Quote:
Originally Posted by dogpositivetraining
Hi,
The suggestions I gave were relevant and helpful, so to just dismiss them is not very constructive. By dismissing them you are also dismissing renowned dog trainers like Ian Dunbar, Turid Rugaas, Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell and many more.
I am aware your approach is based on dominance/pack theory, so I can understand why you disagree with my suggestions, but it is very blinkered to think that a dog will only follow you or not go through doorways first if they respect you. This is just not correct, it helps of course, but if a dog has been trained not to pull and not to charge through doorways first, then they won't, regardless of whether they respect you or not. And in a sense using the word respect is also applying human psychology to dogs. But hey we're humans so we have to use words 
Not quite sure what you mean when you write
rather than work with what the dog understands???
If this means the dominant and corrective approach, then I don't agree with this way.
I am a positive trainer and my approach is based on scientifically proven learning theory. The same learning theory that is used to train killer whales at marine shows! |
I am not dismissing trainers, but I think it is far easier for owners to take a dog to a training class rather than apply the principles of leadership. Leadership is about being consistant 100% of the time and being the boss. I do have to say, that this is not applicable to most of the people on this forum, becuase everybody here is absolutely dedicated to their dogs. But there is a lack of information of this way of being with your dogs. "Training" is readily available while talk of the pack theory/dominance is not. Some might argue that that if I was correct then it would be the other way around. Who knows......
You talk about positive training methods, whilst I agree that this is fine for your average dog. If you have a dog with serious behavioural issues, then I feel that another approach is needed.
Example. My problem dog Max has, from day 1 tried to fight with the dog next door, through the fence. I openly admit, that I created this problem by not addressing it correctly from day 1 ( I knew nothing about dog psychology and this is part of the reason why I try to assist others). I have tried almost everything at this fence, including working with a behaviourist who has used positive methods. Because of the intensity he gets to, if the dog is the other side, absolutely nothing works. I got a new rescue in January, Sammy, who I actually got to try to help my guys. The only thing that can stop Max from doing this, is Sammy. When he gets out of control , Sammy goes to the fence and nudges him away, if Max does not listen, then Sammy will bite him and then Max moves. This is what I mean by working with "what the dog knows". This is how they deal with each other and in my opinion, if you work with their psychology and not our own, then you have more success.
I think respect is used in all species. If you look at how dogs behave in the park. Some are totally disrespectful to others, they charge and bark, whilst a respectful dog will approach in a calmer manner and go through the greeting ritual.
If somebody had given me the sort of advice on how to be the boss/pack leader, when I got my first 2 greek rescue dogs. I would never have ended up with the problems I have had and still do on occasions. There is no positive training you can give when you take on these sorts of dogs, who are so frightened of everything and everyone. What they needed from day 1 was for me to step up to the plate and show them I was the boss and I would take care of them. Instead I gave affection, I felt sorry for them and I brought every book on training, which did not help. I could barely touch them for the first few weeks. If I had had an understanding of dog psychology I would have realised that I was doing it all wrong.
This is why I am so passionate about this subject and if I can stop one person making the same mistakes I did, then it is worth it.
Your posts are always very informative and helpful to people, I just have a totally different perspective on it.
