josebrwn
9th June 2004, 16:17
In this day and age it is fashionable to be fashionable in all things. Dr. Spock has invaded the world of dogs and people now teach and believe that there is no place for negative reinforcement, correction and complusion.
Nothing is further from the truth. Dogs understand violence, force, dominance and quick and sure corrections from their leaders. I fear a stupid person could read that and justify being cruel, or harsh. But we're not stupid here ;)
I was sharing the following story with Dave and he said something about "dogwhispering", I'll let him tell it, good story.
My bitch competes in weight pull. I've used 99% positive reinforcement with her for two years. The prong collar was my enemy, I was always putting it higher and higher up on the shelf, hoping maybe today it was permanently retired and I'd never need it again. Wrong wrong wrong.
When she decides she doesn't feel like pulling she will scream and scream until her mouth is filled with cotton, and she's completely worn herself out. After a light pull of a few hundred pounds she's exhausted. I let this go on in training day after day and then I wonder why it happens in competition.
I brought my new male to a competition - everybody there just heaped praises on him, telling me I really have something there. And EVERYONE said the exact same thing. I need to change my training.
They don't see what goes on at home but they can just see it, already my male is learning from my female. Everyone said, you got to change this and now.
Two ideas from two trainers, look how similar they are.
1) use light weight and a long line. Call the dog once, if they don't pull call again and correct. train five days a week, and build strength with drag work - use the cart to eradicate OB and technique problems. use lots and lots of praise when they get it right.
2) use a short leash. set it down and call the dog. give them a few seconds to respond. if they don't go get the leash. don't let them suddenly start pulling, which they will. If you have to turn around and get the leash, they get the correction, no matter what. use lots and lots of praise when they get it right.
Using a hybrid of these two ideas and having the best week of training ever. That is the virture of compulsion.
Nothing is further from the truth. Dogs understand violence, force, dominance and quick and sure corrections from their leaders. I fear a stupid person could read that and justify being cruel, or harsh. But we're not stupid here ;)
I was sharing the following story with Dave and he said something about "dogwhispering", I'll let him tell it, good story.
My bitch competes in weight pull. I've used 99% positive reinforcement with her for two years. The prong collar was my enemy, I was always putting it higher and higher up on the shelf, hoping maybe today it was permanently retired and I'd never need it again. Wrong wrong wrong.
When she decides she doesn't feel like pulling she will scream and scream until her mouth is filled with cotton, and she's completely worn herself out. After a light pull of a few hundred pounds she's exhausted. I let this go on in training day after day and then I wonder why it happens in competition.
I brought my new male to a competition - everybody there just heaped praises on him, telling me I really have something there. And EVERYONE said the exact same thing. I need to change my training.
They don't see what goes on at home but they can just see it, already my male is learning from my female. Everyone said, you got to change this and now.
Two ideas from two trainers, look how similar they are.
1) use light weight and a long line. Call the dog once, if they don't pull call again and correct. train five days a week, and build strength with drag work - use the cart to eradicate OB and technique problems. use lots and lots of praise when they get it right.
2) use a short leash. set it down and call the dog. give them a few seconds to respond. if they don't go get the leash. don't let them suddenly start pulling, which they will. If you have to turn around and get the leash, they get the correction, no matter what. use lots and lots of praise when they get it right.
Using a hybrid of these two ideas and having the best week of training ever. That is the virture of compulsion.