2 Informational Articles discuss - E-Collars and Dog Training Methods

[TrinityDobes]

I am constantly trolling the internet in search of Training and Behavior articles as well as studies and research that affect our dogs health- I have a whole page on my website that is devoted to articles that I've found very informative and thought provoking.

I've taken quite a few clinics and seminars related to horses and dogs over the years - and found that I was able to take away and use something from every educational opportunity. The internet is now once big educational opportunity for me *LOL*.

I thought the following article was very informative and presented a positive light on the evolution of the use of e-collars and the positive roll they can play in dog training. I thought it was a positive partisan article on the subject so am sharing the link here

http://pawsnmotion.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/shocked-talking-about-e-collars/

The next article I found on this website is titled Rhetoric in Dog Training Literature wherin the author discusses the way training information is presented (words used) can and often does prejudice you to embrace the ideology the trainer is teaching. (I will also admit that Victoria Stillwell drives me crazy and not in a good way)

I thought the article's discusson on the possible negative side effects of embracing soley a Positive Training philosphy only was thought provoking and a point of view that deserved consideration.

Personally the training method I choose to use on any dog is generally driven by the individual - I have now 8 dogs, my approach to getting their cooperation and motivating them in training has to be tweeked to be effective with each of my dogs. I always like to start out singing Koom-by-ya and will proceed until my dog decides to flip me the proverbial "bird", look me in the eye, and say he ain't singing with me today *LOL* so then I have to go into my bag of tricks and tweek the motivation so that the dog can continue learning. I don't believe in letting the dog "choose" to repeat bad or incorrect behavior until he "decides" to do what I want. Bad behavior is learned through repetition as well as good behavior, and to me, this scenario allows the dog to dictate the training sessions - Uh....not on my training field *LOL* so my bag of tricks to get attention can be escalated and pulled back, changed up as necessary depending on the dog and what is necessary to get his attention - no attention no training,

The author in this article I thought presented some very good arguments for not embracing a solely Postive reinforcement training method. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.

http://pawsnmotion.wordpress.com/2010/09/04/rhetoric-in-dog-training-literature/

 

[Shadowlands]

They were two very good articles. Thanks for posting them.

I too was not a big fan of the e-collar I think more because it can be too easy for some to go straight to the e-collar than put in real time and effort in training. I have used it myself for refining certain commands off-leash and with some hunting dogs.

Training in general can never be one way only. To use nothing but positive reinforcement is not realistic at all. You have to be hands on when training your dog. Sometimes a simple touch is all that is needed to get Rover's attention or a flick of the wrist when walking to get him to remember where he is meant to be.
However, neither is the comparison to training dolphins to dogs. Although Karen Pryor really kicked off clicker training, and she started with training orcas etc. She clearly shows the similarities in how to train orcas, chickens, people and dogs using the same theory, just different methods. And yes, you can clicker train people, and fairly easily too, but you don't actually use a clicker, but some other marker. Lol!

The example given was walking on a leash. Most clicker training manuals/books/trainers suggest teaching them to walk on a leash by teaching them where to walk off leash. Once they get the idea where they are supposed to be, then adding the leash and then distractions of the world outside of the backyard, the transition is usually nice and smooth. Even with those breeds that are traditionally terrible walkers. This method, I have found gives effective and consistent results. I have used prongs along with this type of training as well as e-collars. So again, more than one type of training used together can do the job.

 

[TrinityDobes]

I guess the thing I found troubling, was if shelters used only positive reinforcement training to assess adoptability - that to me is very limiting, but then I also don't think a dog that is picked up being a stray that has been starved and consequently ends up with resource guarding issues with his food bowl - should be labeled unadoptable either - maybe not adoptable to families with children - but there are ways to work with a dog that has a resource guarding issue - some of the animal cops shows - get me really upset when they label young dogs with a behavioral issue as not safe so not addoptable.

 

[Shadowlands]

Very true. But what it boils down to is there are so many dogs out there that need adopting, they have to do triage. Only those that stand a good chance to get adopted are put forth. It is sad and I totally disagree with it, but that this is the way it is. This is one of the reasons I want to open up a rescue organization to house (for the life of the dog if necessary) those that are deemed unadoptable to rehabilitate them.
I was looking at doing conformation and possible breeding the two breeds I love most but the more I am getting involved with rescue etc the more I realize there is another huge epidemic - dispensible pets.
As for shelters using only positive reinforcement to assess a dogs adoptability, that is just plain absurd. A dog in a shelter is already hyped up and not acting himself. I know I wouldn't be living in there with all of those dogs, the barking, not to mention all the strangers walking around.
Shelters should know better. But then, that is why I have issues with one of the local shelters here. I don't believe anyone who works there has an ounce of canine behavior knowledge and they don't even get right the breeds they have listed.