Why Treat Training is not the Most Humane Way to Train your Dog
I am a professional dog trainer. I make my living training dogs for clients, helping them solve behavior problems, and teaching their dogs obedience. I want to provide my clients the best service possible and as such I often check out what my competitors are doing in their dog training efforts. I have noticed, of late, that there are many dog trainers advertising ‘treat training’, ‘no pinch collars’, and other such training that they purport as much kinder, gentler, and more humane. The reality is that these types of dog trainers are the least humane and are doing their clients a disservice.
Let me start out by saying that I don’t advocate meanness, cruelty, or pain based dog training. I don’t believe they have a place in our industry. Having said that, I do believe that proper dog training uses two concepts in a correct balance. Those concepts are motivation and corrections. Allow me to give you a brief definition of both:
Motivation- Motivation is providing your dog an incentive to perform a certain behavior and/or a reward for a behavior that has just been completed. This could be verbal and physical praise, a treat, or a toy. I prefer to use praise because I can always have a kind word and a head pat handy and can’t always have a piece of hot dog or liver treat at the ready.
Corrections- Appropriate corrections may be a firm but fair jerk on the leash, a squirt from a spray bottle, or even a low level use of an electric collar. Corrections should not be used to cause pain or ‘beat’ a dog into submission, but to simply act as a deterrent for inappropriate behavior.
As I previously mentioned, there are many so-called professional dog trainers that do not believe in the use of corrections. Their belief is that one should only use motivational techniques to train a dog. Is this really more humane, though? The answer is no, and the reasons are the following:
1- How many of us live consequence free lives? When you arrive late to work is there a consequence? If you get caught speeding do you get fined? If you cheat on your taxes do you get put in jail? Of course! We live in a world that has consequences, both positive and negative, to all of our actions. Why should we treat our dogs any differently? Does it really make sense to say that the only negative consequence for your dog’s misbehavior is the withholding of a treat or praise? It is only fair to teach your dog that when he does something well he gets rewarded and when he misbehaves that there is a deterrent to that behavior.
2- Dogs have a set way to communicate. There is something that I always tell my clients- ‘Try as we may, we will never be able to bring our dog’s level of understanding and reasoning to that of a human level. We can, however, learn to communicate with our dogs on a level that makes sense to them.’ Have you ever seen how dogs communicate and discipline amongst themselves? There are plenty of growls, nips, paws and other such means of correction. Those that say that using corrections is cruel need only to look at how dogs communicate one with another. I am not a dog, however. I am not capable of correcting my dog by growling and biting his neck. I can use a training collar, though, and effectively give my dog a deterrent to disobedience.
3- Treat training can cost your dog his life. Dog training is not just about teaching your dog to sit, heel, lie down, and come when called because it is fun. These obedience behaviors are necessary for your dog to fit into your life and be safe when out in the real world. I have trained several dogs that are replacement dogs for previous pets. These previous pets were in pursuit of a ball, cat, or other distraction when running into the street. Their owners called in vain for the dogs to return only to have their dogs turn a deaf ear and get struck and killed by a passing car. What a horrible end to a pet’s life. Now think about what is going through your dog’s head as he is running after a delicious cat. “Let’s see, do I want to get a treat or would I rather catch the cat? I think I’ll get the cat.” The result can be tragic.
Please don’t do your dog a disservice. Train him with love and fairness, but use both ends of the spectrum. Use both motivation and corrections. Teach your dog that it is fun to obey but also that he must obey and you will find that your dog will be a great companion for years to come.
Ty Brown
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/why-treat-training-is-not-the-most-humane-way-to-train-your-dog-267261.html
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March 15th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Dog training question part 2….?
In this question:
http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Anc5SLvAGnVtcApXLtChKrvAFQx.;_ylv=3?qid=20080816071334AAxSr7x
most agreed that you do not treat your dog like a human, and that you train the dog according to what is best for the dog, not what the dog necessarily wants.
So, given that, what are your opinions on:
1. Flat collars?
2. Martingale collars?
3. Choke chains?
4. Prong collars?
5. Invisible fences?
6. "Spray" type collars?
7. Electric, shock or E-collars?
Note that each of the above, when improperly used, is cruel, inhumane and can be dangerous.
For bonus points:
Do you chooses which tools you use to train your dog by:
1. How well it works for your dog and what you are trying to train?
2. How "humane" the tool is perceived to be?
sorry – bad grammar this morning – "Do you choose…"
James – would you like to expand on that a bit?
March 15th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
1. Flat collars? Fine, but harnesses are better for walking
2. Martingale collars? Cruel
3. Choke chains? Cruel
4. Prong collars? Cruel
5. Invisible fences? Cruel
6. "Spray" type collars? Cruel
7. Electric, shock or E-collars? Cruel
Dogs are safest and most comfortable wearing a nylon harness, not a collar, when out walking.
