The Problem With Purely R+ Dog Training Activists

There is a saying: “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

If all you have is R+ (purely positive reinforcement) dog training, then every problem looks like it requires an R+ solution. 

All these proclaimed R+ dog trainers might learn a lesson from The Grinch: “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before… Maybe Christmas, (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps… means a little bit more.” 

Maybe there is a lot more to dog training than R+.

Let’s talk science, since that term is tossed around so frivolously by the “purely positive”, so-called “R+” activists. 

Why do trained dogs that have been properly corrected by a good dog trainer, using an aversive tool such as a leash and collar, not show persistent fear? Because the startling effect of the correction undergoes extinction, and what is left over is a durable avoidance of the initial consequence. Just like your parents corrected you if you tried to run into the street, are you now afraid of being around traffic and walking on the sidewalk? No. And your dog isn’t afraid of walking along the sidewalk, either, even though your dog had been corrected previously for lunging at a passing car, bicycle or jogger. 

Seligman’s (one of the primary authors of the book, “Learned Helplessness”) scientific experiments proved this outcome. There was a way to traumatize a dog, which he explained; good dog trainers don’t do those types of things to a dog. Seligman didn’t, however, say that once an avoidance response was learned that the aversive experience of the correction wouldn’t fade away. 

Furthermore, significant scientific experiments by those who tried to adhere to the concepts of the 4 Quadrants of Learning, found out that it just wasn’t enough. Breland and Breland, in their famous paper called “The Misbehavior of Organisms”, stated: “These egregious failures came as a rather considerable shock to us, for there was nothing in our background in behaviorism to prepare us for such gross inabilities to predict and control the behavior of animals with which we had been working for years. The examples listed we feel represent a clear and utter failure of conditioning theory. They are far from what one would normally expect on the basis of the theory alone. Furthermore, they are definite, observable; the diagnosis of theory failure does not depend on subtle statistical interpretations or on semantic legerdemain-the animal simply does not do what he has been conditioned to do.” This was a refutation of B. F. Skinner (who wrote The Behavior of Organisms) and the other radical behaviorists. By the early 1960’s, this school thought was found to have numerous holes and problems. Yet, we have people who claim to know the “science” who haven’t actually read, or understood, the science.

It is time for the R+, purely positive”, advocates to face the actual science experiments that have already been done on this topic, and stop promoting a false solution to the public and dog training community. 

If you truly believe in science, you will change what you are saying and doing,

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And The Bark And Hold

A familiar exercise in sport protection events is the Bark and Hold. A dog is sent to “find” a “hidden” bad guy behind a blind. The dog “finds” him, starts barking and so long as the man doesn’t move, the dog is “holding” him there. There is no practical use for this exercise... (MORE)

Dogs And Memorial Day

Today is a good day to have a moment of silence to remember the fallen, and to pray for the families of those lost in war and for peace. 

You can have a good day with your dog because of their sacrifices. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Fireworks... TONIGHT

It is Memorial Day weekend. I heard some loud booms in my neighborhood last night. 

It will be more tonight.

Make sure your dog is OK.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Purely Positive Training Lies

I've actively followed animal welfare trends for a very long time. I've also followed dog training trends for a long time. Here is an observation.

The "purely positive" folks, the movement, is based upon lies. They have the luxury of hiding behind their allies, keyboards, associations, and their published statements to cover up what is done when others aren't looking. They also hide behind their "science", where the rigged setup and outcome of the study was predetermined long before it was conducted. They also punish those who speak against the orthodoxy... (so I guess punishment only applies to human behavior, eh?)

They do corrections, regardless of the species. They clean the data. They handpick the "science".

The hypocrisy leaks out from time to time. Slips of the tongue. Photos. Videos. Witnesses. 

Just like the former Soviet Union, a house of lies can't stand forever. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Playing Dead

I don’t know what triggered this thought yesterday. I recalled a date I had as a teenager. I did all the things… I would have had a better time if I had gotten together with my friends. It wasn’t enjoyable and we never did a second date. 

I really liked this girl. 

For all these years, I thought I had screwed up.

But looking back on it… she was playing dead the entire time. No effort. No happy attitude. No engagement. I don't even know why she agreed to go out. I’ve run across others over the years that did the same thing… just going through the motions. Another good reason to remain single.

It made me think of training dogs. Yeah, my brain works that way. 

Some dogs are very hard to engage. Passive. No effort. Those are hard dogs to work with, especially since I won’t force a dog to like me or take actions. There was a Borzoi I was hired to work with 25 or so years ago just like this. Passive. No interest in just about anything. 

Some dog owners are very hard to engage. Passive. They can’t relate much to the dog, don’t work the homework. Nothing. Playing dead.

Playing dead isn’t a good option. It’s not good in a date, dog or dog owner. You can try all you want, but the other person or dog needs to also engage for it to work out well.

Plan accordingly.

Dog Training And Virtue Signaling

There are a lot of social media posts from various dog trainers whose purpose is solely to market their services and cover their flaws using virtue signaling gimmicks.

