Why We Choose Positive Reinforcement

If you were not already aware, Pups & Peaks does not use e-collars, prong collars, or any dog training tool that uses pain, discomfort, or fear to correct a dog’s behavior. We are a purely positive reinforcement company, and I would like to take a moment to explain why.

To begin, here is a brief synopsis of my work with animals:

• Received my degree in Animal Behavior and a minor in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 2013.

• Completed Karen Pryor’s Dog Trainer Foundations course.

• Worked as a Zookeeper at the Austin Zoo.

• Worked at several dog and cat boarding facilities where I had the opportunity to shadow their dog training programs and learn about dog behavior specifically.

The Dangers of E-Collar, Prong Collars, & Dominance Theory

In the dog walking world, it is common to see the use of e-collars, prong collars, and fear-based training. And with the prominence of companies like Sit Means Sit, I see it more and more. Multiple studies have shown these training methods lead to unintentional and sometimes dangerous consequences:

• They do not teach your dog what to do but rather what not to do.

• They can lead to learned helplessness where a dog will completely shut down out of fear of punishment.

• As the dog realizes that the e-collar, prong collar, or other fear-inducing tool is no longer present, the behavior you were trying to eliminate will return.

• These methods have been proven to cause increased aggression and create generalized fear (i.e., fear of a kennel or fear of the owner).

In addition to these issues, many trainers who use such methods do not have an adequate understanding of animal psychology and reinforcement theory. These methods are banned in many European countries, including Austria, Germany, & Denmark.

Another common training method that I hear as a dog walker is the dominance theory (aka alpha and beta). Despite this theory being debunked, I continue to hear it because of the popularity of trainers like Cesar Millan. The approach is based on a study done on wolves. And while dogs are descendants of wolves, they are different behaviorally. Wolves avoid humans, while dogs rely on humans for survival. This intra-species relationship is where the theory falls apart. Using dominating techniques to train your dog can have the same implications as using the e-collar and prong collar. This article from The Association of Professional Dog Trainers does an excellent job of debunking some of the common myths regarding dominance theory. And for a brief explanation, watch Hank Green speak on the topic below:

So what’s the solution? Positive reinforcement!

Positive reinforcement is the use of a reinforcing stimulus to reward the desired behavior and produces amazing lifelong results.

The Benefits of Positive Reinforcement (and there are many):

• It’s scientifically proven to work better than punishment-based methods.

• It builds confidence, creates a stronger bond, and improves communication between you and your dog.

• It’s easy! If you see a behavior you like, reinforce it.

• It won’t lead to a complete shutdown from a dog due to fear.

• Your dog (and yourself) will have fun learning together.

• Unlike aversive methods, dogs trained with positive reinforcement have fewer aggressivity problems.

• It works your dogs brain, which is just as important as physical exercise.

• A completely trained behavior will not just disappear once the reinforcement is removed.

Dispelling Myths About Positive Reinforcement:

• Myth: The reward must be a treat.

Fact: A reward can be as simple as allowing your dog to sniff. Other reinforcing stimulus examples are toys, scratches, access to the backyard, and so much more. You want to take full advantage of whatever your dog finds the most rewarding.

• Myth: You will have to have treats on you at all times.

Fact: While this may be the case when your dog is learning a new behavior, and you need a high rate of reinforcement to establish the behavior, once the behavior is established, you can begin to vary and decrease the frequency of reinforcement.

How does it work? An example that is used frequently in the dog training world to explain positive reinforcement is a slot machine.

• Imagine it, you’re at the casino, and you can’t seem to stop pulling that slot machine lever. Why is that?

• Because you don’t know when or how much you will be rewarded, so you sit there for hours, continuing to pull that lever waiting for that next big reward.

• You’ve been trained to pull that lever using positive reinforcement.

With that said, I would like for you to think about how you would like to learn something new:

• Would you like to be shocked or an airhorn blown in your face everytime you did something wrong? No. You would be stressed, and the learning would not be enjoyable.

• Or would you like to be rewarded with your favorite food every time you did something right? Absolutely! It would be a wonderful experience, and you would look forward to learning.

I encourage you to research the dangers of aversive training and dominance theory and discontinue the use of any training methods that use fear, pain, or discomfort. Positive reinforcement will make both you and your pup much happier! If you are looking for a positive reinforcement trainer in Colorado Springs, I highly recommend All Breed Rescue & Training and House of Dog. And if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.