It keeps cropping up on training discussion boards. I’ve heard the term used proudly, and I’ve also heard it slung at other trainers as a slur. I’ve even seen it associated with my own name on blogs—and not ones that were written by me. Who knew I was a “purely positive” trainer? I sure didn’t. Besides, what exactly does “purely positive” mean in the real world?
Any trainer who cares about dogs and has a modicum of compassion and intelligence doesn’t want to hurt dogs in the name of training. A choice of training tools exists, and a wide range of philosophies encompassing the use of those tools expands the arena even further. One person’s definition of purely positive might be: “No corrections are ever used.” Okay, but so we’re on the same page, what constitutes a correction? Is a verbal “no” a correction? How about saying, “eh-eh”—or is that somehow different? What about a stern look? Walking away as though disgusted? If so, call the training police and lock me away, because I’ve certainly done all of those things. My guess is that most trainers have, and the ones who haven’t are few and far between. I also believe that the trainers who never punish a dog by any definition of the term (including consequences such as a dog not getting to go for a walk if he doesn’t sit for the door to open, etc.), are more of a caricature painted by those who don’t care for what they perceive to be permissive training methods, than reality.
Then we have the “balanced” training camp. To my understanding, this term is meant to denote a trainer who uses both rewards and fair corrections. Of course, the actual interpretation of what constitutes a “reward” or a “fair correction” varies depending on the trainer. But whether the training philosophy is “positive” or “balanced,” in a way it’s like religion—you’ve got those followers who fall in the middle of the spectrum, and then the extremists, who are typically not a very good representation of the group as a whole. Someone who is helicoptering a dog, for example, is not a typical representative of the balanced trainer group, any more so than someone who just “slings cookies” at a dog in the hopes that behavior will improve is a good example of a positive trainer.
I’ve always liked the “LIMA” philosophy—least invasive, minimally aversive. Of course, what something even “minimally aversive” consists of and how it’s applied depends on a trainer’s skill and ethics. We each have a place we draw the line as to tools and techniques we’re willing to use. But I have more respect for the trainer—regardless of training philosophy, tools or techniques—who can have a civil conversation with another trainer regardless of their differences, than anyone on either side of the fence with a holier than thou or condemning attitude. I’ve never made a secret of that fact that I prefer not to use e-collars or certain types of equipment, and yet I know people who train with them, who use them with precision and skill, and only in very specific situations. I don’t consider these people fiends—in fact, some are friends. I like to think we’ve learned a lot from each other by listening instead of judging.
Of all the tools in a dog trainer’s toolbox, an open mind is one of the most valuable. Just because you’ve used a particular piece of equipment or technique for years doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be open to reconsidering its use. For example, early in my career I used citronella collars as a means to stop nuisance barking (behavior modification and enrichment was used as well). But after listening to others argue that the lingering unpleasant scent continues to punish the dog after the fact, instead of dismissing them as “those people who just don’t get it,” I reconsidered, and decided to discontinue its use. (And please let’s not have a long, heated discussion about citronella collars—this is just an example.) Or maybe you’ll decide to use a tool you wouldn’t have considered before. Maybe there’s an online discussion of a new type of body harness, and instead of dismissing it as some new-fangled useless piece of equipment, you process the information objectively and make an appropriate decision. Letting go of the knee jerk emotion that accompanies so many discussions of training equipment allows for civil discourse and growth.
I only wish both sides would take the time to engage in dialogue and ask questions instead of standing on the sidelines slinging mud and assigning labels to those who aren’t firmly in their camp, especially when they’ve never had a single conversation with the target of their vitriol. It’s fine to disagree with another trainer’s methodology, and certainly we should all have standards and beliefs that govern our training practices. But if you spend all your time deriding others instead of doing something productive, guess who it really reflects on? The political bs gets just as tiring in the training arena as it does in the political one. Enough already! We may not be able to come to a consensus on a training philosophy, but surely we all care about dogs and the future of our profession. Extending each other a bit of professional courtesy and engaging in open-minded conversation would be a purely positive move in the right direction.