The most disappointing are those specific niche trainers who make unsubstantiated claims about their dog training philosophy and scorning those who don’t subscribe using the claim that only they know the true “science” and are the "real" dog trainers. 

For example, a well-known trainer once posted online that they investigated what their critics had to say but rejected it. Not based upon a factual and demonstrable comparison of what they did vs. these other ideas, just a philosophical rejection… and then a solicitation to the audience to buy more of their content. Even worse, their description, and the terminology they used, explaining what they found was completely faulty or dishonest. It was then it became clear that this was all about marketing, not a way forward towards the best ways to train a dog.

In other words, I believe many are endangering dogs and owners who have problems controlling their dogs in the real world. These faulty programs are doomed and so are the dogs subjected to them.

Years ago, I recognized that if I was going to become any good, I’d have to humble myself. I would have to be open to instruction and correction, whether from a science textbook or from a live expert. It is awfully easy to get defensive, close your eyes and ears, and cling to your novice ideas. It is not so fun to find out what you thought you knew was all wrong. 

What if you have the opportunity to learn from an expert? What you do at that moment can change the course of your life, if you let it. I believe those once in a lifetime opportunities come along. A door will be opened that could take you to higher heights. Don’t waste it. That offer won’t be forthcoming again. Buy that dusty old book. Talk to that expert. The top people typically aren't big talkers and won't engage in petty disputes with those who should instead be sitting quietly and taking notes rather than arguing and defending the indefensible. You should approach experts with respect; they aren’t going to be looking for you to sell you something and they aren’t going to debate you. Darwin, Pavlov, Skinner and others aren't looking for your opinion. Neither are the few living experts residing at the far corners of the world at any one time.

Think of the proverbial Kung Fu master. You go humbly to their castle at the top of the mountain, knock on the door, and maybe, just maybe they will let you come inside. Or turn you away to test if you have the character to be trusted with their elite expertise. Don’t dump on that kind of person, you won’t get a second chance.

Virtue signaling in the dog training world is the presentation of a false front of social consciousness, moral superiority, marketing finesse, and supposed skills to cover substandard and unscientific opinions and a lack of knowledge, skills and operational results.

Find the masters. Come inside if invited. Take off your shoes. Shut up.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Hiking In Arizona Heat

The heat in AZ is nothing to be messed with. People die every year. I’ve seen people put their dogs in extremely dangerous heat related situations, as well. The heat will kill you or your hiking partner if you aren’t smart about it. 

 

Want to hike in the AZ heat? Here’ stuff I’ve learned for myself… 

 

Don’t bring your dog.

 

Always hike with a partner.

 

Bring a lot more water than you think you might need. I see people bringing just a single water bottle. That is insane. You need at least a gallon and a half. 

 

Learn about hydration, including when to also consume minerals/ salt. 

 

Bring a changed cell phone and walkie talkie, at the very least. 

 

Bring signaling tools.

 

Bring a cloth or tarp that you could drape over bushes in case you must get in some shade. 

 

Leave early, like 4 am and be done before 10 am. 

 

You need a hat. 

 

Bring first aid.

 

Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Don’t deviate from that course. Sign in with the ranger station or sign in at the trail entrance.

 

Bring food that won’t spoil. Protein (dried meat), salty snacks, some carbs. Energy drinks and other gimmicks are dumb. 

 

Be in shape. 

 

Bring an emergency whistle.

 

Start with easy hikes. 

 

Have a map.

 

Don’t bring your dog. 

 

Plan accordingly.

Dogs And Memorial Day

Memorial Day is almost here… and so are the guests and fireworks. 

Please check your gates, all latches. 

Please review what you are going to do to ensure your dogs are safe and happy. 

Please supervise your dog and guests.

Please think about what you would need to do if your dog escaped.

Let’s make it about those we are supposed to be remembering, rather than having some dog tragedy instead.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Training Systems

There are a number of dog training systems that promise miracles. 

No system can do miracles. 

Each dog is an individual, and the training needs to fit the dog rather than making a dog fit the system.

Systems are great ways to generate $$$$. They aren't great ways to train each dog.

I promote my method, which isn't a system. My method is fitting the training to the dog instead of making any dog fit a set system.

Results matter.

Plan accordingly. 

Dog Training Scripts

For the most part, I'm not interested in dog competitions. I know that what I'm seeing is scripted and is not a reflection of the true, real world abilities of the dog, handler or trainer. 

Yawn.

I have worked with a number of competition dogs that were having behavioral issues. The competition trainer had no idea how to address those issues and the owner had to go outside that world to find answers. I see a lot of competition oriented trainers offering behavioral advice or training programs online. Let the buyer beware: most of these folks don't have a clue about the real world... and some are endangering the owners and the dogs by their advice, which is not much better than what any novice might try. 

Plan accordingly.  

Dogs And Hiking

Summer hiking season is here. I have hiked a lot with dogs, including overnight. If you are considering hiking with your dog, start easy. Figure your dog out... starting with easy walks. Don't do a 15 mile hard hike as the first one. Even if your dog is an experienced hiker. As dogs age, their needs and capabilities will change. Also you may find that your dog responds differently to strangers and strange animals as your dog ages.

