Notes from a Postivie Trainer's Conference

I just returned from a Dog Trainer’s Conference. I won’t name names, but it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure it out, if you really want to know. I must tell you that I had some pretty significant concerns and I want to share them with you. There are some things you as a pet owner, seeking a trainer should understand.

Within the organization there is a sub-group typically called “All Positive” or “Purely Positive”. As I listened to what was being said, as well as what was not being said, there was a pretty clear message: never correct a dog and avoid aggressive dogs.

I went to this conference specially to learn how to work an aggressive dog using all-positive methods and clicks and treats. Seriously, I wanted to figure this out. In forums online where I have expressed questions about being stuck, I was railed upon and told either a) I was moving too fast, b) the dog didn’t understand or c) I was stupid (well, they didn’t quite say that but sure inferred it )

There was a distinct absence of session related to aggression and reactivity. I found this most curious, since this seems to be one of the primary calls I get daily. I started listening a bit more carefully and asking a few very careful questions.

Some of these folks typically run from aggression & reactivity and in some cases don’t experience it at all. Many of these folks are breeders, service dog trainers, competition trainers or show-dog trainers. The select their puppies very carefully and then put them in to training programs with the end in mind. When they do encounter aggression, they would often rather euthanize a dog than to try a method that even approximates a correction or +P / Positive Punishment.

That’s right – some of them will counsel you to get rid of your dog or even to put your dog down before they would ever consider a prong collar or an ecollar. Some of them won’t even consider a martingale! And some, won’t even consider any sort of verbal “no”, or touch at all.

I even had one trainer tell me it would be such a waste of time to spend on an aggressive dog since there are so many others that could be trained during that time, and shelters are full of non-aggressive dogs. You must be kidding me – right? Well at least she got the shelter part right. But what if it’s your dog showing signs of aggression? You're scared, heartbroken, and typically overwhelmed by what to do next.    Are you ready to put him down before you would consider trying training method that is a bit more correction-based that treat-based? Remember, I attribute my own Great Dane’s life to an ecollar.

Do I use prongs and ecollars on every dog I train? Absolutely not. Not even almost. In fact, I don’t even use it on Vinnie anymore. We’re past that now. In the year and ½ since I opened my own business, only 4 dogs have gone to ecollar and that was at their owner’s request.

This whole thing makes me sad. I look back at a number of dogs I have known over the 13+ years I have been doing rescue and I think how many of them would not be here if we hadn’t used some form of correction when treats and other rewards were failing. Vinnie would not be here today if some of these trainers had been his evaluator.

So, as I sat there truly troubled, and really trying to understand the founder made some interesting points in his lecture and closing remarks.

• A dog is not trained unless and until s/he can perform the requested skill at distance, without food, without a training tool, and under distraction. (That’s always been my goal for training dogs)

• You cannot train a dog with only positive methods. There must be a consequence (punishment). Consequences should not be those that inflict pain and fear. (I agree – and know for fact that used properly or certain dogs with certain temperaments, prong collars and even ecollars meet this criteria)

• How can trainers call themselves “All Positive” when in fact they speak with hate, anger, hostility and overall negativity to anyone who has an opinion different than their own? It is hypocrisy to claim to be all positive and yet not be able to educate and communicate with their human peers and clients. (My favorite remark)

Now mind you – he is probably never going to support an ecollar on any dog. And of course we agree that no dog should be hit, intimidated, screamed at, or otherwise harmed. But he is saying something very important and controversial in his own organization. All-Positive doesn’t always work and may have been taken too far towards treats and clicks only.   He's open to the fact that a type of correction may be needed. (Gasp!)

While there are many common solutions and scientific studies supporting behavior – each dog is unique. Training is not black and white. For every average there is an extreme. No method is 100% for every dog, handler, or scenario. We must figure out what is going to work for the dog and the owner.

A good trainer is open-minded and well versed in all methods and can apply the best of all things to solve the problem with your dog.

Certainly we need to exhaust all options before we start talking euthanasia, IMHO.

So with that in mind – Happy Gotcha Day Vinnie 10/30/2010

The K9 Coach
http://www.thek9-coach.com
980-339-8064

Not all dogs fit all families. Not all families need a dog.

 

 Not all dogs fit all families.   Not all families need a dog.

