Dog Training Methods: Positive Reinforcement vs. Dominance Training
Wondering how dog training works?
Most professional dog trainers in Portland and elsewhere in the country have shifted to positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques. However, some take the alpha-dog approach, using training methods to establish dominance and attain the status of pack leader.
As a pet parent, you’ll have to decide which dog training method is best for your furry friend. Here, the Blackwood Canine team shares the information you need to make the right choice.
How Dogs Learn
Canine behaviorists have studied the science of how dogs learn, and the answer lies in two processes – classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning involves learning by association, and this form of dog training happens involuntarily. Over time, our four-legged friends learn to react in a specific manner when presented with a signal or stimulus. So, for example, when your pooch gets excited when you pick up their leash or starts barking when they hear the doorbell, those are behaviors they learned through classical conditioning.
Operant conditioning is a bit more complicated, as it requires control of the learning environment. The process revolves around the use of rewards and punishments to help dogs understand that actions have consequences. Simply put, operant conditioning works by either adding or taking away something a dog sees as pleasant, such as a treat or a toy, or by adding or taking away an aversive stimulus, like pressure from a choke chain.
All professional trainers use operant conditioning techniques, but positive reinforcement dog training and dominance training rely on different approaches.
How Positive Reinforcement Training Works
Many dog trainers in Portland focus on the use of positive reinforcement. When a pooch acts in the desired manner – sitting when asked, for example – the trainer offers a reward, typically praise or a tasty treat.
Positive reinforcement is an effective form of operant conditioning, and the dog training method is recommended by canine experts. However, as the approach ignores unwanted behaviors, it’s generally agreed that positive reinforcement should be used in conjunction with negative punishment.
Though it may sound otherwise, negative punishment doesn’t involve reprimands or violent actions. Instead, dog trainers take away something desirable – which our four-legged friends see as being both a negative and a punishment. Examples include turning around when a pooch jumps up and walking away from a nipping puppy. Dogs want attention, and taking it away discourages unwanted behaviors.
The Alpha-Dog or Dominance Training Approach
Dominance dog training was the norm several decades ago, and the concept is largely based on perceptions of pack behavior in wolves. Trainers who use this approach aim to make sure dogs understand that a human is the “alpha” or pack leader.
With dominance training, the focus is on positive punishment – and here, the term “positive” indicates that something is being added, not that the punishment is favorable. In fact, the opposite is true. The operant conditioning method involves introducing an undesirable element when a dog misbehaves. That may be a swat on the rump, a shock from an electronic collar, or placing the pooch in a submissive position, to name a few examples.
The use of dominance training has fallen out of favor, as positive punishment can instill fear, anxiety, aggression, and mistrust in a dog. Training in this manner can also damage the bond between a pooch and their pet parent. For these reasons, many canine experts consider the method to be antiquated.
Choosing the Right Professional Dog Trainer
Positive reinforcement and reward-based dog training techniques are based on the science of learning, and canine experts advise pet parents to seek out a professional trainer who uses these methods.
However, the dog training industry is unregulated – anyone can set up a business and charge for their services. With that in mind, you’d be wise not to simply choose the closest training school. Do a little research, and you’ll be able to find the right fit for you and your furry friend.
What should you look for in a professional dog trainer? We recommend that you consider the following:
Training credentials – Whether it’s an apprenticeship and years of experience or an academic route, find out how a trainer learned their skills.
Training philosophy – Make sure you’re comfortable with the approach a trainer uses in teaching new skills and correcting behaviors.
Training services – You may prefer private dog training or a board-and-train boot camp program, and not all trainers offer the same services.
Trainer personality – Your dog trainer will be teaching both you and your pooch, and you need to feel comfortable as their student.
If you’re looking for professional dog training in Portland, you could ask your veterinarian, a family member or a trusted neighbor for a recommendation. Or, you could turn to the Blackwood Canine team.
We’ve been helping pet parents in and around Portland, Oregon, for more than ten years, and we work with canines of all ages, breeds and dispositions. Our dedicated dog trainers use positive reinforcement and reward-based training methods to shape behavior, and we’re ready to meet your needs.
We also have made available some of our favorite dog training tools and accessories, including leather leashes, dog training collars and training accessories.
For more information on our services and why we’re the preferred choice for dog training in Portland, contact Blackwood Canine today.
