Posted on 05/22/2009 3:56:17 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Study Finds Mimicking Trainers Could Make Dog Behavior Worse: Trying to make your dog less aggressive by showing them you are the boss is a waste of time, researchers in a new British study say, especially when using popular new training techniques that urge owners to use physical force to make their dogs more compliant.
According to the study, physical control methods usually shown on TV or touted by celebrity pet trainers like "The Dog Whisperer," Cesar Millan are "ridiculous" and could do more harm than good by making aggressive behavior in dogs worse. Researchers from the University of Bristol's department of clinical veterinary sciences studied dogs for six months They compared their observations to existing studies of wild dogs, like wolves, and concluded that generations of dog lovers have misunderstood "aggressive canines."
The study asserts that, contrary to popular belief, dogs are not trying to assert their dominance over their canine or human "pack" and aren't motivated by maintaining their place in the pecking order.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
We had a series of large dogs ... I have trained many a dog, and kindness and discipline are sure winners. You do not need to abuse, if a dog fears the trainer, you have gone to far. You want the dog to obey, not submit.
I've had German Shepard Dogs my entire life. I've never used a reward only training system and have always used a correction based system, similar to what Cesar Milan uses. All of the great German dog trainers that teach GSDs and other breeds under the Schutzhund system use something more akin to Milan's. Why? Because it works.
These new-agey reward only training systems are ridiculous. Upon command, my dog will sit, stay or stand until I tell him to do something else. You could shoot a gun or a firecracker off, right next to him and he wouldn't budge - believe me, I've done it. He can track and will protect his "pack" upon command and I've never given him a treat of any kind except a pleasing "good boy" and a pat on the head - and he's plenty happy just with that.
Echo chambers suck IMO.
Eh? I can’t hear you for the tinnitus... LOL...
Is that ed asner ?
The cat trains you !!!
“Which one is the dog?”
I hear you - that guy gives me the creeps.
I use Cesar Milan techniques on both my dogs and it works amazingly well. They are the best behaved dogs I have ever had.
Training your dog is a very time and labor intensive task. You can’t just imitate the Dog Whisperer.
I spent hundreds of hours training my German Shepherd for Schutzhund trials. It requires concentration and repetition.
Anyone who thinks they have “trained” their pooch because it does games is deluding themselves.
They ought to put your advice on a card and hand it out to new puppy owners. Good summary.
>>1) Always be kind but consistently firm
2) Think like a dog not like a people
3) Reward good behavior infrequently and lavishly, and bad behavior never
4) Feed your dog good dog food always, lots of clean cold water always
5) Lots of exercise: particularly stuff that makes your dog mentally exhausted
It really is that simple.<<
That might get you an affectionate dog but not a trained one.
I confess that my dogs are not as well behaved as I would like.
Lovely girl.
“But can he train cats”?
Never mind mere training cats, can he herd cats?
;-)
Excellent advice!
Imho, the man is a genius at training dogs.
No, to the contrary. I have found that a properly applied two-by-four upside the head makes a permanent change in attitude and demeanor.
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