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
First, you should try the flat, halters, and gentle leaders before trying any of the other more advanced collars. Also, when trying a certain collar for training, make sure you do a lot of research on the collar.
For example, we use the prong collar when training and I can’t tell you how many times I see people using it wrong. Because of this, I wrote an article on the correct way to use a prong collar when training here: http://www.8pawsup.com/articles/training/prongcollars.html
We came to realize that the prong collar was the only one that worked for our 83lb Lab as she is a very big puller during walks. Once the collar is on, she doesn’t pull at all so we never have to correct her with the collar now. It is kind of like when the collar goes on, a sign goes up that say "Be on your best behavior" and she does.
The prong collar is perceived to be a cruel training tool by many people. The general public will have perceptions such as 1) the dog is aggressive, 2) the dog is a fighting dog or 3) the owner is cruel to animals. Of course, those are all not true as our big girl is the most submissive and loving dog ever. She is being trained as a therapy dog and the only reason we use it out on walks is because her 3-year old Lab energy takes over her mind and I like to keep my arm in it’s socket.
Great question by the way!
References :
Owned by 2 Chocolate Labs
March 15th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
1. Flat collars? – Great for carrying the dog’s ID tags, great for general control once a dog is trained but not very useful for initial training. At least when starting on adult dogs, which is usually my case.
2. Martingale collars? – eh……I could take them or leave them, I prefer a prong
3. Choke chains? – I don’t like them. I think they do more harm than good and don’t encourage the dog not to pull.
4. Prong collars? – LOVE THEM! Wonderful training tool
5. Invisible fences? – I think they are great as long as you are going to be with the dog at all times. They are more of a ’safety net’ than a sure thing.
6. "Spray" type collars? – not worth the money. A 99 cent spray bottle does the same thing.
7. Electric, shock or E-collars? – Excellent training tool….as long as you know what you are doing.
As far as why I choose the tools I use, I don’t think any of those tools are inhumane in the right hands. Anything can be used to abuse a dog just as anything can be used to properly train a dog. I choose my tools based on what works for me and what I feel comfortable using, if people think that’s cruel, they can kiss it.
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
1 & 2 – I use both and I don’t see anything cruel about martingales! How else are you going to keep a breed like a greyhound, borzoi or whippet from slipping out of their collar if they make a sudden stop? I’ve walked my greys on martingales for 8 years and none of them have been choked on it once!
3. choke chains – useful tool which I’ve used, and will continue to use in the show ring
4. prong collars – useful for those dogs who need them, but they’re not for me
5. invisible fences – wouldn’t work on the dogs I have and I don’t believe they’re safe in keeping other dogs out either
6. spray collars – I don’t have any first hand knowledge, but haven’t heard anything good about them
7. shock collars – preferable to surgery for dogs who are uncontrollable barkers!
My belgian terveren puppy is now just over 3 months and heeling with his head up watching me, sits at my side, downs and sits without cues and he doesn’t start classes until next month. He’s been taught everything on a flat collar and I plan to continue with that collar when he’s into obedience and agility, but he’ll be wearing a serpentine choke collar in conformation (because they look good!). If the time comes that the method I’m using proves not to work with him, I’ll first look at what I’m doing wrong, then consider changing, but if Sheila Booth and other trainers can get top scores with her Belgian and German Shepherd using this method, I know it can be done!
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
1. Flat Collars- every dog should have one for ID purposes at the very least.
2. Martingales- I’ve used them and haven’t yet met a dog who did not do very well with it. I use flat nylon Martingales with flat nylon loops- not chain loops. I”m in the market for a leather Martingale for my Golden Retriever.
3. Choke chains- I have very limited experience with them but find them extremely efficient when corrections are necessary. Of course, proper use, fit and positioning is key with a choke chain. Use of a choke chain comes down to whether or not you’re in favor of leash corrections. In certain situations, I am.
4. Prong collars- I think prong collars are severely over used. Many of my clients use them on very gentle dogs who just pull too much. If the owners could put some more time into proper leash training, the prong collar would be completely unnecessary. Then there are the really tough dogs whose owners use them and the dog could give two sh*ts about the minor discomfort of the prong collar so the dog has no response to correction. In this case, a remote collar is what’s needed. Prong collars are also known to increase aggression if the handler doesn’t use it properly. To sum it up; I think prong collars should be a last resort for the average dog owner’s training needs (along with remote collars) as they require such precise and accurate understanding to be used humanely. Neither should ever be used without proper education and instruction from a professional.
