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

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Well, I did get my dog to stop scamming food off tables and plates by scaring the living hell out of him. I think he thinks I'll kill him if he ever tries it again.

[neogrammarian.livejournal.com]

heh I had to look up Millan on wikipedia.

I just...sigh.

[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.

[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!