Don't get me wrong, I think dogs are one of the greatest creatures on the planet.  I think they can bring a lot of joy and companionship to a home.     I, along with many of my friends and peers, work really hard to save dogs from a miserable lonely death in a gas chamber, and try to find them good homes.   We hardly make a dent in the over population of dogs and the number of dogs dying daily.   And yet, breeders (if you can call a backyard breeder than) continue to churn our puppies for profit, and to see the cute factor to the uneducated public.

This is Poppy -- She is NOT the dog in this story.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a client who had just brought home an adorable puppy.  The breed won't be named here, but suffice it to say, it was a working breed.   Before that puppy was 4 months old, this family was overwhelmed.  

Potty training takes work.   He pulls on his leash.    He gets into everything.   He drools water on the floor when he drinks.   He chases my "kid".   He chases the cat.   He jumps.  He nips.   He barks at the neighbors. 

He's a puppy.   What did you expect?  He's like a toddler that you have to teach how to live in your home.  You have to teach him life skills and manners.  He's smart and he needs interaction and activity.  He's bored.   

We think he's aggressive.    He nips at us all the time.   He's afraid to be on the sidewalk.    He's afraid to ride in car?  Well, the only time he ever rode in the car was the day we brought him home -- we haven't taken him to ride because he's afraid.  He never sits down.   The only way we can control him is to crate him.    I don't want a crate in my house.    I don't want to have to have him on a leash in the house.   My husband isn't helping much.   And the excuses continued....

After a few weeks of private training and a series of Group Training, the owner was just not satisifed with his progress.   I explained often, they had to participate -- daily, as a way of life.  I finally took the dog in for "free" board and train / observation.   The dog was darn near perfect.  Beautifully trained in his obedience skills.   Playful with other puppies.   Happy go lucky.   Relaxed. 

They never claimed him to come back home.   With him out of the house, they decided they didn't want him.  He was too much work and caused too much stress when he was there  Instead, he was returned to his breeder (per their contract) who will resell him for another profit.  After all, he's well trained, well-balanced and healthy.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Despite my repeated attempts to coach the owners on being consistent with the dog, practicing his obedience skills, the need to socialize the dog, and the need to demonstrate some consistent leadership with him -- they didn't.   They didn't have time.  They didn't make time. Training lessons were often interrupted to attend to the questions and needs of the child in the home.  Clearly the dog was not a priority.  

We wanted a dog that would just be part of the family.     Why did you get this breed of dog?  This size?   This working breed?  This energy level?   

They simply did not do their research.  They adopted an image of a dog and an adorable factor.  They wanted a perfectd dog from day one.  They did not expect the level of work it takes to teach a dog how to be part ofo othe family -- and this dog was SMART!

They would send him outside  and wonder why he only wanted to come back in the house.   They wondered why he was getting into "papers" on the kids play table instead of chewing his toys.

He was bored.  No one was playing with him.  A short walk everyday was not enough physical exercise and he was getting no mental stimulation.

As a reminder -- this is a working breed dog.  He needed a job.  He needed to be challenged, exercised and to play everyday.   Not for hours on end, but certainly more than a few minutes a day.

THE LESSON:

Don't buy or adopt a dog because it's cute or because your friend has such a great dog.  Don't adopt the breed you had as a kid if you don't understand what it took to create that well-balanced dog.  Do your home work.  Know what the dog was bred to do and how they will fit into your lifestyle and if you can accommodate their developmental needs, training needs, exercise needs, as well as their medical and grooming needs.  

A dog is a commitment for their lifetime.  They are not exchangeable like a pair of pants.  

Adopt/Rescue -- don't support backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Spay/Neuter -- 10,000 dogs a day die due to overpopulation

Foster, Volunteer, Donate, Educate.   Do Something!

Welcome To The K9 Coach Unleashed

A Balanced Trainer's Blog

I am long time dog lover.   A long time volunteer and foster parent for rescue Great Danes.   And now a certified dog trainer.    In all 3 categories, I often find myself completely disappointed, sometimes shocked and often royally pissed off with people and the things they do to dogs.

This blog is my opinion and what I think is in the best interest of the dogs who share our world.  It's my opinion. Period.   It's my experience with people and things that need to be said to many people.   If you agree with the opinions, do something about it.   Help stop the cycle of abuse, neglect, ignorance and over breeding and lack of training. 

Everyone can do something.  What will you do?

Don't like my opinion?   I'm ok with that.  We don't all have to agree.  I'm happy to have an open, respectful discussion.   We can all learn something from each other.  But under no circumstance will I tolerate rudeness, hatred, or other inappropriate messages.