5. Invisible fences- My only problems with invisible fences are:
1. Some dogs would rather take the shock than remain within the confines, rendering them ineffective.]
2. They do not keep other dangers, like other dogs, out. This puts the confined dog at a significant risk.
6. Spray(Citronella) Collars- These are effective for some dogs but I’ve been told that some will figure out how to release the liquid and will do it all at once to empty it or they’ll turn their head to avoid the spray. For some behaviors, these may be appropriate but I strongly prefer administering any kind of correction manually so I can be sure it’s done right. I don’t want to rely on a device that I don’t operate to train my dog for me.
7. Remote collars- when used properly, these are an excellent resource for preventing or modifying almost any kind of problem behavior. I’ve never used one but if there was a situation that a shock collar could help with, I would. With enough knowledge on their proper use, these devices are not inhumane. (I actually find them to be a bit more humane than choke chains and pinch collars).
I choose whatever tools I use based on their effectiveness to achieve the training goal that I have set. In my humble opinion, none of the tools you listed are inhumane when used skillfully. To be blunt, I am not above administering corrections. Aversion training is something ever creature on earth goes through to learn which behaviors and actions result in a pleasant outcome and which don’t. I don’t think any dog can be effectively proofed without some understanding that undesired behavior can result in a negative outcome. As long as the dog isn’t physically injured, frightened or traumatized appropriate corrections for that individual dog can be a healthy part of the training process.
Add:
Let me clarify that in all my references to corrections being administered, I was assuming that they would be used for behavior modification, not initial training. Dogs don’t need corrections if they haven’t already learned a skill to practice. During the teaching process of a skill, corrections can cause the dog to resist learning new ones.
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
1. Flat collars? The ideal thing to walk on, IMO. When I see that a dog is walking loose leashed on a flat collar, I think to myself "that dog is well trained!"
2. Martingale collars? Martingale collars are better than chokes or prongs. At least they have a stopping point before your dog chokes themself or damages their airway. We used a martingale on our rescued boerboel because he pulled and we didn’t feel safe using a flat collar until he was trained. We probably used it about one week.
3. Choke chains? Chokes and prongs I believe should be used as training TOOLS and not the end all…only when necessary and everything else has been exhausted though. But still, they’re not for me. Like your goal should be to get to a flat buckle collar and not use a choke or prong forever. I believe they both should be used only when taught the proper way be a professional trainer, as I’m sure many injuries can arise from using them wrong. With that said, we don’t use them because I like positive training methods. And I believe even the jerk of a leash is not positive reinforcement and that treats and praise work much better than any prong collar could.
4. Prong collars? Actually, I should take that back. We do OWN a prong collar. We put it on our rescue dog BACKWARDS with the prongs facing OUT and also had another collar on which the leash was attached to, so nothing was attached to the prong. The ONLY reason we did this is because when we walked him it would stop people from running up as fast as they can and getting in his face yelling "OOOOOh, DOGGGIEEE!" which when we adopted him he did NOT like, and it made him look "scary" enough for people to think twice before not asking before they touched him.
5. Invisible fences? We don’t use them. I like to keep things OUT of our yard!
6. "Spray" type collars? Not familiar enough with them to answer…
7. Electric, shock or E-collars? I never thought these were good. And since I saw that video on youtube of the person wearing one and who almost passed out from the pain, I disagree with them even more. But I don’t know much about them, never considered using one and probably never will.
For bonus points:
Do you chooses which tools you use to train your dog by:
1. How well it works for your dog and what you are trying to train?
2. How "humane" the tool is perceived to be?
My basic thought on training methods is if it’s something you wouldn’t do to a human child, then you shouldn’t do it with dogs. If I was learning to do something and didn’t know what I was doing, I wouldn’t want someone to choke, poke, hit, electrify, etc., me. I would want them to give me praise and tell me what I was doing RIGHT. Someone once told me that you can teach a dog a million things you DON’T want them to do, but you only have to teach a dog once what you DO want them to do.
I believe training should be a fun, enjoyable bonding experience for dogs and humans, and through positive reinforcement and clicker training, etc., we have successfully done that in our household. I haven’t found a single thing that our dogs (one was a pup when we got him and he was always trained that way, and the other was a rescue who came from an abusive home that had a whole host of problems and everyone told us he couldn’t be trained by positive training.. yeah right!) have not been able to learn to do through positive humane training, and I feel that our dogs love us more for it : )
Great question : )
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I will answer my best considering I’ve always owned medium size dogs and right now I own a little heard headed cocker. Because each dog is different in personality, size, strength and obediance level, there is no right or wrong answer.
