08/24/2024
This overview explores the various techniques available for behavior modification training.
Behavior modification utilizes techniques, including desensitization, "nothing in life is free" training (NILIF), counterconditioning, and empowerment training. The primary approach for behavior modification is Behavioral Adjustment Training (BAT), which includes elements of desensitization.
Various tools can be used as training aids, such as head collars, front clip harnesses, LIMA mix, specially designed leash clasps, Thunder caps, and Dopram. Most behavior modification seminars cover the use of these tools. It is crucial to present the arguments for each tool (safety, humane treatment, etc.) and the scientific arguments against them. If children are involved, ensuring safety requires implementing management protocols, consulting a veterinarian, and contacting a Professional Dog Trainer. Surprisingly, many dogs who have bitten children under 5 have no history of previous bites, leading to situations where aggression arises unexpectedly. Parents should consider rehoming the dog or using modern, positive, coercion-free training methods.
This article explores the historical development, contemporary approaches, and techniques of behavior modification training in dogs. It covers the evolution of behavior modification training from the mid to late 20th century until the present day. While many dog training theories and techniques address behavior modification or management in households, this paper focuses on the specific methods used in animal behavior modification. To achieve this, we briefly discuss the use of punishment in animal behavior and doctrinaire behaviorism. However, our primary focus is on developing counterconditioning for dogs and the current practices of academically trained dog trainers. Much of the research in canine psychology from the 1940s-1980s focused on applying behaviorism, which is the idea that psychology should primarily study learned behavior, rather than mental states or instincts, to human and non-human behavior. However, when it came to dog behavior, there was often a heated debate in academic and human psychology fields. Many suggested that despite the disagreements in dog behavior science, classical and instrumental conditioning principles remained solid. However, many dog trainers needed training in this type of learning, were skeptical of learning principles, or preferred training methods involving physical punishment. Even decades later, these debates continue to attract attention.
This article aims to trace the development of behavior modification training for dogs from its origins to contemporary practice. By reviewing the scientific history, we hope to gain a better understanding of what we now refer to as "positive punishment." The concepts of reinforcement and punishment are based on a foundational model that is common to most approaches to modifying behavior. By exploring how early pioneers in our field applied these principles to modify dog behavior, we can develop a deeper understanding of the complex relationship that many modern dog trainers and behavior professionals have with the use of positive punishment.
When we refer to "positive punishment," we mean applying aversive stimuli to reduce an animal's behavior. Toward the end of this article, we will discuss some speculation surrounding the perception of "punishment" in the past and the use of the term "education" instead of "training" for sports dogs several decades ago. It is important to note that this article is intended to be informative and does not take a definitive position in favor of or against punishment in dog training or canine sports. We encourage readers to approach this topic with an open mind. Tracing the genealogy of any system of ideas is the first step to understanding the meaning of the current practices and policies that have emerged due to their development. The roots of behavior modification methods regarding canine behavior can be traced back to Pavlov and Thorndike; however, efforts to understand animal learning began to be applied practically shortly before World War I. In Sweden, Germany, and the USSR, descriptions of the wolf-scientist relationship demonstrate the utilization of learned tasks to simulate wild-behaviorally-dominant wolves. This practice, estimated to have originated around 1980 BC in Upper Egypt, was implemented to catch wolves that had been misled from one location.
After dogs were domesticated, canine behavior - specifically referring to the wolf-dog - initially focused on the breeding of what were considered the best working or guard dogs. In Mesopotamia, there are 3000-year-old letters that depict lists of names kept by breeders. Around 600-460 BCE, the Romans took professional control of non-domestic dog training and training in martial tasks, including fighting, tracking, sentry work, patrol, obedience, and armed es**rt. Two millennia later, extensive dog training and accompanying literature were documented in the USA, Great Britain, and Australia for those purposes, as well as for herding sheep and cattle, hunting, and bird dogs.
While behavior modification training is well-established in some ways, it can also be a philosophical approach that is customized for individual circumstances. Caregivers must understand how organisms learn through canine communication, canine ethology, and animal body language, ensuring that they are well-prepared to administer the treatment procedure with a high level of reactivity. The first guides detailing how dogs could be influenced introduced several principles that are still commonly referred to and continue to influence animal behaviorists and trainers today. These principles have withstood the scrutiny of many generations, providing ongoing educational value in contemporary dog training practices.
The basic techniques described in training books in the late 1800s in the UK and Middle Europe suggest an early interest in human medical therapies. It was believed that, like humans, associative therapeutic activities, both physical and mental, could be important. Throughout much of the early educational material, there is a focus on repetition. For those working in animal menageries, dogs were a readily available species to use as an example. Many dogs underwent the process of desensitization, where they were placed in close contact with a variety of animals. E. Stanyhurst Goode offers guidance to those attending by suggesting diverting the dog's attention from the other animals and redirecting their focus towards the owner. Regular exposure to new experiences is thought to help minimize unwanted behaviors.
