Raising Canines
Tough love or positive reinforcement? It's a dogfight out there when it comes to the best way to make bad pups behave. Here's why competing dog trainers are keeping us all on a short leash.
By Kim Gray, Calgary Herald, April 3, 2009
When I was growing up in small-town Canada, raising a dog was an uncomplicated affair. Mom and Dad brought home a squirming puppy. My brother and I rejoiced. The puzzle that was our family became complete.
My parents weren't terribly ambitious about the matter. They, like so many of their neighbours, were simply looking to complement their home with the friendly, furry presence we all know as the "family dog."
Maybe, when the little fur ball was big enough, we took him to an obedience class. But "maybe" and "an" were the operative words back then. Those were the days when teaching a new dog the difference between right and wrong usually involved a rolled-up newspaper.
Fast-forward to 21st-century Calgary--a city with over a million people and an estimated 100,000 dogs (according to our Animal and Bylaw Services). Calgarians are surrounded by doggie day cares, dog washes, dog-supply stores, dog-walking businesses and dog-grooming outlets--not to mention a dizzying number of dog trainers with strong opinions on how best to relate to our species' oldest companion animal.
Businesses supporting dog owners in this town are booming, but it's the anxiety around choosing a trainer--and the politics between trainers--that I find most intriguing. What is it about my generation that has made us as obsessed with figuring out "the right way" to raise our four-legged children as we are with our less furry two-legged versions?
After my kids were born, I quickly grew to expect people to have strong opinions about parenting styles. We're a generation that likes to complicate things, a direct result, I would argue, of living in the age of information insanity. To this day, my parents' constant refrain is that "life used to be so much simpler" when they were raising a family.
But who knew my generation of dog owners would be just as obsessive about training their new puppies? (Want to borrow a book on dog rearing? Five books? I'm your girl.) When my family adopted a freckled brown and white English Springer Spaniel last year, we had no idea of what we were stepping into--other than, perhaps, the odd dog dropping at our local off-leash park. As it turns out, everyone has something to say on this one. Truthfully, it's a dogfight out there.
"What? You let your dog on the couch?" Uh, yes, in fact, we do. We're that kind of family. What's more, Thumper likes to curl up with my daughter when she reads in the corner. Personally, I think it's sweet.
"You don't crate him when you're out, do you? Don't you think that's kind of cruel?" Well, no, he likes his crate. It's his space. We never do it for more than a few hours and he's fine with it. He likes it so much, in fact, that he sleeps there during the day when the crate door is left open.
"Your dog is too jumpy. A firm whack across the nose should fix that." Actually, I'm not comfortable hitting my dog. I've experimented with that technique and it increased his aggression and made me feel physically ill. We don't spank our children either.
The question of just how we were going to train Thumper came almost immediately after the arrival of this wildly energetic and extremely determined but lovable puppy. To our surprise, we were instantly caught in the crossfire between competing dog professionals with conflicting philosophies. Just how polarized can dog-rearing philosophies get? "When it comes to your relationship with your dog, you can rule like Gandhi, or like Hitler," says Calgary Humane Society behaviour co-ordinator Kirsty Pearson. Given these two extremes, it's no wonder sparks fly.
So which training philosophy should new dog owners embrace? Positive reinforcement or tough love? Or, alternatively, what is this "fun, firm and fair" approach I've heard about recently? To treat-train or not to treat-train? What about clicker training? What is that, exactly, anyway? And who--certainly not me--would have thought that the decision about which collar to choose for your family dog would be so loaded? Traditional? Gentle leader? Haltie? Choke? Martingale? German prong? Shock? I find these last two choices, though much less common than the rest, alarming--especially the idea of a shock collar, with which owners, arguably too lazy to take the time to train properly, zap the disobedience out of their pets. These approaches to dog training, frankly, make me wonder whatever happened to the notion of "man's best friend."
