Dog Training IS Evolving
June 10, 2011
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
“Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Dog” That is one long title! According to “Kindle,” I’m 45% through the book. It has been an interesting read, much already known. The level of information the book provides will likely not reach dog trainers holding onto the past, remaining uneducated in dog behavior and dogs so desperately do not need! Those of us who love learning, especially about dogs (!) will no doubt read the book.
Its purpose to educate the dog owning public what’s best for dogs include best training methods, behavior modification, equipment, breeding, welfare and quality of life issues will still be up to us and those who want to listen!
Bradshaw mentions several familiar and some famous names in the Dog World, all of whom I respect (except one) and learned something from. To date, this does not seem to influence people who just want to keep or have dogs but do not want all the work necessary to guarantee the health and welfare of the dog. Some send dogs away to “boot camps” when they may have no understanding what type of training their dog will receive. Many owners lack patience, want quick fixes, even when they do contact the right person. These well-known names are often used during training sessions and behavior consults to affirm opinion and/or suggestions. These names are not familiar to the public!
Something in Bradshaw’s book was unfamiliar, at least how he worded it. He said, discussing the historical beginning of punishment training, made famous by Konrad Most and perhaps why this method continues to hang on IS dog training began as a “craft” not a profession and certainly not one based on science!
I know from colleagues and friends that I am not the only new person to the profession who has not realized how important science is. It has been 11 years now, many dogs trained well enough to please their owners, fostering, and preparing rescues for adoption, and three dogs adopted into my life and “fixed” have all taught me something and turned out to be incredible dogs. Considering some of their behavior problems, medication, and shock was considered (!), but in all cases, I never felt the need for my dogs and/or client’s dogs needing the lowest level in a training hierarchy. The training hierarchy begins using positive reinforcement with the lowest level being positive punishment and/or negative reinforcement used in a way that would injure and/or stress a dog.
Bradshaw even acknowledged removing a treat from a sensitive dog could be unpleasant. This means suggesting ignoring a behavior like jumping can be aversive. Anyone who understands dog training and wants to use positive reinforcement always rewards the dog as soon as he sits and continues to ignore all incidences of jumping, while at the same time rewarding the dog when they sit and/or do anything else acceptable!
Good dog trainers and those specializing in behavior always start using positive reinforcement. It is the dog trainers’ responsibility to teach clearly, how and when to adjust training schedules. This means adapting the dog from exclusively using food treats to life rewards. A “life reward” is anything your dog loves to do; it can even include opening cans, bags, and doors!
Bradshaw notes punishment trainers avoid putting any thing on their website indicating their training method and fail to provide anything supporting their scientific education. How and where did these dog trainers learn the skills and mechanics necessary for training, understanding normal dog behavior, how to modify unwanted behavior, learning theory, physiology, biology, breeding practices, care, housing, and welfare issues that plague dogs! This is an important consideration when you care about your dog.
“As we look for dogs who can work for and with us, and as we seek to alter the behavior of troubled and distressed dogs and those with behavior pathologies, these nuanced differences will become essential. Without further understanding of the complete biology of canine learning, we will be unable to progress in creative ways with behavior modification and the medications that facilitate it” (Overall, JVB 2009).
Much of what we are learning today about dogs cognitive abilities, learning and interpretation of behavior began just 10-15 years ago! This may explain why many traditional trainers hang on to their old methods learned 20-40 years ago, before dog training needed a more scientific approach. This may explain why they don’t/can’t provide a resume for their educational experience. If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it many times, “I’ve been training dogs for __ years” but how were you training those dogs 20 years ago, what methods did you use and what was your motivation!
The motivation of a dog trainer and most importantly for behavior modification should be motivated not by ribbons, personal gain and accolades but having empathy for dogs to understand when something is wrong. It’s not appropriate to view problems your dog may be experiencing from a strict medical approach. Holistic means, we look at mind and body connections to help explain what IS going on with Fido!
This is WHY dog trainers and those specializing in dog behavior need to understand so much about science pertaining to this field. Current breeding practices affect dog’s behavior. It has the ability to compromise their health, their wellness both physically and mentally, the bond between human and dog and overall quality of life.
Some examples of selective breeding effects has on behavior include one of the top 10 favorite breeds, the Golden retriever. According to Rooney, evidence exists for a “genetic predisposition toward aggression” and “dominant-aggressive” behavior in Cocker spaniels varies according to color.
Question: “Is it acceptable to deliberately breed dogs that we know will have trouble running without shortness of breath, or whose likelihood of inheriting diabetes is 10 times higher than that of the general canine population” (Rooney, 2009).
References
Nicola Jane Rooney, PhD,. 2009. “The welfare of pedigree dogs: Cause for concern” JVB
Bradshaw, John, 2011. ”Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend To Your Dog”
Overall, Karen. 2009. “Seeking a more scientific understanding of how dogs learn.” JVB.
