Why Positive (vs. “Balanced” or Aversive) Training?
It’s normal for us to potty, dig, chew, bark, chase things, and sniff. It’s what people bred us to do! Also, we don’t know how to read labels, so we don’t know whether that thing we're chewing came from PetSmart or Neiman Marcus. We need you to teach us where and when our normal behaviors are appropriate and give us better things to do when they're not.
Imagine if, when you were learning your ABCs, your parents gave you a shock every time you got one wrong. Now imagine if they gave you a cookie when you got one right. Would you even want to try if you were afraid of being punished for making a mistake? People and dogs can't learn when they're afraid. Here's an article with the science, if you want to learn more. Positive Reinforcement is More Effective at Training Dogs than an Electronic Collar, Study Shows - AVSAB
Prong collars, shock collars, and yanking me by the neck all rely on pain, punishment, and fear (when I'm "good," the pain stops). This makes me feel insecure and stressed, which, for some of us, can lead to aggression. If you wouldn't do it to a toddler, don't do it to me.
Also, those choke and prong collars can do permanent damage to my thyroid gland, windpipe, and salivary glands. They are banned in many other countries, but they’re big business ($60M a year) here, so we haven't been so lucky.
Our bond is important to me. I need to trust you and want to be with you. Show me you are fun to be with and that good things come from you. If you pull me by the neck or put a prong collar on me, I’ll probably stop what I’m doing (while it’s on...), but I’ll learn to fear you, and it will ruin my trust in you. Also, I won't have learned anything. I should listen because something good will happen if I do, not because I’m afraid of what will happen if I don’t. Solving problems makes me feel good. Giving me some choice increases my confidence and motivation.
As someone very wise once said: "Punishment is like a nuclear bomb. If the blast doesn't get you, the fallout certainly will." The choice is up to you. The fact that you're here is a good sign.
Thanks for listening.---Your dog