Dog Community

What training method am I using?

Posted : 1/20/2007 12:20:05 AM

As many of you know, I am a trainer at our local Petco. I have to follow strict lesson plans, and I am supposed to follow how they recommend training exactly. but, it doesn't work for all dogs, so I tend to throw in a few of my own things as well. I always prefer to use positive reinforcement as a training method. Right now, I am using clicker training for Colton, and he LOVES it. I am reading The Power of Positive Dog Training and it really is good. But, what I'm not understanding is this...it seems like I should never tell the dog no, but completely ignore any bad behavior. When I'm training sit, I train the dog to sit and stay at the same time. They should hold the sit (or down, stay, whatever) until they are released. So, when teaching sit, we do the command first, then release them right away. When they understand that, we gradually make it a little longer. One second, two seconds...just a tiny bit at a time. I always tell my students to only hold it as long as you KNOW the dog can hold it for. Release the dog before he gets the chance to get up. But, occassionally, a dog gets up. My method of correcting this is to tell the dog "no...sit." and have him sit again. After a correction like that, I usually just make him sit for a second before releasing so that he knows that he can get up when released. Then of course, lots of praise. It is not an aggressive "no," but a firm "no." Does that go completely against Positive training methods?
Whatever method I'm using, I make sure to always have WAY more positive than negative. I try to avoid any "nos" if possible by only having the dog do what I am sure they can at that level before moving on. Yes, I have used pinch collars, and I feel they work for some dogs. Just as I feel head collars work for some dogs. It really depends on the dog. With the pinch, I never use it to give corrections, but instead let it be self correcting, and I make sure I use lots of praise when the dog does what he is supposed to. Does using a training device void the term positive training?

jones

Posted : 1/20/2007 12:26:09 AM

That is still positive reinforcement training. When you tell the dog "no, sit," what you're doing is using a non-reward marker.
[linkhttp://www.dogscouts.com/leadership/Operant%20Conditioning%20explained.pdf]http://www.dogscouts.com/leadership/Operant%20Conditioning%20explained.pdf[/link]
There was a recent thread discussing NRMs in Training... I'll see if I can pull it up.

Stacita

Posted : 1/20/2007 6:49:04 AM

I would label your training as positive. When you are saying "no, sit", you are just reminding the dog that they won't be rewarded without the sit. IMO the use of training devices is OK, if it is done after trying other methods and if they are appropriate for the dog. In many cases the pinch collar is safer than not using it. It's when you automatically start with pinch collars and especially choke collars for all dogs that it becomes a problem.

ColleenC

Posted : 1/20/2007 1:21:57 PM

OK, I get it now! I always try to use a flat buckle collar first, but it doesn't always work. For example, I had this Labradoodle, Romeo, in my first class who was HUGE! He must have been bred from one of those giant field labs. He was also very strong. He was pulling so hard that his owner, who was a big, strong guy, could not control him. He had cuts on his hands from the leash. The pinch collar worked very well for Romeo. There was also a pit who was dragging his owner, who was a pretty small women, around the lake. We tried the pinch on him because she did not like the idea of the halter. It worked for him, but he had such thin fur that it gave him little bumps, so she eventually changed to the halter. Then, there was a lab/bloodhound mix who was a puller also. But, he worked best on a flat buckle collar working for food. He was VERY food motivated. Same thing with a GSD mix. He was a puller, but worked best with the flat buckle collar. The only reason we used an Easy Walk Harness for him was that his owner was 7 months pregnant and needed a little extra help. I really think it depends on the dog. I would prefer to only use flat buckle collars, but that just doesn't always work. My manager gives me a hard time about the pinch collars, but since I explained to her why I choose those over the halters for some dogs, I think she understands. I refuse to put a halter on a dog that tries to run to the end of the leash at full speed. It's just too dangerous.
Well, I'm glad to know I'm still using positive training methods!