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Dog Thoughts

Myths and Misconceptions About Positive Trainers and Training

1/16/2018

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It is unfortunate, among the dog training community, that there is a divide. An us versus them kind of mentality. There are the traditional and balanced trainers against positive reinforcement based trainers. Neither side entirely understands the other, and then, there are trainers on both sides who don't know what they are doing, but somehow have the loudest voices and give a lot of bad information, making the entire community look incompetent. It happens on both sides. I truly believe that most, if not all trainers, love dogs and want to do right by them. 
That said, there are lots of myths surrounding positive reinforcement training. I'd like to try to eradicate some of these myths and let you know the truth. You can take what you'd like from this what you'd like. I just hope to open minds by being true to myself and to the facts. 
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  • Myth 1: Positive trainers never say no.
  • Truth: I guess, in the most technical sense, I do always tell clients not to say No to their dogs. It is more that No is a tough word to define, because it is used so often. The dogs become immune to it, and there is no chance for them to earn reinforcement. Instead, we teach clients to train an alternate behavior to the one we want to end. We teach boundaries to prevent door dashing and begging, impulse control and leave it to end counter surfing, reward for appropriate chewing and redirect inappropriate barking. 
    • You can bet though, if our dogs are in a life and death type situation, we will block them, possibly kick them, spray with water, wheelbarrow them out of a fight. I heard a person say that positive reinforcement trainers would rather their dog dash out the door in front of a car than to body block to prevent the accident. We will do what it takes to keep our dogs safe, and then will work to train an incompatible behavior later on, when it is no longer life and death. 
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  • Myth 2: Positive reinforcement trainers are just cookie pushers.
  • Truth: Here's the thing; would you go to work without a paycheck? Sure, praise is nice, but it doesn't pay the bills. Food is a powerful reinforcement for dogs, and that is why it works. Any trainer I have met shares how to compensate for the extra food used for training, by using the dog's meals and cutting back on calories in other places. Plus, treats can be faded out. Real world reinforcements can be added in.  A dog who has positive association with cues will continue to follow them, treats or not. The same can not be said about averse methods. 
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  • Myth 3: Positive reinforcement training doesn't work on all dogs.
  • Truth: Every dog has something they find reinforcing. Some are just more difficult to find what that is. It can be difficult to be more interesting than the environment for many dogs, but once you find what their price is, even "stubborn" dogs are responsive. There are many who dispute positive reinforcement for aggression, but it works as well. Here's something to think about; zoos use clicker training with food reinforcement on animals, to get them positioned for vet exams and to clean their enclosures. There are very few dogs out there that are more aggressive than a hyena. If it works for wild animals, it works for dogs. The process may take a little longer, but when the dogs is rehabilitated, they are much more solid in their behavior. Many think that positive training only works for happy, small dogs, but there are as many large and powerful dogs who have been trained using positive methods.
    • Note: It is possible for dogs to be mentally unstable, either through genetics, early experiences or injury, and dogs that are in this state may not be able to be rehabilitated, just because their brains are not wired in a way to recreate essential pathways. 
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  • Myth 4: Positive training is basically bribery.
  • Truth: Yes, every trainer out there has had to bribe a dog to get that dog through a difficult/distracting situation. They may put a treat in front of the dog's nose to lead them away from escalating a situation further. However, this is an exception, not the norm. Positive trainers still ask dogs to work before getting their reinforcement. As the dog learns behaviors better, they have to work harder to earn something. Yes, they know there is a treat involved, but they have to do something to get the treat. Just as with us, not showing up for work means no paycheck. 
I hope I may have opened your minds and shared something that you find interesting. Thanks for reading!
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Dog Trainer Red Flags