Quality 
Joyce Gamsby Kesling, CDBC, CACBC
May 20, 2012
Reblogged this on Responsible Dog & Cat.
Joyce Kesling, CDBC
June 11, 2011
I’m glad you mentioned the possible problem with clickers! Yes, this is true, that’s why we have to be flexible. The public may not be aware of certificates or the ability to distinguish between dog trainers, but IF we keep it a secret, they never will. Evaluating organizations, I look at the board of directors, their backgrounds, before I might choose to support their organization. I personally, want to see something that is agreeable with me! We all have different criteria. I wouldn’t have been very successful IF I’d called a plumber because Darwin seemed to have a lapse in house-training. I do need a professional carpet cleaner!
Diane, regarding the comment, not sure, why there is any confusion. There exists detailed behavior modification hierarchies published, the one cited by the Delta Society. I believe James O’Heare developed his own, I can’t remember where I saw it. There are also human processes utilized for this same reason. It gives dog trainers a starting point and that point should always be +R. However, experience has taught me not all dogs, an entire population, can be trained strictly using + R. It’s been repeated and repeated again, by experts, well know and respected dog trainers, there is no way a dog trainer can exclusively use positive reinforcement. It doesn’t work with people, why would we expect it works for all dogs. I recently attended the iaabc conference; both sides were presented, including just giving clients what they want through day-training! Brenda Aloff did a presentation on using negative reinforcement, not the kinds of examples many trainers use in defending their position i.e. using shock. Negative reinforcement can be as simple as pressure on, pressure off. Example, dogs pulls on lead; he’s most definitely caused himself discomfort! Owner stands there and rewards dogs every time they release pressure and/or perhaps return to them or focus their attention on the owner. This was rather easy to understand, when English riding (dressage), we barely put pressure using our heel into their side to turn and or change from trotting to cantering. We barely use the reins, but even then, there are bits made especially for those horses that could be dangerous even to a skilled rider. Another good example, when I learned how to teach handling exercises, gently place the puppy between one’s legs and gently turn them on their backs, if they struggle, gently hold them, until they relax the slightest bit, the release them. This is very mild stress for what should be an average well-bred dog! This is exactly what the bio-sensor program did starting at what (?) day three! Introduce puppies to very mild stressors early and according to the reports, this produced dogs who could handle stress without over-reacting. No matter what we say, write or do, pet owners make their decisions on various criteria. The problem I see IS we have shock collar trainers problem solving everything from jumping to barking without any history, no consideration for the dogs environment or what the owners can and will do. They show immediate results, so it’s very appealing to dog owners, even some shelters who thinks it works faster, so they can move the dog out making room for another. All animals experience stress, pain and discomfort, it’s only when these experiences are prolonged and chronic or in the case of dog training applied incorrectly. This goes completely against using punishment, if that becomes necessary! If a punisher doesn’t work rapidly, within two-three trials, you need to stop, you are now abusing the animal. I’m pretty much saying what all the learning theory literature says. I’m not going to gloss over something because it suits my cause and/or position. Everything I write is consistent and is based on my training and view. I don’t believe everything is black and white. Yes, I have my own ideals and code of ethics. Stress and pain levels are individually realized, I think what we have sometimes IS dog trainers looking at everything using their personal human perspective and biases based on their personal experiences. We all know this is a variable necessary to account for in scientific studies.
jdk
Diane Garrod
June 10, 2011
Hi Joyce:
Very good article. Some well-made points and of course, the world has a lot to learn yet of positive reward-based, results-oriented training that prefers a +R/-P. It could be said the clicker is stressful to some dogs, and of course it is to those with severe sound sensitivities or dogs fearful of almost everything. Adjusting the way one trains or modifies behavior is dependent on the dog, what they are struggling with and the owner’s comprehension and dog training education. Certifications are also relatively new a you point out, and imho they are more important to “other trainers” then to “the general public”. Since there are quite a few available now they provide a trainer with a good thing, to (like show ribbons) display their credentials, good for writing books, articles, and being favorably looked upon by fellow trainers. Still, they mean little to the general public who just want a trained dog.
One area I was confused slightly was the comment “Good dog trainers and those specializing in behavior always start using positive reinforcement.” It caused me to wonder why if you started with positive reinforcement why you would do anything else except to continue with it. Working with some of the worst cases, a majority rescues with people and dog challenges, it wouldn’t even be in my toolbox to use anything else with all the great positive techniques out there. Again, to me where knowledge ends, aversion begin, the public included and that’s when desperation sets in and desperate dog owners do desperate things.
An article that makes you think, well done as usual Joyce.
Diane Garrod