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

[sphynx-again.livejournal.com]

Milan takes the worst of the aggression cases and makes amazing progress in those dogs. His basic premise is sound: dogs need exercise, discipline, and affection, in that order. (Dogs behave better and are able to focus better if they're not brimming with excess energy, just like kids... they can't "behave" if they don't know what's expected of them, and affection strengthens the bonds between you, making your dog more want to please you.) However, most people don't have the instincts and sheer force of personality to do what he does for these very aggressive dogs, and if they try, they are putting themselves in a very dangerous position. I've seen quite a few of his shows, and every single case had to do with some form of aggression which was a dominance issue. His methods work fantastic on those particular issues. But no, they don't work on everything. And I have to wonder, when the show's over, and he goes home, how many of those dogs revert right back to where they were before him, get into a dominance battle with their owner, and wind up dead or in a shelter?

When people ask me what I think of him and his methods, I tell them that if they raise their dog with consistant and realistic rules, affection, and meeting their species specific needs, they should never be in a position to need his methods. In other words, let the dog be a dog, and set the rules and enforce them fairly from day one.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

I've never actually watched his shows. I have no personal experience of him, except for the "take home" message that my clients get, and it isn't something appropriate to use in puppy training. I've heard many clients come up with similar things that are utterly useless for their situations, but are totally convinced it's the way to train them because that's how "the dog whisperer" does it... very frustrating. And I've heard several behaviorists (at veterinary conferences) specifically ranting against him.

Not to say I've never out-aggressed a dog. I have. But it takes damn fine timing, and a very particular set of circumstances to be appropriate. I think people who do not work with animals full time watch his show and think that this one thing he does is the one and only way to address all training, and given how many people I've run across in my little practice that got that message, I can't imagine he's making any kind of explanation of appropriate situations.

[sphynx-again.livejournal.com]

you nailed it on the head there. No arguments from me. I find his show very entertaining to watch, because mostly the dogs he deals with are that way because the people are idiots. And he tries to give them the tools they need to make their dogs stop ruling the household. Unfortunately, I doubt he has any lasting impression on many of them. And does not address normal, run of the mill dog training at all. Just dominance issues. Gotta say though, the narrow spectrum he deals with, he's pretty darn effective! Luckily, I really haven't seen many people get carried away, trying to be him on their perfectly sound of mind, normally submissive dogs.

[draggonlaady.livejournal.com]

Lucky you :) I get people who think they need to 'alpha roll' their jack russell puppies.... when just teaching them to sit on command is much more effective in preventing them from jumping on people.