Wag. Zazie Todd
alt=""/>
Gaze is an important part of the human–canine relationship. JEAN BALLARD
A questionnaire study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that confrontational methods can lead to an aggressive response.12 At least a quarter of dog owners reported getting an aggressive response to an alpha roll, dominance down (rolling the dog on its side and holding it there), muzzling the dog, forcibly removing something from its mouth, and grabbing the dog by the jowls. Use of a choke or prong collar got an aggressive response from 11 percent of dogs, and use of a shock collar got an aggressive response from 7 percent of dogs. Less aversive techniques such as growling at the dog, staring it down, or yelling “no” also sometimes got an aggressive response (yes, you read that right—some people growl at their dog).
A review in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior of seventeen journal papers about dog training methods, including those mentioned above, concluded that reward-based methods are better for dogs’ welfare and in some cases even seem to be more effective.13 Although many of these studies are correlational and so can’t prove a causal relationship between training methods and signs of fear, anxiety, or stress, the existing research has led organizations such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and the Pet Professional Guild to warn against the use of aversive methods in dog training.14
THE RISKS OF ELECTRONIC COLLARS
ALTHOUGH MANY TRAINERS get excellent results without them, some trainers still use electronic collars, also known as shock collars. Despite claims they merely “tap,” “stimulate,” or “tingle,” they only work insofar as the dog finds the sensation unpleasant and worth avoiding. Otherwise these collars would have no effect at all (or the opposite effect to that intended). Alternately, some people say an electronic collar is a last resort, although the science does not support this view.
Research published in PLOS ONE shows that even when used by experienced trainers and in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines, electronic collars pose a risk to animal welfare.15 The researchers tested the collars specifically for training recall (dogs coming when called) in the presence of livestock (in this case, sheep). There were three groups of dogs: dogs trained with an electronic collar by a trainer recommended by the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association, dogs trained with positive reinforcement by those same trainers, and dogs trained with positive reinforcement by trainers who specialize in using positive reinforcement. All of the dogs wore either an active or deactivated electronic collar so that observers who rated the videos could not tell which group the dogs were in (i.e., they were blind to the condition). The dogs in the activated electronic collar group more often showed signs of stress (such as low tail and yawns), although there were no differences in levels of the hormone cortisol (a measure of arousal). The study concluded that using electronic collars has risks for animal welfare and does not produce better results than positive reinforcement.
What about the use of electronic collars as a fence mechanism to keep a dog contained within a particular area? A fence is created by burying sensors underground along the line the dog is meant to stay inside, with visible markers above for training purposes. When the dog goes past one of the sensors, the collar delivers a shock.
A survey of dog owners in Ohio, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, found that 44 percent of people who used an electronic fence said the dog had escaped, compared with 23 percent of those who used a physical fence.16 Unfortunately, if a dog escapes from an electronic fence (for example, to chase a passing cat), they may be reluctant to return to the yard because they will receive a shock on the way back in. Furthermore, these fences do not keep wildlife and other dogs or people out of the yard, meaning the dog is potentially still at risk of attacks from wildlife or dogs. Another risk is that the dog may associate the shock with the dog or person who just happened to be going past, and so may become fearful of or aggressive towards other dogs or people.
A review of the scientific research on electronic collars finds there is no justification to use them and suggests they should be banned; reward-based methods are encouraged instead.17 Electronic collars (including fences) are banned in several countries, including Wales, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland (England banned other types of electronic collars but not electronic fences for dogs and cats).
THE BENEFITS OF REWARD-BASED TRAINING
ONE TIME, I spent an hour putting a harness on a dog and then taking it off again. She was a beautiful little Siberian Husky who pulled like crazy on walks and was not much used to being handled. Attempting to put the harness on resulted in excited jumping and mouthing, so I started by simply showing her the harness and giving her a piece of chicken for not jumping. Next I lured her head through the harness for chicken, then expected her to put her head through of her own volition, and so on. Our training progressed quickly, as she loved chicken, she was very clever, and she really wanted to go for her walk. Once I got the harness on, I took her out for a quick toilet break, and she was so happy to go outdoors. Then we went back inside for more practice at putting the harness on and taking it off again without her nibbling on my hands. Although I am used to wrangling jumpy dogs into harnesses, I wanted to know she would politely keep still while someone put her harness on. Siberian Huskies are known for needing lots of exercise, so this use of positive reinforcement enabled a future of long walks.
“WE ARE ULTIMATELY responsible for everything they experience, from their eating and elimination schedule, to their exercise and access to both wonderful and frightening things. Once we recognize that we humans are responsible for all of it, and that dogs are powerless animals whose welfare depends on us, kindness and consideration naturally follow. Dogs make choices when they have the opportunity—the choice to be warm, well fed, near the people and animals to whom they’re attached (an important one!), and to be safe. We humans are the ones to present those opportunities.
Force-free behavior modification then makes sense: if you want to influence what a dog does, offer appropriate choices, give the dog time to choose, and reinforce the behavior you want. If the dog makes the wrong choice, try again—don’t punish. Punishment leads to stress and unravels trust so that choice-making is inhibited. We are also capable of making choices; choosing to train dogs with kindness and generosity is an important one.”
—ILANA REISNER, DVM, PhD, DACVB, Reisner Veterinary Behavior and Consulting Services
Training is good for your dog’s welfare because it helps them know how to behave in order to get reinforcements such as petting, play, or food. In situations where a dog is unsure, they will default to behaviors that have been rewarded in the past, such as sitting. And, according to research in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior that looked at the outcomes for dogs referred to a veterinary behaviorist, good advice reduces euthanasias and keeps dogs in homes.18 As well, reward-based training is a fun activity that can provide enrichment for your dog. At its best, training using food or play as rewards can teach dogs to detect narcotics or other substances, perform canine freestyle routines with their handlers, or even learn words, like Rico the Border Collie who learned over 200 words, and Chaser the Border Collie who knows over 1,000 words.19
“THE WORLD WOULD be a better place for dogs if every dog owner understood that their dog’s behavior, good and bad, is motivated purely by consequences, not their dog’s desire to be ‘leader of the pack.’ The myth that we must dominate dogs, or else they will assume the alpha position, is outdated and incorrect. Thanks to a recent explosion in the depth and breadth of canine research over the last 15 years, our understanding of dogs has improved dramatically. We now know that dogs are not trying to be the boss; they just do what works for them. Behaviors that have a desired consequence are repeated whereas behaviors that don’t tend to stop. It’s the same for us humans and, in fact, every other living being on the planet! This is why positive reinforcement training is so effective. When dogs (and other animals) are reinforced with things they like for desired behavior, they quickly learn to repeat those behaviors. Recent science has also taught us that physically punishing dogs (smacking; popping the check chain) for undesired behavior can