore rewarding them!?? No, of course not - there would be a CONSEQUENCE - a NEGATIVE outcome.
That may vary dependant on what is IMPORTANT to the child, their personality and responses, but we do not cause them physical pain and they would not be REWARDED!
Sadly ‘Positive Reinforcement’ now represents a group of trainers who use it EXCLUSIVELY and will not use any other method available. Hence many of the behavioural issues are not resolved.
We follow THOSE trainers regularly - those who have taken very good money for their services and not delivered an appropriate result!
For example, shovelling food into a Dog's mouth when they want to attack another Dog will not resolve the issue. Besides, when a Dog is in this state of mind (FIGHT OR FLIGHT), the first thing that happens is that their digestive tract kicks out in preparation for the battle - resulting in the Dog NOT ABLE TO TAKE FOOD - It's not that they WON'T (implying 'naughty' or 'stubborn'), rather that they CAN'T.
Those trainers will not successfully remedy an issue.
You CANNOT resolve ‘issues’ ie aggression, by REWARDING the behaviour! You must TEACH the Dog that this behaviour is UNACCEPTABLE.
Instead they might tell you to stay away from the trigger i.e. a human, another Dog, a motor vehicle etc etc and this will NOT resolve the issue either (and try staying away - it is simply not practical or even doable!).
OR
You are expected to tolerate long periods of unacceptable behaviour - ‘ignoring’ the behaviour, ‘distracting’ the Dog, unsuccessfully - if a Dog is in fear of their life, nothing will 'distract' them, least of all food - waiting for the Dog to do something ‘good’, or, perhaps, simply avoid any situation your Dog may respond negatively to. These Dogs now rarely leave their back yard!
This is not a 'bad' or a 'naughty' Dog... this is a Dog who has not been shown the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviours... In other words, an UNTRAINED Dog.
A DOG DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE DIDN'T DO!
You cannot reward a Dog for NOT doing something… A Dog has no concept of this ie: a Dog doesn’t know what he DIDN'T do - just as most human don't... until we explain it to them.
RESOLVING UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOURS
Example: A Dog constantly jumps on people! Your friends and family complain and Grandma won't visit you 'until you get that Dog under control...' - jumping up can be very dangerous, knocking over or hurting children/ elderly people in particular.
A PP trainer drops treats on the floor to encourage the Dog to not jump up, to stay on the floor and get the treats….. I will tell you that’s REWARDING the behaviour!
They may also tell you to fold your arms, turn your back (negative body language that many humans don't even comprehend) or (please don't!) bring you knee up into the Dog's chest! None of these approaches will teach the Dog that this behaviour is unacceptable. The last one will very likely hurt your Dog!
What would we do?
We would TEACH the Dog to not jump up! The approach will be different for every Dog, because every Dog is different and deserves an individualised approach.
Dropping treats on the floor doesn’t stop the behaviour, doesn't teach the Dog to not jump up... Instead we add confusion when the Dog has no idea that you’re trying to stop them jumping and therefore will continue to do so!
PATH TO SUCCESS:
We see this a lot. Example: A Dog jumps up, we say no and drop food on the floor... The Dog learns that jumping up delivers food (NO means nothing - they don't speak English!).
And now that perpetual argument continues...
The PP trainers will insist that anything other than continuously feeding treats is cruel!
And normal (logical thinking) trainers like us, will tell you that leaving a Dog in a perpetual state of confusion and uncertainty, not setting boundaries is cruel!
This Dog is constantly shouted at, and worse, when they don't get the guidance they so desperately need and crave, end up being rehomed or surrendered... making it someone else's problem.
And so they cycle continues. Truly heart-breaking when this is NOT the Dog's fault... It all comes back to us humans!
It’s up to you, the Dog owner, to choose... Good luck because it’s an absolute shemozzle in the Dog training world.
Trainers are not certified or governed in any way, anywhere. ANYONE can set up as a Dog trainer and they are often selected by clients based upon their location (close to home) rather than their skillset!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Less than 10% of Perth's Dog Trainers undertake Professional Development! We have had some amazing, top-of-their-field Dog trainers in Perth and yet there was zero participation from the hundreds of people promoting themselves as Dog Trainers...
PERSONALISED SERVICE: If you call a Dog Trainer to enquire regarding their service, they will not take the time to speak to you, to help you understand their protocols and methodologies (no money in that!), but will forward a link for you to book a session.
Would you book a Doctor for your child without knowing their background and level of experience. I use the profession of Dr because your Dog's life may very well depend on how effective and knowledgeable this trainer is...
Google 'Dog trainers' and 'methods' or 'protocols' and you will begin to see how many contradictions, extreme and varied levels of ideology and methodology there are in training Dogs. In fact, it should be very simple - and common sense must prevail. Sadly this is another 'world' where common sense barely exists... :-(
