by The Lost soul » Tue Jan 14, 2014 5:37 pm
I don't yell the signs out of my dogs, but I don't blame you for thinking that. People assume things.
I have been trying to write this out for a while now, and nothing seems to fit how I train my dogs, and how I read when they aren't okay in that area, with that person, with that dog, in that position, being touched there...
You see... it's so complicated, that if I did try to explain it, it would just be words... but I guess that's the only way to go. I'll try and make it short and quick so we can both spend out time doing better things.
My dog Sadie will growl and bark at people from the window. I go over, see, and then tell her to hush(not in a yell, that will come off across as aggressive and condescending. Calm voice only.) and I pet her, telling her I am fine with this, and she can stop sounding the alarm. That usually signals to her 'it's okay'. I use my dog Miya's signals to conquer her fear to help her. I am trying to help her get more confident, but with dogs born with anxiety, it's not easy to change how they were born, especially with anxiety. It takes time and a guiding hand. People often mistake the signs for bad behavior, and punish those. I punish the reaction, but I enjoy a sign from them. If one of my dogs looks uncomfortable, I try to see why, and show them it's okay.
It's a hard, and complicated process, but it does wonders. It does what positive reinforcement can rarely do. The messages you show and tell your dog are important. You have to think about how the punishment will translate to them, how they will react, why they did it, what made this happen. You can't go rushing blindly into it or you end up ruining your dog, which happens with inexperienced trainers. I don't mind you using positive reinforcements with your dogs. It's fine for certain dogs, but with others, it isn't as effective.
We got rescues that had issues positive reinforcement would not fix alone. These people who gave the dogs up had tried nearly every training tip they could think of, and had come to the conclusion that the dogs could not be helped. Now... I have them. I have a protective mutt who watches out for our cats, and doesn't mind if I wrestle with her a bit. I have a doberman who has taken leaps and bounds from peeing on the floor and nipping people, and now begs for attention and rarely ever gets anxiety attacks, let alone a weak stomach anymore.
To be honest... you can have whatever training you want, but when it comes to dogs I train, I do as much as I can with watching them to custom-make training for them. This helps the dog, but isn't to be tried on all dogs. I don't think positive training is bad, nor do I think negative training is good. A ratio of both makes a good behaviorist. One should never lean to one or the other, but reside unbiased on the outside and see what is best, not what is recommended by the majority. I am still learning new tricks, new points and ideas. I'll never stop changing points of view, training tips... It's a growing process. You learn and you change. You don't just see what you're taught, but what goes around you. It's something that drives people mad because I change view pretty quickly, but not on all things, which confuses people cause I'm a middle-person. Not too much to the right or left of something... mixed views and stuff.
That small summary still took a long time, but eh... a intellectual response does take a lot.
Now, I'm off. I got 2 dogs I have to go cuddle with, a kitten to laugh at, a love bug to pet, and well... sleep to be had.
G'night. Have a wonderful day...whatever... I am closing up shop.
-adult-asocial(likely schizoid)-
DANo art trades.
Commissions are Closed sick.
Hey, I was here talking with The Lost Soul and Saracirce yesterday about my cats Nefarious and Sugar. You asked me to keep you posted, and I'm here doing just that.
I can completely agree.
