to. Play opportunities must also be positive for all the puppies involved. If you’re not sure, the trainer should do a consent test by separating the puppies. If the puppy who appeared to be victimized runs back to play, you know the play was okay. But if they don’t, keep the puppies separate. A good trainer will ensure puppies don’t get bullied and will use barriers or exercise pens as needed.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD DOG TRAINER
TRAINING CLASSES ARE not just for puppies; adult dogs can also benefit from classes, including obedience or specialist classes on topics like greeting guests or liking visits to the vet. For behavior problems, private dog training is probably more appropriate.
When choosing a dog trainer, look for someone who will use food to train your dog, partly because this approach automatically avoids the use of physical punishment (such as prong collars, electronic collars, and alpha rolls) and because food is easy to deliver as a timely reinforcement. For some problems, it may be necessary to see your veterinarian, a veterinary behaviorist, or animal behaviorist (or a combination of your vet and a suitably qualified trainer). If no one is available locally, some trainers offer internet or telephone consultations.
“IF YOUR DOG is aggressive, scared, or destructive; or embarrassing, jumping up, and playing deaf . . . I promise it can almost certainly get better. Your dog can get better—and your relationship with your dog can get better. If you can commit to training your dog, however this ends up looking—taking a reactive rover class or working one-on-one with a qualified trainer, for example—there is help to be had. And when you come out on the other side with new skills for both human and canine, a slightly different setup at home, and some treats in your pocket, you’ll be amazed that such a colossal change was even possible. So if things are tough and what you’ve tried isn’t helping, reach out now. It gets better.”
—KRISTI BENSON, CTC, dog trainer and staff member at the Academy for Dog Trainers
HOW TO APPLY THE SCIENCE AT HOME
•Use positive reinforcement, which is an effective way to train dogs and does not carry the risks of a punishment-based approach. If you want to know more about the science of dog training methods and how they affect welfare, I keep a list of research articles on my website with places where you can read about them online (look for the page called Dog Training Science Resources).
•To translate theory to practice, try to see problem behaviors from your dog’s perspective. If your dog is doing something you don’t like, remove the reinforcement for the problem behavior and/or provide better reinforcements for the behaviors you do want. Think about reward-based ways to manage the situation. If you think your dog is afraid, see chapter 13.
•Ask questions. When looking for dog training classes or hiring a private trainer, ask about the methods they use and ensure you are happy with the answers before you hire them.
•Look for a certified dog trainer who is a member of a professional organization, who takes part in ongoing professional development, and who will use food to train your dog. Well-respected certifications include the Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC, from the Academy for Dog Trainers), the Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP) designation, the Victoria Stilwell Academy Dog Trainer (VSA CDT) designation, and the Pat Miller Certified Trainer (PMCT) designation. All these programs have websites where you can search for trainers.
•Look for a puppy class that emphasizes positive reinforcement and socialization, separates shy puppies from more boisterous ones during play, and encourages puppies (rather than forces them) to interact with other people.
•Set aside some time each day for training. A few short sessions are better than one long session. Make sure everyone in the house is on the same page, especially if you are dealing with behavior problems, so as not to undermine the training.
•Consider taking your adult dog to a class. Classes for adult dogs cover everything from basic obedience to fun activities like tricks or canine nose work (see chapter 10).
4
MOTIVATION AND TECHNIQUE
ONE TIME I saw a man walking a German Shepherd. Even from a distance it was clear the dog was nervous: his posture was low to the ground and the way he was walking made me wonder what kind of equipment was on him. As I waited at the traffic lights, I got a chance to see. The dog had a prong collar, tight, positioned high on his neck. There are easy alternatives, the simplest being a no-pull harness. I wondered why the man chose the prong.
We do know something about sources of training information. One survey published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior found 55 percent of people said they got information about dog training from “myself.”1 This breaks down to 42 percent who got it from the internet, TV, or a book, and 13 percent who got it “instinctively.” In another study, in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, “self” also rated highly as a source of information on particular techniques.2
Unfortunately, even when people turn to dog training books, they are not necessarily getting modern, science-based advice, according to research published in Society and Animals.3 The study reviewed five dog training books chosen because of their ongoing popularity and was framed around what dog owners need to know. The silver lining is that some of the books contained very good information, and Victoria Stilwell’s It’s Me or the Dog and Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog both came out well. But the review found some popular dog training books include information that is inconsistent, scientifically inaccurate, or unclear; suggest the use of punishment-based methods despite their association with negative outcomes; and use anthropomorphisms and references to leadership that may interfere with dog owners’ understanding of their pet’s behavior.
Dr. Clare Browne, first author of the study, is a lecturer (equivalent to assistant professor) at the University of Waikato in New Zealand with a special interest in scent detection dogs for conservation. Browne told me in an email, “Good dog training books should have information that readers can understand and apply, but the information must also have a scientific basis. This review showed that not all of these popular books (that remained highly ranked on large retailers’ websites for years) meet these functions. This is a concern, because people who read some of these books may not be getting the best information in terms of training efficacy and animal welfare.” That is, this is bad news for animal welfare, and it’s also bad news for owners who may struggle with their dog’s behavior due to following poor advice.
LEARNING ABOUT DOG TRAINING TECHNIQUE
I’M TRYING TO teach Bodger to jump through my arms, and right now we’ve hit a tricky patch. I broke the activity down into steps and started by using food to lure him to step over my arm when I held it 10 cm (4 inches) off the ground. I soon realized that task was too hard and I had to start with my arm flat on the floor and my fingertips touching the wall. It’s not the most comfy position for me, but now Bodger is very happy to follow the food and step over my arm. In no time I’ve dropped the food lure and he’s following my hand; once all of him has stepped over my arm (and I get his tail in my face as he goes by), I get a treat from my back pocket to reward him.
The tricky part comes with the gradual raising of my arm. Five cm (2 inches) above the ground is fine because it does not disturb his natural step. When I move my arm a bit higher so it’s at the level of his lower chest, Bodger’s strategy is to try to barge his way through. “Too bad!” I say, trying hard to keep my arm in position. The same happens