To be fair to Calgary, the politics of dog training are, on a global level, equally heated. In fact, when I talked to prominent U.S. animal behaviourist and author Dr. Patricia McConnell, she insisted that disparate views on raising dogs provoke people no differently than conversations about why the U.S. economy has tanked or why ancient religious conflicts continue to plague the planet. Speaking from her office in Wisconsin with her border collie Will at her feet, she added: "Haven't you heard the old joke? The only thing two dog trainers can agree on is that the third dog trainer is wrong."
McConnell--a regular contributor to the California-based publication The Bark (considered The New Yorker of dog mags) and a strong advocate for what she calls "positive training methods"--says one of the "saddest" facts about people and their relationship with dogs is that these animals are so flexible. "It's possible to get any highly social animal to do what you want through force and intimidation," she maintains. McConnell is careful about pointing fingers, but dominance-based training seems to have gained in popularity lately, spurred, perhaps, by TV shows like National Geographic Channel's The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan. Responsibility for this development aside, for McConnell the negative consequences of such training are clear. "I have seen dominance training repeatedly bring out defensive aggression in dogs. I've spent 20 years as a specialist using positive reinforcement. And I would argue that the probability that positive reinforcement is going to elicit aggression out of an animal is much smaller than with punishment-based or dominance-based training," says McConnell, noting that "positive reinforcement" can be delivered in many ways, including the use of praise, treats, play or belly rubs. Dominance training, on the other hand, can involve quick leash corrections, alpha rolls (where the trainer physically rolls a dog on to its back) and physical confrontations.
As for the "wolf pack" metaphor used by a few, vocal celebrity trainers who advise owners to behave like the pack leader, McConnell (who is also an adjunct associate professor of zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison) insists they're barking up the wrong tree: "Dogs aren't wolves. If you work with wolves, you do it on their terms. You do not stare them down. Or get in fights with them. In fact, if these trainers tried on wolves what they are doing to dogs, they would be dead."
The dog community has become polarized over the last 20 years according to Calgary's Tracie Nielson, who works as a canine educator, trainer and behaviourist through her company Clever Canines Ltd. "One end (of the spectrum) seems to be the clicker/treat-training camp, who say it's OK to treat a dog like a human child," says Nielsen. "The other end tends to be the traditional Cesar Millan style, which says that treating a dog like a human will create an unbalanced, unfulfilled animal." Recently, Nielson was in conversation with a veterinarian technician, and when she mentioned she was a Millan fan, the vet tech announced suddenly that she couldn't speak with Nielson anymore. She left the room. "That's what I mean about polarized," she laments.
As for Nielson's own style, she embraces what she calls a "balanced" approach. "There are both rewards and corrections given. A reward for us is touch in the form of massage or pets. A reward can also be sharing 'happy' energy since dogs are naturally tuned in to our energy and how we feel. A correction for us is a soft verbal sound or by using the leash/collar to simply interrupt the dog's mind. When we use the word 'correction,' we are not implying that the dog is 'bad'--rather it is more about interrupting what the dog is doing that he shouldn't be doing."
Former Calgarian Brad Pattison, host of Slice network's At the End of My Leash, is often criticized in the dog community for his "tough love" approach. But Pattison, like Nielson, believes dog owners need to establish themselves as the "alpha" in the family pack. What's more, he feels passionately that treat-training dogs to get them to comply to their owner's wishes is a disastrous alternative in the dog-rearing world. "It horrifies me, the things I hear when treats are involved," says Pattison, who currently calls Kelowna home. "I'm dealing with so many dogs who are being euthanized because they bit someone. They wanted something from a child's hand. They're cruising counters. They're ripping apart Christmas presents that involve candy. Food-related aggression comes from treat-training. This is where I will stand very tall. I will say to anybody who trains dogs, 'you have a responsibility that this dog doesn't open up a face.' "
The well-known Canadian TV personality is convinced that it's time North Americans started treating dogs like dogs: "We've become conditioned to give them fancy hairdos and put coats on them. They're not child actors. They're dogs. People truly need to understand that this is an animal first, not a cuddle bunny. Then, I would argue, they're on the right track."
