17/05/2025
MY (mostly) UNBIASED GUIDE TO TRAINING METHODOLOGIES:
Note: this is a spectrum. Most people fall somewhere in between and may use different labels to self identify.
Traditional/compulsion:
Pressure and release to teach. Built around alpha theory. Strong focus on submission as the ultimate training goal. Treats/praise used only after pressure is applied. Typically self labeled as balanced or leadership based.
Traditional balanced:
Strong focus on obedience and structure. Mixture of positive and negative reinforcement to teach commands. Pressure and release utilized more sparingly than in compulsion but still used often. Prong/ecollars heavily utilized but usually introduced after commands have been taught. Corrections used to generalize new behaviors and proof to distractions and decrease unwanted behavior.
LIMA w/tool use:
Behaviors taught using R+. Aversive tools used sparingly and for specific reasons where cost/benefit has been evaluated (I.e.: ecollar used to reinforce recall off prey, but not to reinforce a place command.) Strong focus on animal welfare and exercise. Plenty of unstructured freedom provided.
Traditional R+/FF
Direct response to compulsion and traditional balanced training. Strong focus on teaching cues via positive reinforcement and decreasing unwanted behavior via negative punishment. Physical management to prevent unwanted behavior I.e. front clip harness to prevent pulling. Most R+/FF trainers fall under this category.
R+2.0/learner centered/holistic force free
Strong focus on meeting dogs needs and two way communication between dog and human. De-prioritizes traditional obedience and prioritizes freedom of choice. Utilizes proactive management to increase freedom while decreasing unwanted behavior I.e. opting for decompression walks over neighborhood walks for reactive dogs. Heavily influenced by ethology as opposed to operant conditioning.