Contemporary behavior modification training is based on the premise that dogs can be trained primarily using positive reinforcement-based methods. However, training methods were not always this way, and there used to be a greater emphasis on physically correcting behavioral issues. The evolution within the field of dog training has resulted in a more tremendous respect for our companion animals. A human-canine solid bond can be formed through mutual respect, and dogs are now more respected. The term "behaviorist" no longer accurately describes dog trainers interested in manipulative psychology. It refers to professionals qualified to work with severe behavior issues in other species. There are, however, Professional Dog Trainers well versed in dog psychology and behavior modification techniques. Dogs now have much to gain from new and improved training methods.
Today's training focuses on truly understanding and creating more compassionate options based on a scientific approach and effective communication with our canine companions. To further advance our field, it will be beneficial to delve deeper into current teachings. As demonstrated in the methods discussed below, the most critical variable that trainers pay attention to is communication between species.
Knowledge of behavior can be utilized through both negative and positive reinforcement. Attention, rewards, and providing choices are forms of positive reinforcement used to modify behavior. Positive reinforcement increases the frequency of a desired action by rewarding the animal when it occurs. This approach stimulates learning specific behaviors instead of trying to suppress unwanted ones. Positive reinforcement involves creating a positive association between rewards, the individual dog, and a support tool such as a food reward. It emphasizes the achievement of specific goals through rewards. Positive reinforcement can lead to rapid learning when the dog quickly grasps the desired behavior. As the behavior becomes more established, the reward can be gradually reduced, with the praise word, or "yes," gaining greater significance for both the dog and the owner. Another example of positive reinforcement is clicker training, which involves using a mechanical device that emits a sound when the dog performs a specific desired behavior, such as sitting. The sound of the click marks the correct behavior before the reward is given, helping to establish a connection between the click and the reward. This method is particularly effective in training sessions, especially for more complex behaviors like "stay" or "watch". The military has extensively used clicker training to train specialized response dogs for scent detection and operant conditioning tasks. In the United States, tens of thousands of detection canines are employed by the military and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to detect explosives, narcotics, and illicit currency.
In a historical context, the popularity of "balanced training" is relatively recent. In the past, professional dog training, particularly in the pet dog world, followed a more varied and balanced approach. Although the term "balanced" training wasn't widely emphasized, experienced trainers such as Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Hautenville Richardson, Colonel Konrad Most, Jack Menefee, and William R. Koehler advocated for a balanced approach in their training manuals from the 1930s through the 1970s. Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Hautenville Richardson, in his 1944 manual "The Training of Dogs," stressed the importance of developing teamwork between the dog and its handler through a balanced educational program. The balanced approach was multifaceted and flexible, incorporating behavior modification on multiple levels. Fear has been a significant obstacle for those adopting this approach, mainly as they come to understand the vast amount of knowledge they still have to acquire. Trainers who embrace this approach are comfortable with the fact that they do not have all the answers. They are intrigued by the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies, recognizing that ongoing learning is essential. They understand that the more resilient they are in pursuing knowledge, the more effectively they can help dogs and people. They never claimed that there was only one "right way" to do things. They were always open to discussions with trainers who employed alternative approaches to communicate and connect with animals.
This exploration of training techniques and tools in behavior modification provides the reader with a comprehensive breakdown. It covers everything from the tools of the trade to the methodologies being used today, which are far more dog- and human-friendly. Many techniques are employed in behavior modification, including desensitization, "nothing in life is free" training (NILIF), counterconditioning, and empowerment training. Behavior modification techniques tend to align more closely with the BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) approach, with some incorporation of desensitization. Various tools can aid in training, such as head collars, front clip harnesses, LIMA mix, specially designed leash clasps, Thunder caps, Dopram, and more. When attending behavior modification seminars, presenters must discuss the safety, humane aspects, and scientific arguments for and against using these tools.
What if children are involved? One of the most essential pieces of advice for households with children and dogs is to prioritize safety by implementing management protocols, consulting with a veterinarian, and seeking the guidance of a Professional Dog Trainer. As mentioned earlier, many dogs that have bitten children under 5 have no history of previous bites, which can lead to surprising situations where aggression seemingly arises "out of the blue." In such cases, the ideal solution would be to recommend that the parents rehome the dog or seek the assistance of a Professional Dog Trainer who specializes in modern, upbeat, and coercion-free training methods.