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awesome post
Hi Nicole, I must first say that I’m a huge fan. I will never forget your recommendation to meet a dog in the kitchen since a dog is likely to have good associations with that area. Got me thinking in different ways and that always helps.
The two issues you've raised in this post have been a continuous theme across several articles I focus-on in my blog.
The first issue you brought up regarding what constitutes punishment (it’s not the same for all people) is due to logical contracts people create in their minds.
I’ve approached it from the Alpha-dog perspective in one of my articles but punishment is another great example http://dogandogs.com/alpha-dog-alpha-wolf-alpha-male-alpha-what
The other thing you mention is also extremely important. Dividing ourselves in different dog training camps is simply counterproductive. Here is my take on the whole thing http://dogandogs.com/everything-you-know-about-dog-training-is-wro-1
Thanks for a great article, keep 'em comin
positive & balanced
Thanks Nicole.
love LIMA
Thanks for the article Nicole - I totally agree with your comments about trainers learning from one another. I'm in West Aust and I train assistance dogs. My colleague and I work wonderfully together because we learn from one another all the time. Lesley has trained for over 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience, I've been a qualified trainer for only 2.5yrs and yet she's always willing to listen to my take on things and vice versa. I guess because we keep the big picture in mind - the person receiving the assistance dog requires the best!
I like to use a term "hands off training" when instructing puppy raisers and new trainers. they just have to remember not to touch the dog (other than physical praise). As you probably know teaching tasks to assistance dogs must be done with lots of fun and games - the dogs have to want to do it not be forced to do it.
And btw- the first training tool we give new trainers and puppy raisers is your DVD "Train Your Dog- The Positive Gentle Method". It's the best I've seen yet! thanks.
Goldcity
Love LIMA
Nicole,
So beautifully written! Thank you for this. All the best to you as well as your family (of course including your new and lovely girl, Sierra!)
Wooooos!
~Pat
Great Blog
Nicole thanks for writing this! I agree 100%.
One of the issues with dogs and people is that there are emotions, and rightly so. However many times these emotions are misplaced. This is especially true on the internet, as the person has the safety of being partially removed by the medium. There is also a condition I’ve come to notice, I call it Internet Badass. Many of the people who throw out hate or vitriol on the web probobly would not do it in person.
The other problem with the web/FB/blogs etc…is people use it as a way to “feel”, or a way to be heard. Which in and of itself is not all bad. Far too many times people post off topic, unrelated comments and it derails the conversation. Even you had to ask not to discuss citronella collars in this blog. LOL! The web is a great way to discuss and learn, but it comes with a huge freedom, that’s the price we pay. Oh well, that’s the way it goes.
Thanks for all your help; I love your books and your blogs!
Drayton Michaels CTC www.pitbullguru.com www.urbandawgs.com
Being open minded
I have been reading widely, taken courses, currently studying for the COAPE advanced diploma to pursue a career in dog behaviour and training. It is very difficult to be open minded sometimes when one school of thought says one thing about training dogs, and another says something quite different. I have heard many eminent speakers in the doggy world say totally different things. As a relative beginner it is hard to know who to follow. My philosophy therefore, is to soak up as much knowledge as I can, with a pinch of salt.. then make up my own mind and develop my own ideas and theories.
Perfect
Beautifully expressed. Thank you.
Greta Kaplan, CDBC, CPDT* Companion Animal Solutions* Portland, OR USA
Well Said!
I cannot tell you how tired I also am of this debate. Thank you for your great insight on this matter. There are extremes on both sides of the debate and both are wrong. It has been my observation however that correction based trainers are more open minded to making a change than purely positive trainers. The bottom line for all of us should be the dog and the quality of life that our training brings to the table.
Thanks for a wonderful article Nicole!
