Now a lot of people have problems with collar pops or any sort of "physical punishment". I do a huge combination of heavy positive reinforcement, a small amount of punishment when needed (and lots of different forms), and lots of catering to my dogs individual needs. In my opinion dogs are extreme individuals, in fact all animals are, and that fact alone means that no type of training is perfect for every dog. I use what works best for Dewey. In fact if you have heard some of the commands I use for him during our training sessions or working walks, some of the words make no sense in the normal dog training world. He doesn't know heel, he doesn't know off, he doesn't respond to a lot of things like a normal dog would. And it's not because I didn't try to teach him the norm, it's just because he didn't respond well to those words compared to words I now use. Dewey is one of those dogs who I can pretty much have an entire normal conversation with and he will understand at least half the words. Sadly this means we have to spell words that will make him excited, which is at least 30 words, and recently we have noticed 3 words he can now spell without a problem.
There are two types of dog training in the dog training world, -Punishment (which is what people consider the positive reinforcement and no force training) and +Punishment (which is what the "old world" training is. Such as dominance rolling, collar pops, any physical punishments). Now most people are one or the other. Most -P trainers will tell you dogs learn better through force free training. Most +P trainers will tell you that it is instinctive to use +P training so they will respond better. However I think dogs individually vary too differently to say these absolutes. I think an equal training where you use a little of both with a lot of positive reinforcement and a little +punishment and/or -punishment (preferably both types) so your trust and bond is not damaged, is key to a balanced dog. Now there is never such a thing as a "perfectly trained" dog in my opinion. I honestly think training is something that will always needed to be reworked and reinforced, because dogs will forget or will test their boundaries. This is what mentally healthy dogs should do in my opinion. It is your job as their trainer, to redirect their thoughts and remind them what they should be doing. I don't post on my dog forums anymore because they don't allow talk about +P training, which in my opinion isn't fair. However I understand where the moderators are coming from. If +P training is used incorrectly, like it is by so many certified trainers and people who think they can train dogs themselves without studying, it can be severely detrimental to the dog's psyche. I personally would not use any sort of +P training on a dog I was training right away until I had studied that dog's triggers in several situations for a week, and was able to read it's signals safely. Then I would carefully introduce +P training in a safe environment with minimal damage and minimal stress so that I could view the dogs reaction. Each session would last at most 15 minutes, followed by a long relaxation break of 30 minutes with preferably something they love to chew on and preferably in a room or place they feel safe in, either alone or with someone they feel safe with. Then after the relaxation break they get a 15 minute play session, another 10 minute break, and then another 15 minute session of +P training. However I would only charge for the 30 minutes of +P training.
So if you think about it in my training session that would involve +P, it would 15 minutes of stress, 30 minutes of like a meditation destress moment, 15 minutes of play to release built up tension, 10 minutes to just relax after the play so we don't go into the next training session too amped up, and then another 15 minutes of stress. Then preferably after I left the owner would follow through with the chewing session.
These kind of intensive +P training session are only really needed with aggression based or fearful dogs. Once or twice a week at most is what is recommended for intensive training session of any sort for any dog.
With Dewey, when he came to us, our lives changed. We were looking for a 4 year old female. We got an 8 month old male. He totally chose us and it was so worth the change we made. Because though the beginning wasn't exactly perfect and we definitely had to adjust, everything about him is just... amazing. I wouldn't say he's perfect, because he has his faults that many people wouldn't find perfect, but his faults make him perfect for me. His past wasn't great from what we know, when he arrived at the shelter he was 5 pounds underweight, he still had his dew claws (never got them removed and still has them today), had to be neutered, and was definitely not a normal dog. He was found in the Napa Golf Course. And technically we were looking for a dog, but at that moment weren't planning on getting one. But when he walked into the room all waggly and happy, we put our names down, and I haven't regretted once.
~Amber
There are two types of dog training in the dog training world, -Punishment (which is what people consider the positive reinforcement and no force training) and +Punishment (which is what the "old world" training is. Such as dominance rolling, collar pops, any physical punishments). Now most people are one or the other. Most -P trainers will tell you dogs learn better through force free training. Most +P trainers will tell you that it is instinctive to use +P training so they will respond better. However I think dogs individually vary too differently to say these absolutes. I think an equal training where you use a little of both with a lot of positive reinforcement and a little +punishment and/or -punishment (preferably both types) so your trust and bond is not damaged, is key to a balanced dog. Now there is never such a thing as a "perfectly trained" dog in my opinion. I honestly think training is something that will always needed to be reworked and reinforced, because dogs will forget or will test their boundaries. This is what mentally healthy dogs should do in my opinion. It is your job as their trainer, to redirect their thoughts and remind them what they should be doing. I don't post on my dog forums anymore because they don't allow talk about +P training, which in my opinion isn't fair. However I understand where the moderators are coming from. If +P training is used incorrectly, like it is by so many certified trainers and people who think they can train dogs themselves without studying, it can be severely detrimental to the dog's psyche. I personally would not use any sort of +P training on a dog I was training right away until I had studied that dog's triggers in several situations for a week, and was able to read it's signals safely. Then I would carefully introduce +P training in a safe environment with minimal damage and minimal stress so that I could view the dogs reaction. Each session would last at most 15 minutes, followed by a long relaxation break of 30 minutes with preferably something they love to chew on and preferably in a room or place they feel safe in, either alone or with someone they feel safe with. Then after the relaxation break they get a 15 minute play session, another 10 minute break, and then another 15 minute session of +P training. However I would only charge for the 30 minutes of +P training.
So if you think about it in my training session that would involve +P, it would 15 minutes of stress, 30 minutes of like a meditation destress moment, 15 minutes of play to release built up tension, 10 minutes to just relax after the play so we don't go into the next training session too amped up, and then another 15 minutes of stress. Then preferably after I left the owner would follow through with the chewing session.
These kind of intensive +P training session are only really needed with aggression based or fearful dogs. Once or twice a week at most is what is recommended for intensive training session of any sort for any dog.
With Dewey, when he came to us, our lives changed. We were looking for a 4 year old female. We got an 8 month old male. He totally chose us and it was so worth the change we made. Because though the beginning wasn't exactly perfect and we definitely had to adjust, everything about him is just... amazing. I wouldn't say he's perfect, because he has his faults that many people wouldn't find perfect, but his faults make him perfect for me. His past wasn't great from what we know, when he arrived at the shelter he was 5 pounds underweight, he still had his dew claws (never got them removed and still has them today), had to be neutered, and was definitely not a normal dog. He was found in the Napa Golf Course. And technically we were looking for a dog, but at that moment weren't planning on getting one. But when he walked into the room all waggly and happy, we put our names down, and I haven't regretted once.
~Amber
