The Power of Positive Dog Training

No more choke chains, no more yelling.The last time we had puppies was almost 30 years ago. The puppies were taught with choke chains, correction jerks, and loud, assertive commands. I hated it and was never very good at the training methods we were taught, but these methods were considered the only way to show a dog who is boss and get obedient behavior back then. The puppies eventually learned and behaved fairly well. They lived into their teens, and then we got our first adult shelter dog, an already well-trained dog with beautiful manners whom we loved dearly until she died too early from malignant melanoma.When we brought Jazmine home from the shelter, it was another experience altogether. She had been a stray and in the shelter system for a while. She came to one of our local shelters on a lab rescue program--she is part lab and part ???She was around two years old, and very active, but a challenge. Fearful at first, she eventually relaxed into a bit of a wild child--very sweet but a handful. Fortunately, the shelter gives a one hour home visit from their trainer who uses positive training methods.She taught us the very basics, and we attended her classes. Jazmine has too poor an attention span to do well around other dogs, but we wanted to continue the training at home, so she recommended this book. I was so happy not to have to deal with choke chains, yelling and jerking the dog. I was amazed to see Jazmine learn things immediately, with soft, calm commands and a gentle, positive approach.The book is great. It explains the theory behind the approach so well, that I was later able to apply the principles to some of the behavioral challenges Jazmine presented. She loved to steal things, especially socks and run into the other room to chew on them. We would chase her and grab the object, and you could see the little wheels turning in her head while she decided what object would be next. Using what I learned from the book, I analyzed what reward she was getting from this behavior. I finally realized how much she loved the chase and attention. So the next time she stole an item, I totally ignored her. She came back with the object to taunt me--"lookie what I have!" she seemed to say. I ignored her. She dropped the item and went to lie down in a corner of the family room with a puzzled look on her face. We have learned to chase her only when she has her own toys, she loves that. Now, when she wants a chase, she chooses her own toys and leaves our stuff alone. I didn't have to yell, punish, or swat--all things we would have been told to do by trainers in the "old days".I enjoyed the chapters and worked through them with Jazmine. She seemed to really enjoy the training sessions as well. We used clicker training at first, but were gradually able to move away from that. Now a simple "yes" will do most of the time and we don't have to carry a pouch of treaties either. Unfortunately, there are still certain behaviors she will only do with a treat--more my fault than the method's I think. We lent the book to a neighbor who brought home a new puppy, and I'd like to get it back so I could learn more.I buy this book for friends and relatives with new puppies and they give it good feedback as well.

Rusty is a rescue from Mississippi shipped to a local shelter here in San Diego. He is now a very powerful and athletic 60 lb two year old. When we adopted Rusty at 7 months old he wasn't house trained, was fearful and aggressive to most people, and had no idea how to play with other dogs. He was terrified of doors, hoses, and vacuums. When frightened, he would dart in, bite, and then dart away which made him dangerous.I immediately enrolled in a traditional "positive" training class, which used force training. The "positive" aspect was praise after the dog complied. If the dog didn't comply, he was forced using the leash and a pinch collar. Rusty freaked out at my attempts, and even more so at the trainers attempts to get him to lie down. The trainer's solution was to apply more force, putting Rusty into a mindless panic. Not wanting Rusty or the trainer to get hurt, I withdrew from the class and looked for a more effective approach.I discovered Pat Miller in the bibliography and recommended reading sections of several dog training books by animal behaviorists, especially Patricia McConnell and Jean Donnalson (I highly recommend both). Pat Miller's approach is clear, scientific, sensible, and highly effective for ALL types, sizes, and ages of dogs.One of her points, that I agree with, is that there are no vicious or "difficult breeds" of dogs. All dogs (and people) live to please themselves, to maximize reward and minimize punishment. Using reward almost exclusively to change behavior 1) is powerful because you can associate the reward consistently with the target behavior in the dog's mind, 2) results in quick learning depending on the trainer's skill in communicating to the dog, 3) builds the dog's loving relationship with the trainer, 4) results in a balanced, calm, and confident dog, and 5) is fun. In contrast, punishment 1) is not very effective because it's hard to associate the punishment with the target behavior (e.g. to a dog yelled at or hit for being on the sofa, "is he mad at me because I'm standing by the window, or because he's dangerous and unpredictable?"), 2) usually results in learning the wrong lesson (e.g. only go on the sofa when the owner isn't present) 3) creates a fearful and mistrustful relationship with the trainer, 4) results in a fearful, sneaky, neurotic dog (putting easily aroused dogs into the danger zone for attacking), and 5) isn't fun.The book is well organized, well written, and is all you need for a comprehensive training program. Rusty has learned remarkably quickly using Pat Miller's approach. He walks well on and off leash, comes when called, likes people and other dogs, plays acceptably well (it's hard to completely correct for no socialization as a puppy), knows many tricks, is well behaved, and loves and trusts me and my wife. He loves to learn because it's fun and he always gets what he wants when he learns (a treat and a stoke). I love to teach him because it's fun, because I love him, and I get what I want, which is a happy and well behaved big athletic dog.Other books will help you understand dogs and the relationship between dogs and people better, but for training this is the only book you need. You and your dog will be happy if you follow Pat Miller's approach.

It takes patients and some work but this book has everything you need to help train your dog, especially if you start as a puppy.I think you will be amazed at how effective this training is and has lasting effects on your dog's behavior even when you aren't present.It is very diffrent from choke chain training and older methods used. Its much less stressful for your dog and helps really build a bond with your pet.Even works on stubborn breeds like our French Bulldogs lol. 😀