Myths about dog training still abound. What's the real, science-based truth?
Dog training research and science have come a long way in recent years; we now know a great deal more about dog behavior than we did even twenty years ago, as well as the most effective training strategies. Despite these advances, old myths about dog training persist in our culture and in outdated training schools and methods.
To set you on the right path with your dog, we've explained what's incorrect about these common myths:
- All dog training techniques are equally effective.
- Dogs only respect leaders who assert their "dominance."
- Positive trainers do not believe in discipline or setting limits.
- Positive training doesn't work if you stop giving treats.
- Dogs who behave aggressively are trying to be dominant.
- Dogs behave like wolves.
- Punishment-based training works faster.
- Positive trainers treat dogs like human kids.
- Positive training methods don't work on "red zone" dogs.
- "Alpha Rolls" make dogs calmly submissive.
- Using food to train dogs is bribery.
- Dogs should work to please people.
MYTH: All dog training techniques are equally effective.
FACT: Positive training methods are more effective than methods that rely on pain, fear, and intimidation to get results. Punishment-based dog training methods, especially those involving aversive physical "corrections" such as shocking dogs with 'e' or shock collars, create significantly more negative long term outcomes.
Aversive or punitive dog training, which usually involves some form of intimidation, fear, and physical punishment, is associated with increased anxiety, stress, and a greater likelihood for the dog to shut down or behave more aggressively. For example, even though intimidation and physical force might stop aggressive behavior in the moment, a dog is more likely to defend himself aggressively in the future because the underlying cause of the behavior has not been addressed. Stress and fear also inhibits learning in all animals. Punishment-based training ends up being worse for dogs and their families.
Comparative studies show that reward-based training is more effective than aversive or punishment-based training and has fewer, if any, unwanted side effects. With positive training, dogs show fewer stress signals, trust people more, and tend to learn new behaviors more quickly.
Positive training is effective because it motivates a dog to learn using rewards. Positive, force-free dog trainers also help people understand their dogs, explore why dogs are behaving in a certain way, manage the dog's environment, establish effective household protocols, and look for medical issues or other factors that play a role in how a dog behaves.
MYTH: Dogs only respect leaders who assert "dominance."
FACT: Dogs do need effective leadership from us, but the whole idea of dominance is a very complex and widely misunderstood concept which almost always takes people down the wrong path when applying it to their dogs' behavior.
Most dogs simply want safety, security, and those things which generally make them feel good. They know people are not dogs, and in fact they prefer us to provide effective, non-combative, and punishment-free leadership.
By providing consistent, reward-driven learning, we guide dogs into making the right choices so they can live successfully within the boundaries needed when living with people.
So if anyone has ever told you that when a dog goes through an open door ahead of you, it’s a sign that she’s asserting dominance, or when a dog pulls on a leash, he wants to be pack leader, or that lying on a sofa or sleeping in your bed are ways of establishing her dominance - they're wrong! These are made-up theories with no scientific basis whatsoever.
Dogs are social animals that have evolved to cooperate, partner, and interact peacefully with their human companions. They do not seek continual conflict and they are not consumed by an unmitigated desire to dominate us in a quest to become “top dog.” Like any living creature, dogs just want to remain safe and comfortable and this can be achieved by understanding them and being sensitive to their needs.
Instead of worrying if your dog has the upper hand in a battle for "dominance," focus on building a common language, teaching and rewarding behavior you want, replacing unwanted behavior, and building your dog's confidence.
MYTH: Positive trainers do not believe in discipline or setting limits.
FACT: Positive does not mean permissive. Positive trainers set boundaries and teach limits so your dog can’t practice unwanted behaviors, but choose appropriate behaviors.
Most positive trainers incorporate boundaries and limits as part of training. In fact, by setting up the appropriate boundaries and limits to prevent unwanted behavior, a dog can learn the appropriate behavior more quickly. Positive trainers teach dogs boundaries and limits by guiding the dog away from unwanted behaviors and teaching replacement behaviors.
