On Dog Training.

[draggonlaady]

And really, applicable to any kind of training. This article is a fairly long-winded way of saying that beating a dog into submission is not the same as training. All training should be based on rewarding desirable behavior while discouraging undesirable behavior (without scaring the life out of the trainee). I'm posting it, long-winded or not, because of the particular discussion of some of Cesar Millan's techniques, which I have parroted at me constantly at work.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2007250,00.html

It is very very frustrating having to explain to people who refuse to listen to me, because I am "only a veterinarian, not a dog trainer" that not all problems (and indeed, not even many problems) are dominance based, and won't be resolved by dominating.

Comments

[kresentia.livejournal.com]

I think Milan has some great principles (EXERCISE!!! then discipline and lastly affection. Being confident and setting rules, etc. I have used a lot of his ideas with some serious problem dogs and recommended many of his principles to people in general) but I too am really tired of all this dominance BS. If the dog stands on your foot it's prob seeking security, not being dominant. If a puppy mouths you it's prob being a stupid puppy, not dominant, etc. I wish more people would read his disclaimer at the beginning - consult a dog trainer for your case!!! I think 90% of things are NOT dominance and get so tired of trying to our talk Milan. Of course, I also always tell people that you should listen to what different people say and decide what works for you but I swear sometimes I wish I could just whap people upside the head. Your lab is eating the furniture not because he is dominant but because he is 6 mo old, left alone all day loose in the house (a crate is not cruel! Surgery for the blockage it gets because you let it eat your sofa is cruel! Dumping it at the shelter to be put down is cruel!) and you think that letting it have an hour in the "big back yard so he gets plenty of exercise" (I have a treadmill so I must be in supermodel shape, right?) is enough for it to do! Whap!
Stillwell is quite interesting too but as I just said, you have to listen to lots of ideas and find what works for you - which does involve being smart enough to think things through, consider results, and apply your answers which I guess means it's above far too many dog owners. Sigh... I'm so thankful that so many of my human students are wonderful and want to learn!
Thanks for posting the article!

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

I think you sometimes get the advantage of having clients who came to you for training questions. I get incidental training questions from people who don't think I know anything about it.

[kresentia.livejournal.com]

Lucky you...
I do get some "special" people though, like the ones who ask for info then don't use it. I can accept forgetting but pointedly ignoring, sigh.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Oh, I get those too... call up and ask for advice, and then argue with what I say. What the fuck is the point of that? I suppose they were hoping I would just tell them to do whatever they already thought was best, because they know more about it than I do anyway....