Dog Whisperers and All Positive trainers
I was planning to read a hundred year old training book but instead I am writing a dog training blog. My writing is inspired by a dog whispering type dog trainer and a famous all positive reinforcement trainer.
The Dog whisperer style of training
I know a few people who train much like the National Geographic Dog Whisperer. As I was talking with such a trainer recently several thing have come to light. As in seeing the light, you know that light bulb above the head insight one gets in a moment of inspiration. The light bulb insight may seem spontaneous but it probably had antecedents in the from deep thought and/or reflective social interaction. When talking to dog trainers I generally ask a lot of questions or point out inconsistencies, or discuss what is thought to be “the right way” to train a dog. With a dog whisperer style of training there are several areas of training theory to explore. To my understanding some of the main areas where dog whisperer training differs from other popular training styles is the use of dominance theory and aversive control. The main competing style of dog training considered by many to be “the right way” to train a dog are various all positive training styles. Some hallmarks of the dog whispering style of training include the use of dominance theory, wolf pack theory, copious amounts of exercise, and using aversives to control behavior. This trainer that I was talking to also uses a lot of positive reinforcement. Combining dog whispering and positive training would classify this style as a balanced type of training or what I call a mix training style.
What prompted this blog is that I am starting a new all positive dog training classes. As I discussed the merits of all positive training and its implications with this other trainer I am met with an interesting counter point. It seems that my intellectual companion has a desire to articulate his contempt for the hypocrisy of “all positive trainers.” Many dog whisperer type dog trainers work with aggressive dog. True to dog whispering this particular trainer works with a lot aggressive dogs. I believe in the language of whispering it’s said that he rehabilitates aggressive dogs. One of the complaints I hear communicated is that the all positive crowd or at least one of its leaders advocates just training puppies and condescendingly recommends referring the aggressive dogs to trainers who use aversives, specifically to dog whisperers. Now I’m not sure if the referrals are because they think the aversive using trainers will get bit or because working with aggressive dogs is not easy. My friend thinks that it’s because they cannot train or rehabilitate aggressive dogs.
The positive reinforcement style of training
It’s my belief that all positive trainers should be, well, positive. In the Taoist temple I studied at it was said that following the Tao is simple but it is not easy. The same can be said for training and teaching with all positive reinforcement.
I hold all positive trainers to a higher standard than other trainers. If all positive works so well then it will eventually be selected over other forms of training, without any force at all. However if it does not work better it will need the well crafted social engineering of cleverly disguised aversive control. If aversive control is needed for positive reinforcement to work then it becomes a mix style of training. I say this because dog training is not just about training the dog. Dog training also involves a human. Humans and dogs respond to many of the same rules of nature in similar ways. Why is all positive good for dogs but not for humans?
Edshu told me that I have an answer to my own question. It’s because we have close to total control over the dog’s environment. Controlling almost all aspects of the environment means we can choose what type of control we use. With people we have less control plus more competitive pressures. People therefore instinctively feel that they need to use more aversive control and aggression with other people.
The myths of pet dog training
Depending on who I am talking to I am either wearing a red had or a green hat. There are only a few people who will see them as being the same. I think I have a bit of Edshu living in me. Oh that is another topic – the power of myth.
Wait, perhaps it’s myth that’s really at the heart of the matter. Myth colors ones perception in subtle but powerful way. Often these shades of thought are so ingrained, so part of who we are we don’t even notice them. Nature has also played a big trick on humans by superstitiously reinforcing our favorite myths.
Now we are back to the realm of dog whispering. Could the dominance theory of dog training be a myth? Could dominance theory be true but not really based on wolf behavior? Could it be true that dominance theory has no place in dog training? Could all of these be true? Before you condemn me for thinking more than one answers right I would like to refer my blog reading friends to a famous thinker and psychologist, Abraham Malow. I remember Maslow indicating that truth, like art, can be a paradox. While dog training involves science it’s also an art. I encourage people to discuss the scientific merits of dominance in dog training. Even if it proves that dominance as we understand it plays a smaller role in training than thought or even no role at all. It may also turn out that dominance is really one of the most important parts of a human dog relationship. There could also be other influences on behavior that determine the reinforcing or aversive effects of being dominated.
I think what we call dominance does play a role in dog training but that it’s not about wolves teaching other wolves to do something. However that does not mean that dominance does not get other wolves to do something. I have to admit I know next to nothing about wolf behavior. But I do enjoy watching feral and wild dogs. In feral dogs social rank does influence behavior. While social rank influences behavior it’s unlikely that dominant dogs deliberately teach lower ranking dogs to perform certain behaviors.
I will be discussing this more in the future,
Wishing you the Best in dog training and the best in life,
Andrew Ledford
The Dog Saint
I am working on building an all positive reinforcement dog training site it’s still being worked on.
More information about my dog training book can be found at the Best Friends Learning Together website