Calgary's Colleen McCarvill, who holds public dog classes as well as private lessons with her company Diamond in the "Ruff" Inc., says she believes that, for the most part, dog professionals in the city support one another. "You can be sure that while we may not agree on everything, you won't find that this is a group of professionals who will ever resort to smacking, choking, pinching, pinning, yanking or yelling in order to achieve results. This group, the majority, will not tolerate animal abuse in the name of training. This behaviour is simply not even in the realm of acceptable in our industry anymore," McCarvill says.
"This is not a matter of 'them versus us', but rather 'what is' considered versus 'what is not' considered an acceptable part of this profession in this day and age. Look, our dogs don't want to rule the world as (a minority) would have you believe. They just want to live in it. Peacefully. Safely. With love and respect. Something all beings are entitled to," says McCarvill.
"The hot button is only ever pushed when there is an obvious lack of knowledge being sold to the unsuspecting public. For example, the idea that treats are evil--it's the first of many red flags and a huge sign that (the critics) don't fully understand how reinforcements are used," she complains. "They use horrible fabrications about children losing fingers because food was used in training, and they say canine obesity is on the rise due to positive-reinforcement trainers. All of this is false."
Bark Busters' Sheri Wizniak believes that there is simply no one right way to train a dog. "Everyone has a different philosophy. Just like you can't take one approach and apply it to every single child. You have to pick a system that works best with you and your dog and how your dog seems to learn," observes the local trainer. "Keep in mind that within the two main training systems, whether it's dominance training or positive reinforcement, there are many variations."
Wizniak says her style is completely nonphysical but she embraces the notion of leadership-based training. "We're about building respect and trust and making a relationship. There are times we may use treats as well. Every situation is unique," she explains. "The truth is, some people want their dog trained to the nth degree. Others want a well-behaved pet they can cuddle with at night."
Wizniak's checklist for raising a well-balanced dog? Food and shelter. Exercise. Leadership. Stimulation. Enrichment. "Dogs aren't looking for love as we know it. If you look at how they interact with each other in a pack, you can't say they love each other," she continues. "But they have structure, relationships, and respect for each other. That's where the leadership factor comes in."
A good-humoured friend--who recently assumed the handle "neurotic, overachieving dog mother" after bringing home a rescue dog from a local native reserve--says she seriously confused her new pet in the early days of the puppy's arrival into her family home. "One day I would try one tactic and the next day, another. A well-meaning friend told me how important it was to 'alpha roll' your puppy to establish your (position as family leader.) Our dog freaked out when I body-slammed her and she growled," she recalls.
This self-professed neurotic new dog owner says she knew three things for sure when she adopted her pup. "I had a really nice dog. I wanted to be a responsible owner. I wanted her to be the best dog she could be. You know, 'what's that you're telling me Lassie? The barn is on fire? Go get some help and while you're at it, free the horses from their burning stalls!' But how to get there was confusing.
"There were what I would call the 'uber-control classes,' where you took your dog off-leash downtown and on the C-train. They seemed impressive but they also seemed daunting with respect to the time they required," she says. "Some classes used the gentle, treat approach, but my dog only progressed so far with that. Then there were these 'tough love' approaches, which bordered on being a nasty alpha to your dog. Not my thing."
The early days of training, she recalls, made for occasionally awkward moments with dog-owning friends. She has one neighbour who admonished her for treat-training her new addition. "I will never feel comfortable walking my dog with theirs--which is the kind that will fetch the paper and a morning coffee for you," she confesses. Eventually, she found her way with Calgary trainer Velvetanne Madro.
"My dog immediately had this amazing reaction to her and would have jumped through burning hoops for her right off the bat if she had asked. She is extremely positive and a great communicator," she says. "She uses an approach where you clearly establish with your dog that you are the leader in gentle and consistent ways. I was amazed at how much more responsive our dog was with me following Velvet's advice... and no dog-treat bribes!"
