I'm always surprised when I run into someone who thinks that training their pet (or their client's pet) requires force, punishment and domination. Most of my colleagues who learned to train dogs using a choke chain (slip collar) know exactly what veterinary behaviorist Sophia Yin, DVM means when she refers in her new book to her "caveman days" of training. Those early days of my instruction are far behind me (has it really been 40 years?!) and I can call it "old school". Off the top of my head, I can't think of anything else people do that routinely involves seeking out antiquated technology or technicians.
Most of us seek out a professional who uses the most modern, proven equipment and techniques available. Can you imagine going to a dentist or surgeon who uses 100-year-old techniques and equipment exclusively? How many of us still use a 50 year old TV, washing machine, refrigerator, calculator or car everyday? Why then, I find myself asking, do people continue to use out-dated dog training equipment and methods? For one thing, they just don't know any better.
The old school method uses avoidance to train. A dog walks at heel to avoid the aggressive jerk by the trainer on the training collar. A dog sits to avoid having his neck stretched upward at the end of leash and his rear end pushed down to the ground simultaneously. A dog held forcefully onto his back "submits to the alpha" because he learned that resistance is futile. Many studies over the last 20 years have addressed problems associated with training by using aversives, but the public has not yet gotten the message.
In a new study published in the February '09 issue of "Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science", the old school approach may not be as effective as the dog trainer on a popular TV program makes it seem. The study suggests that training methods in which dogs are corrected using aggressive "discipline" techniques may make dogs more likely to be aggressive toward other dogs and people, including their owners.
Meghan E. Herron, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and lead author of the year-long study, said. “Our study demonstrated that many confrontational training methods, whether staring down dogs, striking them or intimidating them with physical manipulation does little to correct improper behavior and can elicit aggressive responses.” The bottom line for the public is this: You don't need force to train your pet.
Read more about the study here:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T48-4VFJS1D-2&_user=5650660&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=5650660&md5=67e8f022c17f5e3682349676b9253cc3