Teaching Your Dog Behavior Techniques Is 'Worthless'

abcnews ^ | May 22, 2009 | EMILY WITHER

[JoeProBono]

Study Finds Mimicking Trainers Could Make Dog Behavior Worse: Trying to make your dog less aggressive by showing them you are the boss is a waste of time, researchers in a new British study say, especially when using popular new training techniques that urge owners to use physical force to make their dogs more compliant.

According to the study, physical control methods usually shown on TV or touted by celebrity pet trainers like "The Dog Whisperer," Cesar Millan are "ridiculous" and could do more harm than good by making aggressive behavior in dogs worse. Researchers from the University of Bristol's department of clinical veterinary sciences studied dogs for six months They compared their observations to existing studies of wild dogs, like wolves, and concluded that generations of dog lovers have misunderstood "aggressive canines."

The study asserts that, contrary to popular belief, dogs are not trying to assert their dominance over their canine or human "pack" and aren't motivated by maintaining their place in the pecking order.

[Auntie Mame]

Researchers from the University of Bristol's department of clinical veterinary sciences studied dogs for six months

Wow, six whole months they studied dogs? They must be world famous experts on dogs.

[JoeProBono]

[Lady Jag]

Winston!

[rintense]

I had to re-educate my pooch (with clicker training) when he started to challenge my authority. He would run into my knees going down stairs, and even swept me from behind going down a steep hill, resulting in a shoulder injury. He also would run out the door before me, go up/down the stairs before, and made no eye contact.

But now, after really working with him, he's learned his place in the 'pack' and behaves so much better. Its as though he sighed and said, 'thank you, mom, for finally taking control do I don't have to'.

Of course now, he's been a little more aggressive with dogs at the park. Not sure if its him trying to establish himself in the 'pack' or that he's jumpy because a stray cat kicked his ass up and down the stairs. Seriously. That cat messed him up.

[rintense]

I once smacked my dog in the butt and yelled very loud at him because he ran out in the middle of a busy road while trying to herd a jogger on the bike path.

He has never forgotten it.

And neither have I. I should have smacked myself instead.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> That might get you an affectionate dog but not a trained one.

That would be news to my well-trained dogs. They’d be interested to know what you’d do differently. For that matter, so would I.

[DieHard the Hunter]

You’ve got it perfect!

[JoeProBono]

[DieHard the Hunter]

(grin!) Thanks!

[Lady Jag]

[rintense]

Herding breeds are the most difficult breeds to work with, according to the trainer I took my then puppy to for basic obedience. Its a matter of channeling their strong drive into a positive outcome. My herder does flyball, agility, and disc. He loves all of them!!! It is his ‘work’.

[Lady Jag]

Winston.

[JoeProBono]

[Brad’s Gramma]

You’ve got it perfect!

WHOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I am SO writing this date on the calendar!

YEA ME!

:)

:)

:)

[hinckley buzzard]

I had no idea what rubbish is being peddled by phoney con artists these days. Thirty years ago any psych 101 student would have known all this amd more. It has been known by "dog lovers" basically forever that dogs by nature will run in packs if given the chance, but that has nothing to do with their relationship with people. Dogs are smarter than these pop-behaviorists--dogs can tell the difference between a human being and another dog.

[Lady Jag]

Time to hit the hay.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Bwaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[JoeProBono]

[Mr Rogers]

Each dog is different. My Aussie seems tough, but he is devastated by a shout. My Border Collie has, with some training, learned to accept a swat without fear - but it also usually just takes a raised voice. The pound mutt can handle a hit, but he almost never does anything wrong anyways. His previous 2 families beat him pretty hard, but he's still a sweet, gentle dog.

And they are far rougher playing with each other than I ever punish them...

However, I've owned dogs you could beat all day without their blinking an eye. You would hurt your hand long before they would have been intimidated.

[rintense]

Well my Belgian Sheepdog (Groenendael) is very sensitive to people, mainly quick movements, likely because he can’t herd them. He also hates being touched when sleeping. When it comes to noises, though, he’s very laid back. If he lays on my arm, and I wrap it around him, he gets freaked out. He’s been like that since I got him as a pup. Other than that, he’s extremely hyper, active, and so intelligent it scares me. He’s 18mo. old in June. He will be on ‘Most Incredible Dog’ one day. He’s that awesome.