For example, to prevent your dog from jumping on visitors at the front door, a positive trainer might use a gate, keep the dog on a leash, toss treats in the opposite direction, reward "4 paws on the floor," practice calm greeting skills, or use other training techniques to achieve this goal.
Some trainers use discipline in the form of vocal interrupters, ignoring negative behavior, or removing something that the dog wants, but a nuanced understanding of dog behavior and training is needed to use these methods without making dogs feel insecure or inflicting pain or fear.
Unwanted behaviors are modified by simply addressing the cause of those behaviors. For example, a surprising number of unwanted behaviors are symptoms of a dog's hidden pain and discomfort. A trainer might suggest a full medical examination, because in those cases medical treatment may solve the issue, preventing the need for "discipline" altogether.
MYTH: Positive training doesn't work if you stop giving treats.
FACT: Positive trainers teach using rewards like food, play, toys, or access to things a dog likes, but rewards are only part of the reason why a dog likes to learn. Whether training involves food or other rewards, such as playing a favorite game, being told "yes!" or given a gentle stroke along the neck, pleasant experiences encourage the dog to learn a behavior, develop a positive relationship with people, and motivate them enough to continue.
Often, food treats get replaced by praise or toy rewards and may be completely phased out once the dog has mastered the skill. The most important feature of giving treats or any type of reward is that it creates a good association with learning a new behavior, makes the dog enjoy working with people, anticipate good things and be more likely to repeat a behavior he or she was rewarded for.
MYTH: Dogs who behave aggressively are trying to be dominant.
FACT: This is very rarely true. Dogs who "misbehave" are simply trying to do what works to get their needs met: to either get something such as food or attention, or to ease their fear or anxiety. These dogs learn to be comfortable in their environment and behave accordingly.
In the dog world, dominance is a social relationship between individuals of the same species over a resource. That means that conflict over that resource is unlikely, since access to it has already been established. The confusion between dominance and aggression comes from an incorrect, outdated theory of social behavior in wolves and dogs.
The essential function of aggressive behavior is to reduce conflict and maintain safety. If a dog aggresses, it is more likely he is fearful or protecting something that is important to him and NOT because he is a social climber, trying to outrank you and get to the position of "top dog" or "Alpha."
MYTH: Dogs behave like wolves.
FACT: Dogs are not wolves, and the idea that we should apply the principles of wolf behavior to dog behavior is based on outdated research interpretations.
There are thousands of years and many generations between dogs and wolves, both genetically as a species and practically as our domestic companions. What's more, even in the wolf world, the nature of social interactions and status have been wildly misunderstood. The way wolves interact has very little bearing on how we should assume our dogs think, feel and act.
MYTH: Punishment-based training works faster.
FACT: The idea that aversive and punishment-based training is a "quick fix" is flawed. A behavior may stop quickly in response to punishment, but it often returns - and more seriously - because the dog has not been taught what to do instead.
Punitive training is more like putting a band-aid on a problem, because the dog still feels the same inside and even more insecure for the punishment he has received for "behaving badly." This can lead to more unwanted behaviors in the long run, including potentially dangerous and aggressive behavior.
Positive reinforcement has the power to quickly transform a dog's behavior. People who are unfamiliar with positive reinforcement are often surprised at how quickly it works. Positive training motivates a dog with rewards; this actually changes the way a dog feels and increases his tendency to make the "right" choice. Once a dog learns this system, he is more likely to do behaviors for more quickly, making for a far more harmonious, balanced and happy life experience for everyone. With positive training, you don’t run the risk of creating fear or anxiety problems, which saves time and resources in the long run.
It is true that more serious fear and anxiety-based behaviors take more time to solve. But a quick solution based on "patching over" the underlying issue comes with the huge risk that even worse behaviors will emerge. A solution that involves taking the appropriate time to understand what's really causing the problem is far more likely to truly change the dog's behavior for good.
MYTH: Positive trainers treat dogs like human kids.
FACT: Dogs have species-specific needs, and skillful positive trainers focus on what dogs actually need. In fact, many common behavior issues that Victoria and other positive trainers are regularly called in to work on stem from a person's tendency to over anthropomorphize their dogs. The first step in such situations is to convince them to stop treating their dog exactly like a child.
