Debunking Dog Training Myths Written by Michelle Van Swearingen, Barkley University Dog Training
Positive training makes your dog lose respect for you. Many people believe that positive training is all about spoiling your dog and never showing him the difference between right and wrong. In fact, if you’re using positive reinforcement training properly, you’re also using negative reinforcement training methods. The “positive” in positive reinforcement training refers to adding a reward, while the “negative” in negative reinforcement training refers to withholding or removing a reward. When these methods are used correctly and consistently, there’s no need to use dominance or punishment-based training methods. Through positive reinforcement training you’re not just teaching your dog how to do cute tricks. You’re actually teaching him how to understand you and communicate with you. A good trainer will also show you ways to understand your dog’s behavior so that the communication goes both ways. When you can effectively communicate with your dog, you can build an unbreakable bond based on mutual understanding. You may be wondering, “What if my dog is aggressive? Don’t I need to punish her for really bad behavior?” The answer to that question is resoundingly, “No!” When it comes to dogs, most aggression is fear-based: fear of being hurt, fear of not being able to eat, or fear of being trapped. If you punish your dog for aggressive behavior, you’re adding to the fear problem. If your dog is aggressive in any way, seek help from a positive reinforcement trainer as soon as possible.
Dog training changes your dog’s personality. Are you worried that your sassy pup will no longer have all that hilarious attitude after training? Or that your confident dog will lose tenacity after training? Positive reinforcement training isn’t about changing your dog’s personality; it’s about harnessing their personality traits so that they will be well-behaved at home and in public. Every dog is a little different and each dog has a unique personality. A good trainer will appreciate that about your dog and help you understand how to work with your dog’s unique personality. That said, if your dog is timid, fearful or anxious, positive reinforcement training can help you to help your dog become more independent and confident.
Men make better dog trainers than women. Did you just laugh when you read that headline? I hope so! But, believe it or not, many people still think this way. They say that men are more dominant, have deeper voices and are physically bigger than women, so dogs respect them more. If you’ve ever wondered how much of that is true, no judgement, but please allow me to enlighten you. For starters, it’s true that men tend to have deeper voices and larger bodies. But, how many dogs have you met that are afraid of men? How many have you met that are afraid of women? Having 22 • The Dog Dish Magazine
