If you're up on all the latest trends in training you'll know that eliminating the use of force to train a dog has become one of the great crusades of the doggy world.
"Positive reinforcement" is the new buzzword of the training establishment, with some going so far as to decry any use of force or negative reinforcement of any kind.
It's true there are people who use excessive force when training and something needs to be done to show them a better way, but advocating the complete abolishment of force in training is not only miss-leading, it's impractical, counter-productive, and, to the best of my knowledge, impossible.
If you, or someone you know, has sucessfully trained a dog without the use of any force, please put me in touch with him/her. I'd like to sit at their feet for a while.
I have never been able to train a dog without using force. I've never known anyone else who's been able to do it either. Sure I've met lots of people who claim they never use force in their training program. Usually when they're telling me this, they're holding one end of a leash while the dog strains at the other end. That's a dead giveaway. They use a different dictionary than I do.
If you use a leash you are using force. Even if you are only 'gently restraining' your dog. Don't tell me you don't use force while you are demonstrating that you do.
It's never about whether to use force. It's always about the appropriate use of force, when to use force, how to use force, and using the least amount of force to get the required response.
One last thought about the use of force. In his natural environment, force is the constant companion of every dog. The pack leaders' authority is born of force. Every dogs' pack-position is born of force. He's either serving it up or he's on the receiving end. He understands force. Perhaps much better than we do.
Good luck with your training
Neil
Good luck with your training!
Neil