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Pooch Pawsitive is committed to using positive, reward-based training methods for all dog training. Our methods are based on proven science, not the trend of the day, secret sauce or magic whispering. These methods are not proprietary and use the proven science of leading psychologists Ivan Pavlov and BF Skinner. Years ago, dog training was conducted using punishment-based methods, including choke chains, prong collars and shock collars. The research, and science, has resoundly demonstrated that these methods aversely affect the relationship you have with your dog. (Please read the article by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior on this topic.) Reward-based training methods are based on the psychology of B.F. Skinner. Operant Conditioning, as this is called, relies on consequences of the subject's (our dog's) behavior. If the dog Sits, then he gets a reward. If the dog doesn't Sit, then he doesn't get a reward. Dogs learn pretty quickly to Do what Works for them! Rewards can be anything that the dog wants at that moment. Food works easily in the classroom, but you have lots of opportunities to reward your dog with the stuff of life: the dinner bowl, go for a walk, a belly rub, etc. Positive training focuses on teaching your dog what To Do, not focus on the things he shouldn't do. Consider this: If you yell at your dog for something, what are you teaching him to do instead? I'd rather teach my dog what he should be doing in the first place so he doesn't do the bad stuff! Clicker training is a tool that we use to mark the behavior that we like. Have you ever been to a dolphin show at an aquarium? Did you notice that, when the dolphin did the cool jump, the trainer blew a whistle and the dolphin came over to get a fish? It's the same principle, only we can use a click...a whistle would be overkill for our dogs! All species, including humans, horses, chickens, goldfish, cats and dogs, are being taught using clicker-type training. Please visit the Clicker Training website for lots of information on how clicker training is being used. With training information readily available online, from television, from magazines, books, videos, friends and neighbors, we encourage you to trust your instinct and question sources of training information to make sure they are reliable and grounded in fact. Unfortunately, dog training is an unregulated profession and anyone can be a dog trainer. Please check the credentials, education and certifications of the trainer you choose. |
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