William Barnes www.acmek9services.com
A Tricky Wicket
Great article, as usual, Nicole. Where does one draw the line? When asked, I tell clients not to do anything to or with a dog that you'd be arrested for if you did it to a human. Basically, it's applying the Golden Rule. Seems easy enough doesn't it?
Striking, shocking, pinning, choking are legal with humans in two areas: mixed martial arts (and related entertainment) and protection of life and property. Other than that, you'd be arrested for using any of these methods. (Oops, I forgot, hitting a child is also legal if done by parents but not if administered by someone else).
Personally, I would do everything I could to protect a member of my family, including my dogs if attacked. I'd like to think I'd always LIMA the attacker but fortunately, I have never been in a situation where I've needed to do more than pin...and I've worked with some real "Cujo's" over the years.
But we're talking about causing physical and/or emotional trauma as an educational tool. The first time I saw someone use an earpinch, I was so startled to hear the screaming dog I found myself saying "stop!" The person said, "she's just acting out. I'm not really hurting her." Or the time I saw a beautiful shepherd being struck with a rubber hose over his nose. And I know people who bite their dogs, helicopter dogs until the dog passes out and so on. Would I have a friendly discourse with these people to compare training philosophies? No. I have however, on occasion politely introduced myself and addressed the methodology being used. I have asked people to consider alternatives. Sometimes that didn't turn out too well. Sometimes there is a reason people are violent with animals that has to do with personality issues never addressed in their own lives. But I digress.
I absolutely agree with your theme that no one should be attacked for their beliefs. I so believe in the connection of how we treat animals being linked to how we treat ourselves and each other, any dialogue would have to be rooted in the same kindness and compassion with which we treat our dogs.
The educational methods we choose are personal. A method that might be considered violent for one person in a given situation would not be violent if used by another person in another context. That being said, I believe there is a rudimentary guideline we might follow: education should be viewed from a standpoint of whether or not the methods used promote kindness, safety and love in the world ...otherwise they can desensitize us to continue the cycle of abuse. Dr. Martin Luther King's quote says it best,"If peace is our goal, then our means must be peaceful." I think that holds true in our interactions with dogs and with each other.
A must
Very well put. I find that being openminded and knowledgeable about all "camps" can be a real asset when dealing with students. As we all know many students beleive they know alot about training. Being able to talk to them rationally and not being dismissive can really help to keep a good relationship with these students.
Thanks Nicole...
Of all the tools in a dog trainer’s toolbox, an open mind is one of the most valuable.
And that says it all. I find it terribly frustrating that the saying "the only thing you can get two dog trainers to agree about is that the third trainer's approach is wrong" is still alive and well.
Too many variables enter into training; the dog; the owner's strengths and weakenesses; the environment; etc for training to be a "one size fits all" endeavor.
The BEAUTY of training is that we have the ability to recognize that each situation is a unique puzzle and to use a creative/open minded approach for the best results. What a shame that trainers lose this exciting opportunity by being close minded to other schools of thought.
As an aside to all of that...interaction with the dog and some focused discussion with the owners tells us all we need to know about which approach will be best suited for the situation.
In any endeavor in life, be it business managment, sports management, etc the most successful people are those who can mold their management style to each situation for the best results.
Thanks for a great article.
John
Thanks to all of you
Thanks to all of you who care so much about dogs and training. I've watched the TV shows, bought DVDs, attended group classes, had one on one instruction, and read a library shelf worth of books on dog training and behavior. I've taken what I could make sense of, what I was willing and able to do, and did not physically hurt my dog. (I tried not to hurt him emotionally either, but we didn't always understand each other, so who knows how frustrated he may have been at times.)
I knew he and I had made progress, and then his vet said (completly unsolicited) that I've done a great job with my dog and that he is a much different dog than when he came for his first visit.
It's because of the dog training community's hard and innovative work (and the animal rescue groups too!) that my dog, who had been frequently passed around his first couple of years, is now secure in his home and a great companion.
You all can name it whatever you like. Whatever it is, you are saving the lives of dogs.
