I’ve been formulating this type of post for awhile. I definitely am an opinionated gal, and especially when it comes to dogs. I guess I feel I know dogs so well, in my way of course, that it’s impossible not to be opinionated when it comes to my favorite thing on earth! I think I have learned so very much about dogs throughout my life, but also that I do have much to learn still.
Who doesn’t? A friend of mine who manages a huge pack of dogs he cares for with his wife, that I’ve known since Borias was a mere pup, and who’s also come a long way said this… That dogs are still the most misunderstood animal on earth.
I agree. Though it’s strange, since we’ve spent centuries with them. We have made leaps in understanding, I believe, and these days it’s better than ever to be a dog, given that dog friendly methods of training and communication have grown so prevalent and popular.
But, despite this, the old school way of thinking clings to our consciousness like an octopus that won’t, or can’t let go.
When Cesar Millan first came on the horizon, I was intrigued. The first season of The Dog Whisperer, I watched with interest, and the primal type of view of dogs seemed to appeal to me at the time. Much of it made sense, and I can see why I fell for it. But then I began to see through the surface, and realized it’s a lot like the Koehler view of dogs wrapped up in a New Age package. That is, dogs are to be dominated, and if we communicate through a dominant “energy”, they will give us the utmost respect and be perfect and happy ever after. If we don’t show them that we are supreme beings, they will slyly take over that position, and make our lives miserable.
Thankfully, I had a good few years of being immersed in positive reinforcement training methods, having gone to an APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) conference when Borias was just one. I met some folks I highly looked up to, like Ian Dunbar, Patricia McConnell PhD., Suzanne Clothier, Karen Pryor, and others. I’ve devoured all their books, and implemented the methodology with my boy since I brought him home. Well, since before, even. I clicker trained him to sit, in 10 minutes, when he was 5 weeks old.
When I had him picking up my keys the first few weeks we were together, a mere 10 weeks old, I was hooked. What an amazing way to communicate and teach!! This boy was so eager, that he figured out that he could unzip my backpack, and give me my wallet, trying to be helpful! He found my dropped wallet at that tender age, as well, at a grocery store. This was fun stuff!
I did, however, find a challenge in a few things, that I couldn’t figure out how to solve. Borias kept balls and frisbees to himself, and would not, for the life of him, give them up. This made it hard to use as rewards in training. When we began Schutzhund, I started to use some aversives to manage his behavior. Being a GSD, and in drive, I knew it wasn’t going to dampen his personality, and to me, I was being more clear. Consequences to behavior. I was still using rewards the majority of the time to influence his choices.
Choices. That’s one thing that is a big part of this. I would rather influence choice, so that the right choice is made on the dog’s part, that it’s his idea. Not making the outcome so that they think if they choose other than what you want, they will have consequences that hurt, or are extremely unpleasant. Coercion. I believe that training a dog can be accomplished without using force.
So while Cesar’s methods can seem appealing with the primal view of dogs, it’s quite flawed, and based on outdated ideas of pack theory and dominance. Dogs do what works, and they’re not looking to overthrow us at any second if we show an ounce of weakness. If that were true, thousands of people with severe disabilities, and children would not be able to live life with a dog, let alone have a working relationship with one, like an Assistance dog! These methods rely on force, dominating a dog into being “submissive”, fearing repercussions if they “misbehave”.
I do like that he places the responsibility for how a dog behaves on the owner, it’s just highly misdirected in how he advises people to change their behavior. Since dogs do what works, providing motivation that’s positive and pleasurable will modify behavior better, with lasting results (an important component!) rather than punitive motivators. It offers a dog the opportunity to choose the right behavior, and tells them what they can do, rather than simply what not to do.
I see, pretty much daily, the fallout of using punitive methods such as Cesar’s. It causes human and dog to be at odds with each other, and to be in a power struggle in which there must be a clear “winner”…the dog loses. I see dogs being given no information whatsoever on what it is that’s desired of them, but are being bullied for showing behaviors their human’s caused in the first place- and are continuing to cause. Talk about frustration for the poor dogs! People that are lead to believe that their dog showing interest in another dog, or walking a few feet ahead of them is trying to lord over them and become “alpha”. How is that any way to have a good relationship?
After all, isn’t that why we have dogs? To have a great relationship, a best friend, cherished family member?
