Thanks for posting this. I've been trying to come to terms with this new style of training ever since I got Bela a year and a half ago. It always seemed like the methods I learned on (and which worked wonders - Neechee had sever HIT's and a Dog World award in his first three Novice A trials) were no longer acceptable.
Neechee was my first obedience dog, born in 1993. I had him in classes from the time he was 8 weeks old up until he was 7 years old and had to retire because of a shoulder injury. I had an extremely talented trainer who taught with a combination of operant conditioning, positive methods, and mild corrections. The only thing I ever opposed her on was force breaking for the retrieve. For good reason - I had a dog that would retrieve happily on-command or off. After force breaking using an ear pinch, I had a dog that would not even pick up a toy to play with.
I don't believe the article was all that well-thought out. Yes, most dogs (those everyman-Joe, couch potato, companion-only dogs) are abominably behaved and you have inexperienced owners who take dangerous dogs out in public after having successfully completed a basic obedience course. And it IS getting worse. The reason for that, I believe, is that with more awareness of obedience classes (through such chains as Petsmart and Petco) comes the mistaken idea that training is "finished" once the ink is dry on the diploma. It's an ongoing process that ends only when the dog's life does.
My uncle has two small white dogs. Both of them are spoiled rotten, and have successfully passed basic obedience. On the whole, very pleasant little beasties. Until my aunt walks into the room. They suddenly transform into aggressive, biting, and humping monsters. She has no idea of how to handle or "read" them, and they know no one is allowed to discipline them in her presence. There must be negatives to balance the positives.
While I have been attending to Bela's puppy mill madness, I have not taught her even to sit, as she was such a "soft" dog that correction would have made it hundreds of times more difficult to retain her trust. I feel that only now is she confident enough to refine her manners. (She is, fortunately, one of those dogs who are naturally well-mannered.)
It turns out I have always trained in a balanced manner. Handling your dog is like a discussion. If you can't understand the language, how much of a discussion are you going to have? I was agonizing over what method of training to use with Bela - even started her on clicker and targeting, which she took to like a duck to water. I am convinced now that the way I was trained to train is as valid as anyone else's methods.
You just have to "speak dog".
Neechee was my first obedience dog, born in 1993. I had him in classes from the time he was 8 weeks old up until he was 7 years old and had to retire because of a shoulder injury. I had an extremely talented trainer who taught with a combination of operant conditioning, positive methods, and mild corrections. The only thing I ever opposed her on was force breaking for the retrieve. For good reason - I had a dog that would retrieve happily on-command or off. After force breaking using an ear pinch, I had a dog that would not even pick up a toy to play with.
I don't believe the article was all that well-thought out. Yes, most dogs (those everyman-Joe, couch potato, companion-only dogs) are abominably behaved and you have inexperienced owners who take dangerous dogs out in public after having successfully completed a basic obedience course. And it IS getting worse. The reason for that, I believe, is that with more awareness of obedience classes (through such chains as Petsmart and Petco) comes the mistaken idea that training is "finished" once the ink is dry on the diploma. It's an ongoing process that ends only when the dog's life does.
My uncle has two small white dogs. Both of them are spoiled rotten, and have successfully passed basic obedience. On the whole, very pleasant little beasties. Until my aunt walks into the room. They suddenly transform into aggressive, biting, and humping monsters. She has no idea of how to handle or "read" them, and they know no one is allowed to discipline them in her presence. There must be negatives to balance the positives.
While I have been attending to Bela's puppy mill madness, I have not taught her even to sit, as she was such a "soft" dog that correction would have made it hundreds of times more difficult to retain her trust. I feel that only now is she confident enough to refine her manners. (She is, fortunately, one of those dogs who are naturally well-mannered.)
It turns out I have always trained in a balanced manner. Handling your dog is like a discussion. If you can't understand the language, how much of a discussion are you going to have? I was agonizing over what method of training to use with Bela - even started her on clicker and targeting, which she took to like a duck to water. I am convinced now that the way I was trained to train is as valid as anyone else's methods.
You just have to "speak dog".
)