Dog Training
many years ago, a client entered the clinic with a very anxious, stressed and aggressive rottweiler. The owner was near to tears, she loved the dog but was distraught because the dog's life (and hers) seemed to be so stressful. When she told me the dog training club she went to, knowing what kind of techniques they used and having just been to a seminar on the emerging gentle modern method of no check chains, physical force or punishment etc. I suggested she look into trying a different approach describing the best I could about my recent seminar telling her it was my feeling the training she was using was only exasperating the problem and betraying the trust of the dog.
With the following routine yearly visit 12 months later, a different dog entered our clinic, much happier, less stressed, still with some way to go but obviously on the right track. The owner was overjoyed in the progress in her dog and relayed her gratitude to me in pointing her in the right direction. This dog owner was so happy with the reponse from her dog (and herself for that matter) that she embarked on educating herself further to become a dog trainer.
Another client started up a business of dog training, with many years experience in both dog breeding and training (I believe he trained dogs for the airforce.........). When he came to us with business cards to hand out to our clients, both my boss and I felt uncomfortable as we had a niggling feeling the training methods were not what we could recommend. I told the client we already had a dog trainer on our books whom we recommend, this client was unhappy with our reply.
As it turned out, an unfortunate recount (from a extremely delighted person I have to say) from another client whom was refered to this trainer by a third party (we refered the client to our prefered trainer but they could not get an immediate date) - the training technique described filled us with horror, seems the gut feeling the boss & I had was the correct one. Apparently the dog trainer helicoptered the dog with a prong collar.......... It was hard to conceal my horror, unfortuantly the client did not see anything wrong with what this trainer had done - it got the result she said, she was impressed (if not a little giddy) by how he mastered the dog(s) - incidently the problem behaviour (inter-sibling aggression resulting in injury between to male dogs) returned two fold not much later................
So Refreshing to Read
I love this article! I am not a trainer but I am a very involved dog owner who has struggled with figuring out what methods are right for me and my dog.
It can be very frustrating when you feel like you are being bullied or admonished into using only one way of training for your dog. It's so easy to worry about how people are going to perceive you that you forget that what is more important is what works for your family/your dog and you.
There are so many philosophies and everyone seems to think their way is the only way. It always seems like trouble when things have to be either one extreme or another. I don't think having an extremist attitude on any topic every works out well. Mainly because there are far too many variables to consider for there to ever be just one way to do things.
Amen and Brava
Thank you for your well written and timely article. I've been dismayed at many "positive" trainers who are so reactive to any other training method. The incessant focus on belittling others was very discouraging. I was profoundly affected by a purely positive trainer (her words) who seemed to spend all her free time trolling the internet, looking for video of other trainers and then trashing their methods, their integrity and even their personal lives.
After some consideration I decided that, rather than attacking this misguided person...since you get what you focus on eh? I'd do something to promote positive training and bring trainers in my area together with their dogs. We rehearsed for a few weeks, mostly individually, and performed a Flash Mob at a local park last weekend. We had fun with our dogs and got to spend some time with each other as well. We all use different techniques but were able to be inclusive, if only for a short while and I believe we all benefited. I know I did and more importly, so did my dogs!
Thank you for such an
Thank you for such an excellent article. Hopefully it will reach the closed minded.
I have never held to just one school of training but would use common sense when I first got my puppies 15yrs ago. I certainly realised a puppy/dog that rolled over and peeing on itself when the owner walked in the room was not a good thing, but that was how a friend treated his dog.
I vowed I would never brutalise my dogs like that.
I have been flamed by people who had read academic articles and associated the words dominant behaviour (which is now described as social heirachy) with an entire training technique. Assuming I had treated my dogs using the technique used by the friend described hurt deeply.
I have enjoying reading the advise about a situation we will be in and you have a thread for =>
2 Old Japanese Spitz vs a Shiba Inu pup. We have already set up two seperate areas inside and out and are really interested in crate training. Amongst my friends who have taken their dogs to obedience ect this is something they were unfamilier with, so its been a good education.