How much water does your dog need? Do you have first aid? What about your dog's fitness? Can your dog handle the surfaces (I've seen some dogs that will end up with almost no foot pads after a long hike), or does your dog need booties? What is your dog's heat tolerance? Can your dog recuperate from each hike by the next day (if not, then you are pushing them too hard). Is the trail too steep or dangerous for a dog? Lots to consider.

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Capabilities

No two dogs are the same. That should seem obvious, but in the dog training world, many dogs are trained in programs that don't take that into account. 

When training a companion dog, my recommendation is to work a dog to be happy and go as far as their capabilities will allow. And what I mean by capabilities, I am referring to their natural aptitudes which can be developed into useful skills in the life they are expected to experience.

I am thinking of a dog I worked with a couple of years ago. Nice female pit mix of some sort. You'd really like her. Her one weakness was her ability to contain her prey drive. Her threshold for self control, with no influence from the handler, was not as high as I would consider ideal, thus it was hard for her to maintain a Sit/ Stay as easily as some other dogs I've worked. Not that there was anything wrong with her, just that she would more easily break her position when tempted than some other dogs. 

We stretched her as far as we could, and possibly the owner is still doing the foundation homework and she is better now than when the lessons were completed.

I look for each dog's abilities and then try to maximize them, rather than just putting them through a rote set of exercises. I give each dog a fair chance to be excellent, rather than being a slave. 

You might be surprised how capable your dog is, if you give him/ her a chance.

Plan accordingly. 

Old Dog Photos

It is hard to look at old dog photos of past students. My computer pulls these things up from my photo library on a periodic basis. These were great dogs and they have long passed away from old age. 

Dog Training Feedback

When I am training a dog, I like the owner's feedback along the way and later after the lessons are over... (MORE) 

Dogs And Talking To The Cult

So, I decided to do a test today. 

I get all these dog training social media feeds as a result of the app algorithms, many by activists (not sure what else to call them) promoting their philosophies. It really doesn’t matter what they said, that isn’t the point here.

I just wanted to poke a handful of them and see the reaction. It wasn’t even all that much of a poke. 

Angry. That was the initial response on the first one. 

Lesson?

You aren’t going to be able to change these people. They are not open to change. They are “sold” into their ways and want everyone else to know it. And shame on you if you think otherwise.

It reminded me of The Omega Man with Charlton Heston. There wasn’t any amount of persuasion that was going to work with Jonathan Matthias. He was offended and he was going to bring it all down.

Test over. You can attempt this yourself, but I predict the same results. There are good ways and bad ways to train dogs. Be careful who you listen to.

Plan accordingly. 

Easy And Difficult Dogs

I was going over a pretty complicated problem with a student this past weekend. To me, it seemed all so obvious, while at the same time, if I was a fly on the wall I'd be asking "how did you figure all that out?" 

I've been training dogs most of my adult life. I've done a lot of study along the way, as well.

What might be difficult can, with enough experience and knowledge and wisdom, be converted into something easy... with assigned homework for my students. 

The diagnosis was easy. The follow through is often the difficult part. That often takes the patience of Job to allow the dog to develop through the lessons and homework.

For example, I'm almost to the goal with a couple of nice little dogs I've been working with. The owner felt her dogs were bored and needed some abilities to do more. One request was to teach her dogs to play Fetch. These dogs had no initial interest in chasing any toy at all. One of them would chase a rabbit, but that was about it. It has taken a lot of work to get there, but we got one good Fetch from one of the dogs this weekend, and a mediocre one from the other. At least we have the second dog doing a brief tug of war now. The owner wants to play with them and she has been patient as this process has taken a long time. 

It can be hard to reconcile where a dog is today and where you want the dog to be in the future. 

Plan accordingly. 

Dogs And Airtags

I have had a few students that inserted Airtags into their dog’s collars in case their dogs got lost. Also using them by affixing them to dog crates when flying dogs on commercial airlines.

It might be a good idea to put one in a vehicle when a dog is present. Just in case you can't find your vehicle or in case your vehicle is stolen with your dog inside. 

 

Have you tried this? I think it is a good, inexpensive idea.

 

Airtags aren’t perfect, but their use is better than not having any way of tracking them at all. 

 

Plan accordingly 

No Little Dog Training Glory

I work with a lot of small timid doggies.

Many are so timid they won’t let you put on a collar, pick them up, sometimes you can’t pet them, often having house training problems, run away from family and guests, and sometimes just vibrate... (MORE)

Dog Training: Evaluations and Predictions

When evaluating a dog, a lot depends upon what the owner and trainer can’t perceive about the situation as well as what they can’t predict. No dog trainer is a mystical guru, regardless of their marketing... (MORE)

My Dog Is Afraid Of Its Collar

I meet a lot of dogs that are afraid of having someone put on, take off, or touch their collars. 

This is a major problem that can worsen over the months and years as it builds. Some dogs eventually bite. 

I designate this as a top priority whenever I perceive it. If you don’t know what to do: STOP. Don’t make it worse, get help. Some cases take a long time to fix, meaning months. 

Plan accordingly.