I've been reading alot about dog training for quite awhile now. One reason would be because I got my first dog almost three years ago. I am also in the process of picking out a trainer to help me with problems I can't seem to fix myself. So naturally, I am doing research.
Ok, so here is my issue and I can't honestly believe people go for this when they know about all training methods.
"Remember how happy you were if your parents gave you a dollar for every A on your report card? They made you want to do it again, right? That's positive reinforcement.
Dogs don't care about money. They care about praise … and food. Positive reinforcement training uses praise and/or treats to reward your dog for doing something you want him to do. Because the reward makes him more likely to repeat the behavior, positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behavior. "
So basically what positive reinforcement is is shoving treats down your dogs throat at every opportunity. I assure you from experience with my one extremely food motivated dog is that, sure, using treats does help then get what you want them to do. IN THAT MOMENT. So say I am working on the "sit/stay" commands with treats, my dogs is definitely going to do it. But if I go outside and I don't have treats, if he sees a squirrel, or even if there are no distractions, he's probably not going to listen to me unless I start waving food in his face.
"Remember how happy you were if your parents gave you a dollar for every A on your report card? They made you want to do it again, right??"
First of all, since when did that method work? I've been bribed with MANY things throughout school and it never guaranteed that I would do good. I did it when I wanted to, therefore all the control was coming from me. With my dogs, I don't want to bribe them into doing something. If I tell them to do something, it is for their safety and well being so they damn well better do it. Plain and simple. I don't want them to think "Oh, she doesn't have a treat? F^%k that" and that's exactly what happens.
I've been watching Cesar Millan and so many people say he's outdated and such and that dogs actually don't have a pack leader. Regardless of that, his methods clearly work. I have personally tried a few simple things with my dogs that he pointed out in his shows and I've seen immediate results.
"The aggressive manhandling of dogs as Cesar does doesn’t make the dog respect you, they just get scared."
Really? This person is referring to how he pins, "chokes", and "kicks" dogs. *facepalms* Everything he does is not in excess. So for example, he will use the lead to "snap" dogs back into focusing on him. So all he does is alittle, quick tug on the leash. It's equivalent to tapping someones shoulder to get their attention. Same with when he taps them on the side with his foot, or as some crazy people say, "kicking" the dog.
Another thing people need to remember. DOGS ARE NOT WOLVES. We have domesticated them and bred them over and over again to the point that they aren't even close to wolves. So saying that Cesars technique is wrong because wolves do this, or don't do that is just completely flawed.
I understand since "The Dog Whisperer" aired, most uneducated people who watch it think he's just the greatest thing in the world. But for other trainers to actually bash him? That's just ridiculous.
If you actually watch dogs interact, you will see that they don't "bribe" one another to get shit done. They demand it and if you don't do it, you get reprimanded. I think this is also an issue with kids these days(Oh geez, I sound so old. :P). People are too soft on them and now kids are running around all crazy causing all kinds of unpleasant shenanigans. When a mother dog sees her pup doing a unwanted behavior, she doesn't sit him done and say "that's a nono! No treats for you.". She snarls and snaps at the pup and says "Bitch. Stop that shit or else!". And guess what? Shit gets done real fast.
