How I Got Started With Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Growing up, my idea of dog training was pretty basic. I focused on teaching my dogs a few tricks and making sure they went to the bathroom outside. I didn’t even think about things like proper leash manners, encouraging them to relax, or using proactive measures to prevent problems. Our routine was simple: a few tricks, daily walks, and playing fetch.
That all changed when I became an adult and got dogs of my own. I came across dog trainers like Ian Dunbar, Victoria Stilwell, and Kikopup, who introduced me to the concept of positive reinforcement training. Suddenly, a new way of understanding dog behavior started to make perfect sense to me. Techniques like counter conditioning, clicker training, and the importance of consistency were totally new to me but seemed so logical in hindsight.
Here’s how I began using positive reinforcement and why I’ll never go back to punishment-based methods.
My “Holy Cow, This Makes Perfect Sense” Moment
I had always heard that dogs want to please us, but I hadn’t thought much about it beyond giving them a treat when they sat on command. Then I realized you could apply that concept to all kinds of behaviors. It felt like a revelation.
It’s amazing how long it took me to see the power of positive reinforcement training. I’ve always loved dogs and read every dog-related book I could find growing up, but those books didn’t teach these methods. Instead, they promoted punishing house training accidents and using alpha rolls to dominate puppies.
Sadly, this wasn’t shocking. For a long time, people thought it was normal to alpha roll dogs and rub their faces in urine without questioning if it was the best way to teach them.
I’m relieved to say I never took part in the alpha rolling or extreme punishment tactics. However, I did yell at my dogs when they misbehaved, and I occasionally yanked their leashes. I’ve learned my lesson since then.
The Norm Was Punishment-Based Methods
If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s (or earlier), you probably have similar memories. Correcting bad behavior with yelling or leash tugging was common. No one thought about preventing these behaviors or redirecting the dog’s attention. We just copied what others did.
Reflecting on my experiences and hearing from friends and clients, I believe we are all “crossover trainers” to some extent. Even if we never used shock or prong collars, there was a time when we didn’t know about effective training methods like Skinner’s quadrants or classical conditioning. Our approach to dog training has likely evolved significantly over the past 10, or even 5 years.
So, I admit it: I’m a ‘crossover trainer.’ I used to rely on yelling and negative reinforcement. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s part of my journey.
As much as I regret some of the methods I used, they taught me valuable lessons. People change. We evolve, and our changing opinions and methods often signify growth, not weakness.
Think about this: Would it be beneficial to act the same way you did 10 years ago in your current life? For me, evolving and improving my dog training methods has been incredibly rewarding and eye-opening.
