05/23/2024
Positive- vs- Balanced:
My thoughts ...
So, most dog trainers belong in either the ‘Positive’ camp or the ‘Balanced’ camp, then there are a few who train in the ‘I’ll do what works’ camp.
‘Labels’ seem to be everything these days, with the ‘FF’ (Force Free) and ‘PP’ (Purely Positive), or the ‘Aversive’ methods (E-Collars, Prong Collars etc.). Don’t get me totally wrong, I’m sure there are some very good ones in each of the two main camps, as well as some really bad ones.
I personally, have been professionally trained in both Positive and Balanced methods and my personal methods moved over to ‘Positive’ training years ago. The debate among both professional trainers, as well as the pet owning community, seems to centre on only being allowed to have the one loyalty.... Balanced VS Positive. If you are a ‘Balanced’ trainer you are seen as the enemy from the ‘Positive’ camp and if you are a ‘Positive’ trainer you are ridiculed for apparently being soft and only know how to dish out endless treats.
In actual fact both Camps should be more open minded about their methods, as well as realistic in how their methods do actually work, in my experience over many years, positive only trainers can oversimplify their own methods, when in actual fact, nothing could be further than the truth. Balanced trainers also oversimplify their e-collar or prong collar usage as just being slight ‘taps’ (e-collar) to get your dogs attention, or in the case of prong collars, they mimic the canine Mothers gentle admonitions. Neither of these is really true in my opinion.
Aversive training works by making your dog uncomfortable at best and traumatized at it’s worst. Unfortunately, most of the damage is done not totally by the trainers, but by the pet owners who thought that maybe if I gradually increase the ‘taps’ my dog will be even better, another common reason for using e-collars, is this way would save my dogs life, i,e, If my dog wouldn’t recall and was about to get hit by a car on the road he/she was running towards..... sounds plausible, but you need to think... at what voltage does that collar need to be at to stop my dog in it’s tracks? is it preferable than being run over? yes of course. But there are other ways to get a great recall on your dog too. Aversive training is popular because it seems to provide the ‘quick fix’ to everything from, recall, dog aggression, jumping up, barking etc, etc. but is it really training in every sense of the word, or is it really ‘suppression’ of an unwanted behaviour? Can it harm your dogs physical and emotional wellbeing? (yes, dogs do have emotions too.... maybe not as complex as a human but they are sentient beings regardless). Can it harm the close relationship you have with your dog? absolutely.
Can E-collars be phased out after a while? yes sure, but will your dogs behaviour be as reliable without one?. probably not. Good ‘Balanced Trainers will employ both positive and ’aversive’ methods and gradually phase out the ‘aversive’ methods, unfortunately this almost never transfers effectively enough to the pet guardians, because they have not been adequately trained in e-collars and prong collars. Most Balanced trainers work on a board and train basis and will take your dog from you for x number of weeks, then give you one or two hand over lessons before you take your ‘trained’ dog home.
Now, Positive training.... can this work with all behaviours, including recall, aggression with others, (either dog or human), jumping up, resource guarding, etc. etc.? yes absolutely! the difference is this way can take longer, requires consistency and dedication from the dog guardian, needs clear direction from the guardian too. but guess what? all of those things can be achieved without hurting or scaring your dog. Now I'm not saying that I personally never correct a dog when it makes the incorrect choice, but the only tools I use are either my voice with a quick negative sound (not shouting) like ah ah, or even ‘no’ will suffice, I also use body language as a ‘tool’, dogs are so much brighter than many people give them credit for and they can learn easily and quickly with those two main tools. I personally do not ignore bad behaviour, I’d rather the quick correction my way followed immediately by showing and rewarding the behaviour I do want. Dogs are the ‘pleasers’ of this world, they love to please us and would happily do as we ask of them providing that they,
a) understand what we are wanting from them, and
b) that we ask... or convince, whichever wording works for you better.
Both of the above can be done in a happy and kind way, dogs respond best to ‘happiness’ and I tell my clients this so often, dogs so often seem to ‘get caught up in moment’ and enthusiasm and gentle persuasion works so much better than anything in your dogs life, .......unless you have a Jack Russel Terrier (no, I’m joking, couldn’t help myself...).
Many, many countries throughout the world have now banned aversive tools like shock collars and prong collars, these have been banned based on the information from many, many professionals like Veterinaries, Universities, and accreditation organizations, like APTD, and many other professional bodies. There is a reason for this..... it has been scientifically proven to negatively impact our dogs both, physically and emotionally.
I personally prefer my dogs to be the perfectly imperfect and happy, well adjusted and well behaved ... mostly...(show me a dog who is perfectly behaved always, even using aversive methods). We need to understand our dogs more and really think (dig deep) about all the training methods used, because if I wouldn’t use those methods on a human being who you can verbally give information to (to let them know why you are giving them shocks etc) and reason with, why the hell would you use that method on your dogs?......
Kathy Scott. My Positive Dog
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