1. Flat collars: ……………To hold ID tag
2. Martingale collars……..Got one and hated it
3. Choke chains…………..Necessary for training and when I take my dog to public places.
4. Prong collars……………I do not need it but understand it’s usage on bigger and stronger dogs.
5. Invisible fences………….Wish I had one.
6. "Spray" type collars……Wow, I’ve looked it up, I might suggest that to a couple of people who feel uneasy about the electric one.
7. Electric, shock or E-collars…Sometimes it is necessary, I’ve seen it do miracles on a Brittany.
1. The choke collar works great with my dog, I rarely need to pull on his choker cause as soon as he has it on he goes into a training mode and listens well. I chose it because it was suggested by my trainer. I have a great deal of trust in her and she would not use something improper on my type of dog.
2. How "humane" the tool is perceived to be?
I perceive it just fine. I don’t give much importance to how it’s perceived by people not involved in our training. I had a friend who kept commenting on how cruel my choker was and after months of frustration with her own dog I finally saw her dog with a choker on yesterday.
Fun question! made me look up a couple of things.
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Now, these are just my opinions. What works for me is not "law", it’s just a matter of my experiences and what has worked for me:
1. Necessary for ID tags and a place to hook a lead. Also serves as a "handle" when controling the dog (after all, you can’t grab a hand like you can on a child).
2. Martingale’s are okay. I’ve not been pleased with them, mostly due to the small detail of the ones I’ve encountered slip over the head, rather than having a buckle. I can never get them to fit appropriately as my hands are arthritic and adjusting collars is difficult and not something I want to do each and every time I put a collar on a dog! That said, this is what little Jazz wears as she’s the only dog I’ve had where she "undresses" at night and a slip off is nice. The martingale feature is nice as it prevents the collar from slipping off when she’s on lead. She is the first dog where I can say, "a martingale works for her"!
3. I don’t like choke chain collars. Too large for the job after getting over the head as they ride too low on the neck. The "chain" material is disturbing for me. I much prefer the nylon snap chokes. They fit properly, do not go over the head and can be attached to the "dead" non-working ring making them safe when not in training use.
4. I like prong collars when a nylon snap choke will not do the job. A heavy puller, for example. I agree that these need to be used correctly and with knowledge and care.
5. I LOVED my invisible fence for the purpose of my dogs staying on my property *no matter what* when outside. It does not take the place of a physical fence for the simple reason that neighbor animals can come in freely. So, I don’t recommend them for "outside" dogs.
6. No experience. No opinion.
7. For distance work on a dog that "knows" it has the option of "not listening"… these fit the bill. I agree that they must be used with care, knowledge and fairness. These are not meant to torture the animal.
Bonus:
1. Absolutely. The **only** dog I’ve ever resorted to using an e-collar on was a runner who knew he could out distance me and knew that at a distance he had the option of turning a deaf ear. A few months with an e-collar changed his attitude and we’ve not used it since.
2. To me "humane" means how it’s used, not what the perception is. A flat collar in the wrong hands can become a torture device, in my opinion.
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
All of the above, as you said, ARE humane when use properly, and in the right circumstances. I do and have used everything except the invisible fence. I think that the prong collars are incredibly misunderstood. They are so much more humane than the way many dogs are walked on a flat collar. Most people who have doubts about a prong, who take the time to research it, and really try it out- are surprised with how well it actually works- and at how humane it is.
I’m not a huge fan of choke chains, I don’t see that they do much, if anything. I see more dogs choking themselves on choke chains, than dogs who gain any benefit from them.
I choose what tools to train my dog based on
a.) my dog’s temperment
b.) my own comfort with the training method
c.) my own success with certain training methods
d.) the purpose of the training.
References :
obedience & agility training for 10 years
March 15th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Here is my opinion on these training devices. I use a harness of my dogs when I start doing bite work because I teach them how to PUSH into the bite. I pull the dog back while biting using my entire body-weight so I need a harness for that.
I use a flat collar rarely, maybe when I work the dog in detection, during training maybe.
I use the prong for most day to day activity, they know what it means to have one on and behave accordingly.
I use the E collar for ALL training aspects, from obedience to bite work, to cleaning a dog up, everything.
I find it to be the best tool there is for taking me out of the equation as far as corrections go and still keep the dog in check.
Hope I helped!
References :
March 15th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
1. I only use flat collars in the home.
2. I haven’t used one.
3. A fine choke chain for showing my Doberman b*tch was fine. I would never use if for normal exercise.
4. Open minded, I haven’t used one yet. Seem like it could be very useful.
5. I don’t know anything about them.
6. I have used a citronella collar once and would not use it again.
7. Again open minded, but have not used on yet.
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1. I am happy to seek advice from someone knowledgeable if my current training tools aren’t achieving the required results.
2. At the moment both my Dobes have softex half checks. A quick check release is okay.
References :