I had an unfortunate correspondence recently with a “dog trainer” who justifies the use of punishment in her “training” by implying that dogs that are given a choice will inevitably make the wrong choice.
How shortsighted!
As dog trainer I am an educator - a “dog coach” as someone recently described me!
And just as we don’t let our children run amok and expect them to make the right choices, we don’t do that with our animals either.
Guiding them to make a good choice is what it’s all about.
But it is essential for them to make that choice freely!
Getting someone to suggest a course of action themselves is a sure way to have them follow through. If they decide that’s what they want to do, then they’ll probably do it.
Dogs are no different!
They take pride in understanding what would be a good decision in the moment - even a moment that they would previously have found stressful. And they love to be reassured and praised for so doing.
Punishment?
Treating the dog as an automaton, which we switch on or off, means we always have to be in control
As I say so often,
I don’t want to have to control my dogs: I want my dogs to control themselves.
The so-called dog trainer claimed that reactive dogs could only be managed through control and limiting choice. “Do what I say,” Kind of thing.
I have specialised in reactive and aggressive dogs for many years. I have had a dramatic success rate with my non-confrontational, choice-based, methods
The more we treat the person, child, or animal, in our care with respect for their individuality, the better the result.
Punishment serves only to make the punisher feel good.
Choice Training makes everyone feel good!
Want to know how you can incorporate choice and respect into managing your dog? Start with our free Workshop here!