1/11/2018

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 My previous post was about choosing a dog trainer. This time, I'm sharing some of the things that may take a trainer out of the running. Some of these are what turns me off from calling a trainer, some are things that others have mentioned are turn-offs and some should be red flags to anyone with a dog. 
***Please know, I have not met every local dog trainer in the Billings area. I have a casual relationship with a couple, would call a couple my friends, and have nothing against the ones I haven't utilized. There may some training styles I don't agree with (nor does, you know, science), but I am speaking in general terms and am not blasting a single business here. 
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  1. The trainer says they are certified, but can't provide anything to back that up: as stated before, dog trainers are not required, in this country at least, to have any credentials to train. They can call themselves whatever they want. There are certifications that are held to high standards in the industry though, and a trainer who has one will happily share it multiple places. I contacted a trainer one time who said he/she was certified, so I asked about it and was told to mind my own business. 
  2. It is difficult to tell about their training style or services from their website: this one here is a personal turn-off to me. Hopefully, I have succeeded with this and it is immediately clear. If I were to go and look for a trainer for my own dog, I want to know that their style aligns with my own and I want to know that they offer a service that I need right now. This might not be as much of a red flag as it is a poor marketing choice, but I know from experience, if I can't find these two answers, I'm not going to waste time contacting them. 
  3. They use a training style you don't agree with: scientifically, positive reinforcement paired with an event marker (such as clicker! or verbal marker) is the most effective way to get behavior you want from your dog. This is why they use these methods in zoos and with marine mammals. Aversive methods might work fast in some cases, but there is a lot of fallout from using them. This is not the time for that argument, but know what you are willing to put your dog through and what you can follow through with. Especially when working with puppies or dogs who haven't been in training before and when doing activities for fun with your dog. I recently read about the first ever e-collar agility club and was appalled. 
  4. They don't appear to like your dog or are too familiar with your dog: Now, this one here would really hurt! I know my dog is awesome and everyone else should too. He has actually growled at others during a training class, but since he was under control, it was something we worked through and no one ever disliked him.  I know there are a lot of dog people, from Facebook groups, who don't actually like most dogs outside of their own. Or, I met a trainer in a certain chain store who threw her arms around my dog and squeezed him.  You are going to a trainer with a member of your family. Your trainer might not think all of the behavior issues are cute, but they should definitely try and like your dog in a way that your dog feels safe. 
  5. They are abrasive, judgmental or narrow minded: Here's the deal, training dogs is hard work. It is physically and emotionally tough at times. That means, most people who go into dog training are passionate about it. Sometimes passion translates into less than kind words. But they also know that every dog comes attached to a person, so being kind and tactful is important. It is emotionally wearing when advice isn't followed and dogs get hurt. However, by calling a trainer, you've made a step in the right direction. You obviously care about your dog. Yes, you might not be feeding them the best food choice or have the best equipment. As long as you are open to learning, your trainer should be open to realizing that you are doing the best you can. They will probably give you advice that you didn't that you needed, but understand that it is coming from a place of wanting what is best for your dog. 
  6. They use language and methods that are outdated; The scientist who coined alpha theory is on record saying that he made a mistake, and that even in a wolf pack, leadership is fluid. He said that he was wrong. Yet, so many trainers still talk about a dog being alpha or dominant. Some dogs are more strong willed than others, some are more inclined to take the lead and some want to be followers, but among dogs, this is also super fluid. Dogs have never confused us with dogs, so we don't have to be the alpha over them! Practices like alpha rolling are harmful to the dogs and are likely to result in someone getting hurt. If a trainer uses any of these words on their home page, run. This is a trainer who either hasn't bothered to keep up with the trends and science or is too stubborn to change. 
  7. They are egotistical: I have to remind myself weekly that there is no ego in dog training. I don't think of myself as very egotistical, but I did a demo with my dog a while back and he sat on a spin, rolled over when I asked for a down and burped when I asked him to bow.  He knows all of those behaviors, but was having an off day, and I know this was no reflection of me. It was embarrassing, but I didn't get frustrated. Dogs are allowed to have off days, just like we are. Trainers should know this. Also, just because they have found success in something in the past, ultimately, you know your dog the best. Don't let a trainer push your dog more than they can handle. 
  8. It is apparent they take on a case that is outside of their comfort zone: for a trainer to be really good at handling tough cases like severe separation anxiety, reactivity or human aggression, they have to have put a lot of time and effort into learning the processes. They might not know everything, but should be comfortable with the case. It is apparent if the trainer isn't comfortable. They may not be able to help your dog or may make the case even worse. This kind of goes back to ego. If a trainer doesn't feel they are a good fit, they should be able to refer you to another trainer. They may lose the income, but it is in the best interest of the dog, which is where a trainer should always be. 
  9. They put down or gossip about other local trainers: Especially in an area like Billings, the dog community is fairly small and word gets back. Trainers' jobs are tough so they should be lifting each other up, supporting each other and allowing a place to vent rather than talking down their "competition." Truly, one trainer might not mesh with a dog owner, but if they are looking out for the dog, will want that dog to be helped somewhere. It's great if your trainer can give you some other resources to look into. 
  10.  They are so confident, they guarantee training for the life of the dog: This one might be controversial, but I know I hate when someone says that their dog is fully trained. I guarantee you that mine is not. He knows his basics, usually very well, is almost always successful in his higher level training, but he still has things to learn. And just like us, if I weren't to do something with him for a long time, he would lose some or all of those skills. Training is not a concrete, destination. It is fluid, the journey. Trained skills are muscles-use them or lose them. A trainer can offer follow up support, and should, but guaranteed forever results set people and dogs up to fail. 
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How to Choose a Dog Trainer

