Is Dog Training an Animal Welfare Issue?

By Lisa Spector, Canine Music Expert, Juilliard Graduate, and co-creator of Through a Dog’s Ear.

My January blogs have been focusing on National Train your Dog Month. In my mind, dog training is not really about pets, it’s an animal welfare issue. Over the years, many trainers have crossed over from more traditional, older school training methods to science based, positive reinforcement training. However, many dog lovers are not familiar with the various styles and how our dogs are affected, both short and long term, by different training techniques.

Traditional training methods are about getting dogs to behave in a certain way so that they fit into our human world in the manner we desire. This often involves teaching them commands that imply, “Do it or else”. An example would involve the use of a leash “jerk” on the collar to correct a dog’s non-desired behavior (i.e. the dog pulling on the leash). Other ways to correct would include the collar itself, i.e. choke chain, prong collar, or shock collar. If the dog is behaving in an undesirable way, the human applies enough pressure that causes momentary physical pain to the dog so that the unwanted behavior stops. In other words, we are telling the dogs, walk politely on a leash or else you will feel pain. The physical pain may be short term and the desired behavior may improve, but the long term results often show emotional scarring that result in other undesired behaviors.

Science based, positive reinforcement training creates partnership with our animals and can be used effectively with any species. Certain behaviors result in pleasant consequences and all other behaviors result in no consequence, inspiring the animal to think creatively on their own. Behavior is a function of its consequences. Observation is given to what animals do naturally, the behavior is marked at the exact time it happens (i.e. with a click, “good boy” or “yes”) and is reinforced with a reward (i.e. treat, toy, praise). Cues are added when you have a reliably built behavior. And the food consequence is phased out or given intermittently while praise and verbal commands and/or hand signals remain.

As Karen Pryor says in her latest book, it is about “Reaching the Animal Mind”. Many people consider Karen Pryor to be the inventor of clicker training. She is the founder and CEO of Karen Pryor Clicker Training. Clicker training is an animal training method based on behavioral psychology that relies on marking desirable behavior and rewarding it.

Clicker training is a system of teaching that uses positive reinforcement in combination with an event marker. Desirable behavior is usually marked by using a “clicker,” a mechanical device that makes a short, distinct “click” sound which tells the animal exactly when they’re doing the right thing. This clear form of communication, combined with positive reinforcement, is an effective, safe, and humane way to teach any animal any behavior that it is physically and mentally capable of doing.

Next: Dog Training Video plus interview with Karen Pryor

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Susanne P.

2:17PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Thanks for this information

send a green star

Meg G.

3:15PM PST on Jan 15, 2012

Hi Collie Girl, you really need to go back to the video on page two and watch it again and also listen.
This is a beginners training video and it is showing how to use a clicker to train the dog!
The process is ask for or show the behaviour (sit) once the dog has done it click and then give the reward. Once the dog has been clicked it is the end of the behaviour that has been asked for and the dog is then allowed to move or do something else.
This video is focusing on the timing and the process of how to use a clicker for people who don't know how to do it. It is not about getting the dog to hold any behaviour for any lenght of time.

Sofia P.

5:50AM PDT on Sep 21, 2011

Who says that positive training is about give treats doesn't know at all what is positive training. Yes, the reward should become aleatory, but if you train with collar shocks you still have to strangulate your dog from time to time. You can also substitute treats for playing or for some others things that your dog wants. People who train with "shhhh's" and with strangulation are just lazy to find other ways to train their dogs. There are all the sorts of videos on youtube with positive trained dogs that show high drive dogs being trained with positive reinforcement. Ridiculous are the 40 years experienced trainers that still believe that abusing the dogs is training them.

Kali M.

10:10AM PDT on May 23, 2011

Thanks for the info! Great article!

Loretta K.

6:40PM PDT on May 14, 2011

Thank you,for an interesting, informative piece. I do the best I can training my dogs, both were given to me by people who had to give them up.I fitted them into my life, the best I could, and feel that it is my sacred charge to always care for them. They are Dobermans and have joyful, energetic spirits.

CollieGirl c.

3:14AM PDT on Mar 31, 2011

As a dog trainer for 41 years, I was not impressed with the first video on page two. Obviously the first dog is trained with the basic sit and down, but neither was held because he was up and down like a yo-yo, breaking the sits and downs for a treat. Then he was told to do it again and again still given treats each time. That is ridiculous.

Kate B.

9:37AM PST on Mar 1, 2011

Yes pets need to be trained, especially it keeps them safe. I also think some "owners" should go through a training program

Rose N.

6:43AM PST on Feb 26, 2011

Thank you for posting.

John S.

5:29PM PST on Feb 16, 2011

Thanks, I've always had German Shepherds and they seem to train themselves. I've never used a clicker but do snap my thumb.

Cindy C.

11:51PM PST on Feb 13, 2011

GREAT ARTICLE AND THANK YOU