At the same time, modern behavioral and cognitive science has shown us that the dog’s emotional brain is wired very similarly to a human’s: dogs have emotions, just not with a human’s level of complexity and ability to extrapolate. Furthermore, studies have shown that the most socially mature dogs have an intelligence and ability to problem solve and understand words and gestures similar to that of a two-year-old human child. Comprehending this is the first step toward understanding our dogs, so that we see the world as a dog sees it and not as a person sees it.
MYTH: Positive training methods don't work on "red zone" dogs.
FACT: The safest and most effective methods for treating severely aggressive or "red zone" dogs are positive reinforcement-based, reward-based, and force-free methods.
Positive training is effective for not only minor issues, but it is by far the most effective way to connect with and teach dogs showing aggressive behaviors, even those serious enough to be labeled "red zone." Positive reinforcement can increase a dog's trust and reduce the fear and stress that contribute to aggressive behavior.
On It’s Me or the Dog and other shows, as well as in private practice, Victoria and other positive trainers around the world work successfully with big, powerful dogs suffering from complex behavior problems on a regular basis. For example, instead of fighting aggressive behavior with confrontational and punitive techniques - a game-plan that usually results in more aggressive behavior - a qualified, positive trainer uses methods that truly change a dog’s emotional reaction, and therefore his behavior, for the rest of his life.
Aggression in dogs needs to be handled sensitively and with compassion. Dogs that behave aggressively are under stress and this needs to be understood and addressed. The most effective way to do this is to find and resolve the cause of the stress using humane methods.
MYTH: "Alpha rolls" make dogs calmly submissive.
FACT: The so-called "alpha roll" is a punishment-based technique used by some trainers who adhere to the "dominance" theory. It is a harsh (and unnecessary) act of forcefully flipping a dog onto his back or side, and physically restraining him in a grip, until he stops moving. This may cause a dog to remain still on the outside because he feels unsafe if he moves. This is not a state of calm.
The dog has actually used an instinctive survival tool we call "shutting down." This response is used by animals to appease aggressors and attempt to avoid any further violence. If the animal remains still and avoids eye contact until the aggressor moves away, he is more likely to be safe.
Even if a restrained dog’s demeanor appears calm on the outside, research has shown that forced submission or restraint raises a dog’s stress levels. Elevated stress inhibits learning and compromises a dog’s ability to function normally. Dogs can become fearful and traumatized by being forcibly tackled this way.
To the untrained eye, a restrained dog’s stillness may be misinterpreted as being calm. The reality is that an internal battle is being fought as the dog tries to cope with what is, in essence, a stressful episode brought on by an act of physical violence by a human, in which the dog is the victim. This does not create calm, it creates problems on many levels and compromises a dog's welfare and success.
MYTH: Using food to train dogs is bribery.
The idea that food is bribery underestimates the power of food in dog training.
Food is a meaningful reward to most dogs. Food motivates a dog to learn with confidence and facilitates communication and understanding. Food is considered one of the primary reinforcers for all animals, because all animals need to eat to survive. Using food rewards is an easy, readily-available and effective way to train a dog.
Food has the power to help a fearful or anxious dog overcome her fears by creating positive associations. When used correctly, pairing a scary situation with food the dog loves can lead to a positive association with the previously scary situation.
However, positive training isn’t just about using food treats as rewards. A reward can be whatever motivates your dog, which might be play, toys or life rewards, like going for a walk. A reward that motivates a dog to learn is a tool that promotes confidence, helps dogs live more successfully in a home environment, and encourages mutual understanding, all of which increases the human/animal bond.
MYTH: Dogs should work to please people.
We intentionally teach dogs and reward them for behaviors we like because they are a distinct species with their own motivations and needs. But, companion dogs are completely dependent on people to meet their physical and emotional needs, whether that is providing food, water, exercise, interaction, play, or companionship. Like all animals, they are trying to live in a way that meets their physical and emotional needs as well. They do not exist in this world to please us, but have evolved to live alongside us, and we must help them navigate our complicated world as best as we can.
