I should probably clarify that by yelling, I mean one loud, very definite "no!", not an ongoing rant. It stops him in his tracks, then we talk it over. I'll get him to sit, then he gets a reward, either pets or a treat.
When Did Balance Become A Dirty Word
- Thread starter HopeShelties
- Start date
I should probably clarify that by yelling, I mean one loud, very definite "no!", not an ongoing rant. It stops him in his tracks, then we talk it over. I'll get him to sit, then he gets a reward, either pets or a treat.
Oh, okay, got it!
I am, I think, sensitized myself to inappropriate yelling at dogs because of the first obedience class I had my current sheltie, Olive in. I was taken aside and reprimanded more than once for not yelling at her enough (frequency AND volume!). That's the primary reason of many that led to my leaving the class. The club we switched to is very much a balanced club and that's why I absolutely love it.Exactly! In the grand scheme of positive vs. negative, ignoring any specific scientific terminology/definitions of same, positive training can utilize corrections - there's a difference between a correction and a punishment. It's like a kid in a school who has learned his multiplication tables. So he makes a mistake and answers 8x8=63. A correction might be the teacher coming around and tapping his shoulder, saying take another look and rethink it because you do know this. Punishment would be old-school ruler-whapping. In dogs, the corrections need to be used correctly to be effective.
I think one of the problems is that there are people out there applying correction techniques they "learned" from questionable dog handlers/trainers. So the techniques are used incorrectly/inhumanely, and end up having little to no use as a training tool. Most of the dog owners in the first class I was in with Olive were either first-time dog owners, or first-time class-goers, and so had virtually no training experience. The methods taught in the class were the only methods they knew - after all, experts were teaching, and wouldn't they know best?
Dogs are like people: No single training technique is going to work with every dog. The balanced approach can be tailored to any dog, as long as the handler takes the time to do so (and preferably a trainer to help walk them through the process).
I'm one of those who doesn't like Cesar's method, I don't think they would work on Beau on at all. Beau needed someone with a gentle touch. If I had been harsh or stern with him, he would have shut down even more when I brought him home. The same with Clicker training, Beau is extremely sound sensitive, I have never been able to use it with him in any of our training sessions because of it, period end of story.
I believe with all my heart, that as owners we have a responsibility, as well as duty to teach our dogs, and as the article states, we need to be constantly aware of what is going on and I wish other people who are out with their dogs pay more attention as well, there is no need for dogs to be in other people's personal space, walking up to other dogs with out asking, , there's just no need for a lot of the stupid stuff I see that people allow their dogs to get away with, its just lazy owners expecting other people to put up with their nonsense.
I believe with all my heart, that as owners we have a responsibility, as well as duty to teach our dogs, and as the article states, we need to be constantly aware of what is going on and I wish other people who are out with their dogs pay more attention as well, there is no need for dogs to be in other people's personal space, walking up to other dogs with out asking, , there's just no need for a lot of the stupid stuff I see that people allow their dogs to get away with, its just lazy owners expecting other people to put up with their nonsense.
Chris
Premium Member
I believe that a low-toned, firm "NO!" is an invaluable tool in the arsenal. That and the ever-popular, sharply sounded "eeh!" noise are my correction tools. Of course, I also use the ominously-intoned, "Don't you dare." 
I believe that a low-toned, firm "NO!" is an invaluable tool in the arsenal. That and the ever-popular, sharply sounded "eeh!" noise are my correction tools. Of course, I also use the ominously-intoned, "Don't you dare."
I swear that one of mine understands "don't even think about it."
Chris
Premium Member
I swear that one of mine understands "don't even think about it."
Ah yes. Best used for Shelties eyeballing sandwiches.
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
The article kind rambled a little, but the take away, I think, is that correction is okay.
But, here's the big issue....how to correct?
According to Chris....."Shudup you fool dogs""! LOL!
Seriously though, the paths towards correction are myriad and full of controversy. This is an interesting and controversial discussion
But, here's the big issue....how to correct?
According to Chris....."Shudup you fool dogs""! LOL!
Seriously though, the paths towards correction are myriad and full of controversy. This is an interesting and controversial discussion
Mignarda
Forums Enthusiast
Ah yes. Best used for Shelties eyeballing sandwiches.
That reminded me of a Brittany I once had who inhaled a large Italian sub when I had turned my back for just a minute. The same dog scoffed three pounds of steamed shrimp with the shells on, and never got sick!