With the explosion of adopted dogs during covid came a dramatic increase in behavior issues attributed to limited socialization, lack of obedience training, and overall anxiety. Dogs didn’t get the opportunity to take puppy classes, see a lot of different people, or experience alone time when their humans were at work. While some dogs are easygoing and quick to learn commands by nature, the majority of dogs benefit from training.
A quick online search netted over 50 Madison area trainers, so there are a lot of people willing to help train your dog. Unfortunately, dog training is not a regulated industry. People without animal behavior education can call themselves professional dog trainers. Often, they cite education from other unlicensed trainers on their website to make it look like they have a lot of qualifications.
These trainers frequently employ shock collars (also known as e-collars, which sounds less threatening) and use positive punishment as their training methods. To better understand the reasoning behind these techniques, it’s important to understand positive reinforcement versus positive punishment.
Positive anything sounds like a good thing, but in psychological terms, positive just refers to the addition of something. It could be adding a shock, food, praise, a slap, or a yank on a collar. So when you see the word positive on a trainer’s website, don’t assume it’s something good.
Reinforcement makes a behavior more likely to be repeated. Positive reinforcement adds something to the training to make the desired behavior more likely. Adding a treat when you ask a dog to sit makes sitting a behavior that’s likely to be repeated. The dog is motivated to behave in a certain way when the results are enjoyable.
Punishment makes a behavior less likely to be repeated. In this case, positive doesn’t mean treats, but an unpleasant something, such as a shock, a yank on the leash, a spray bottle, a muzzle hold, or pinning the dog to the floor. The dog obeys learned cues to avoid punishment. This is also how electric fences work; the dog learns a boundary to avoid an unpleasant noise or shock.
Trainers that use positive punishment advertise that they get quick results, which isn’t incorrect. Dogs avoid behaviors that result in pain. But positive punishment does not address the cause of the behavior; it simply suppresses it. If you have a dog that barks or growls at people coming into the house and you shock it in response, the dog will stop growling, but still feel the underlying cause of the behavior: often fear. The dog still feels anxious or defensive, but can’t tell you that anymore. Without being allowed to growl, it may just bite without any warning at all. Positive punishment can shut down behaviors in general. The dog doesn’t learn what the right behavior is, but rather obeys for fear of being shocked. Who wants their dog scared of them all the time?
Studies show dogs wearing shock collars experience negative physical effects. Cortisol (a stress hormone) levels in saliva were much higher in dogs trained wearing an e-collar than dogs trained using only positive reinforcement. The collar didn’t even need to be giving a sound or shock at all. Chronically high levels of cortisol can interfere with learning and memory and cause the dog to be more aggressive. Additionally, chronic diarrhea, frequent urination, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and other health problems can occur.
When looking for a trainer, select one that only uses positive reinforcement. This is typically a food treat but could be a toy, play opportunity, a walk, or belly rubs. The dog does the desired behavior and is quickly rewarded. The next time we ask for the behavior, the dog is more likely to do it in hopes of getting another treat. Positive reinforcement methods rely on the idea that behaviors are driven by the dog’s emotional state. If we understand why the dog behaves in a certain way, we can determine the best plan to change that behavior without doing harm to the dog.
Positive-reinforcement training is built on teamwork and communication with your dog, not intimidation, and the dog feels safe offering a variety of behaviors to figure out what you want them to do. Owners reward the behaviors they want and redirect or ignore undesirable behaviors. Dogs trust an owner who communicates boundaries clearly and fairly, not those that shock them into submission.
Why doesn’t everyone use positive reinforcement training? Because it can take longer to achieve the desired results, or so say some trainers who advocate using shock collars. Food and other rewards are teaching tools, not bribes. Work with a trainer who understands positive reinforcement and the need to spend time with both you and your dog. A skilled trainer shouldn’t have to cause stress or harm to your dog to help them learn.
When you’re looking at a trainer site, look for initials after their name. There are several training programs available, and each has its own certification: CTC, KPA CTP, and CCPDT, just to name a few. There’s also a Pet Professional Guild’s member directory, which only lists force-free professionals. Another good resource is the Fear Free website, where you can search for trainers and other professionals, like groomers and vets, in your area.
If you see buzzwords like alpha, balanced, or leadership training, question that trainer’s qualifications. These words usually have nothing to do with positive reinforcement. Board and train completely takes the owner out of the picture, which can be extremely problematic if positive punishment is used. There’s no trust formed, just fear. If you don’t see information about training methods, you can assume the trainer uses positive punishment. If it seems too good to be true or is expensive and guaranteed to work, it’s definitely not a good thing for your dog.
For your dog’s sake, find a certified, fear-free, force-free trainer and, if possible, one that will come to your home to work with you and your dog in the dog’s environment. These trainers are also willing to work with your veterinarian if your dog needs antianxiety medication or has a fear of coming to the vet clinic. While positive-reinforcement training takes hard work and dedication, in the long run, you and your dog will be much happier.