If only Thumper's transition into our family had been as velvety smooth. Given his "top-dog" nature, we were told that we needed to teach him who was the "boss" early on or he could become a "problem" dog. And so, during the fairly unmanageable days of puppy-hood, we did what most new dog owners do these days: we read books by, had sessions with and consulted several different trainers. The result of all of their varying opinions turned my home life into nothing less than a gong show.
As the primary caregiver, I found myself growling (to reinforce my leadership role, of course) and yelping (to show Thumper in his own language that when he bit me with his razor-sharp baby teeth, it hurt). Our dog wasn't allowed to eat before us, or bark to go outside. He was to pee and poo when we decided it was time. And he wasn't allowed to walk through a door without all of the members of my family going first.
My parents, longtime dog people, were visiting from Kelowna during this period and they were extremely concerned about this new approach to dog rearing, which they thought was ridiculous. What were we doing to their grand-dog? they inquired repeatedly.
After some serious growing pains and profound reflection on what kind of relationship we wanted with our new pup, we eventually backed away from the "experts" and began to resort to what felt intuitively right to us, a mixture of approaches that functions well for everyone in our home, kids included.
I can't judge what approach is best for other people or for other personalities. Just as parents will raise their children differently, so, too, will dog owners. Our way--which is mostly positive reinforcement with a smattering of dominance training--seems to keep the often challenging task of dog rearing a positive experience in our home.
I'm not saying our pup never gets chewed out or that we don't still have work to do. For example, my husband caught him counter surfing this week, and after unleashing a firm "OFF!" on our unsuspecting pet, he (yes, my husband) growled a deep menacing growl and Thumper skulked off to a corner under a table.
Was this unkind? I don't think so. Our dog had a lesson to learn. A doggy daddy from a previous generation might have "booted the dog in the ribs" for trying to run off with leftovers. Growling, I would suggest, is a far more humane alternative.
To be honest, the one lesson I've learned along the path of new-dog ownership is that how you choose to train is an education. I've learned, as corny as it sounds, to follow my heart--and not to fret if a trainer thinks I'm wimpy because I'm not prepared to be as tough on my dog as they might be.
"It's not about controlling this supposedly wild animal who has entered our home," my husband muses. "It's about loving and nurturing the family dog much like we love and nurture our children, which means occasional discipline when necessary."
Meanwhile, Thumper is the one we turn to when we're looking for affection, or to play, or for comfort on a sad day. He's definitely no robo-pet but that's never what we were after. He has, on the other hand, become that friendly, furry presence I was referring to early on in this story. The one we once knew, and still know--at least in my home--as the family dog.
- - -
Oh, Behave!
Four Local Experts Share Top Doggie Secrets
Bark busters Sheri Wizniak on the use of shock collars: "I think they are turned to much too quickly. We approach everything in a nonphysical way. There is no reason to hurt or get physical with your dog. Dogs in packs don't generally fight with each other. We don't feel that this kind of negative training is necessary. We try to offer people alternatives.
The same goes for pinch collars." 1-866-418-4584, barkbusters.ca/trainers-calgarynorthwest.html
Clever Canines
Tracie Nielson on the range of training methods out there: "All trainers out there are using methods they believe will work. Every method developed has, at some point, worked with some dog. And any method can be corrupted to produce lousy results. In the wrong hands, some training tools can be harmful--not just collars or methods, but food as well." 403-226-BARK (2275), info@clevercanines.ca, clevercanines.ca
Courteous Canines
Velvetanne Madro's mission statement: "Treat both the dog and the dog's owner with respect, trust, and dignity. Without these components, you cannot develop a calm, balanced, healthy relationship between human and canine." 403-818-3383, velvetanne@shaw.ca,courteouscanines.ca
Diamond in The"Ruff"
Colleen McCarvill on the lack of regulation of the dog-training industry: "There are currently no restrictions or guidelines put in place to determine who can put up a sign and offer dog training." 403-253-6080, Colleen@diamondintheruffcanada.com, diamondintheruffcanada.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