1/9/2018

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Perhaps the best analogy for choosing a dog trainer is that choosing a dog trainer is very much like choosing a therapist. I can say this, because I work in mental health and know therapists well. Just like a therapist, it is really hard to lie to a dog trainer! "Did you do your homework?" "Yep." Dog runs around, ignores, does anything but what they should have practiced. "Did you really do your homework?" Head hung in shame, "no." They see how frustrated you may be by your dog's behavior, and how vulnerable and embarrassed. This is a person you are trusting to work with a valued member of the family! You may get called out for mistakes you've made. You may feel defensive, but the thing about being defensive is we usually know the other person is right. We don't want to admit it, but usually they are. You may leave a training session feeling drained, physically and emotionally. Your dog trainer is someone who you feel you are willing to take their advice, celebrate successes with and trust that they are helping you, no matter how you are feeling in the moment. That is why, it is a good idea to find a trainer you mesh with. 
So, here's what you do: Google dog trainers in your area and check out some websites. Have an idea of what you want, whether it be group classes, one to one sessions or board and train. Do you know what training method you would like to use? A trainer should be clear about what their method is. The ones that you like, call them or send an email, see if they are willing to take you and your dog on. Be honest about what you need. Meet them, see if you can observe a class or a consultation. If you like this person, hopefully you have met your trainer! 
If a trainer says they are unable to work with you, it probably is nothing personal. My insurance, for example, doesn't cover wolf/dog crosses in any way and I am not to train dogs in protection sports, bite work or for police and military. Maybe the trainer only does a specialized training service, such as training for sport or task. The trainer might not be comfortable in working with aggression, and this is actually to your advantage. You want your trainer to be confident in what they are doing, and a trainer who admits they don't know it all are less likely to mess up by taking on something they can't do. 
The trainer will probably recommend a training package, if you are going with one to one sessions. This is because no dog is going to suddenly learn to walk at an obedience ring heel out and about after one session. Plus, even if they did, are you going to remember all of the skills next week? Multiple sessions are for yours and the dog's benefit. Plus, this gives the trainer time to add in other things to teach you if needed. 
Please don't choose a trainer based solely on cost. Trainers put a lot of time (and money) into getting their education and experience. They may have done an online program or an in-person internship and perhaps have taken tests to prove they know what they are doing. They attend workshops and seminars, read all they can, participate in live webinars and groups. For some certifications, trainers are required to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU's) just like school teachers! None of this is free. The trainers I know, myself included, have gone into this industry because they want to help dogs and their people. That is it. But, they have to make a living as well. However, no one says, "Hmm, dog trainers have an easy job and are often on the Forbes 500 list. I'll be a dog trainer." 
So, how important are those certifications that trainers are earning? A little background: dog training in the US is largely unregulated as an industry. Any person can call themselves a certified dog trainer, just because they had a dog at one point. No, even if not, they still can. Outside of veterinary medicine, this is how the animal industry is. However, there are trainers who take the field seriously and are getting certifications that are to a high standard! If a trainer can't tell you where that certification is from or you can't find it multiple places on their website, good chance they are pulling one over on you. Are there good trainers who have no certification? Absolutely, yes. It does come down to experience, but those learning opportunities help trainers be more efficient and understand what is happening during sessions. There are probably also some not so great trainers who passed tests with flying colors. 
How do you pick a trainer? You pick someone you connect with. You pick someone who can help your dog. If they see you and and your dog at your worst, they are going to celebrate with you when you are at your best!
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    Author

    Hi, I'm Rachel. I'm crazy about dogs and want to see all of them living the best life possible. Most of my free time is taken up by dogs, but when I am not working with my own or others, I also enjoy cooking, volunteer work, reading and Netflix in my pajamas. 

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