THE GOOD DOG: Corrections have proven track record in building dog-owner ties

One of the current trends in dog training is the Purely Positive approach. Under this philosophy, no aversive stimuli (corrections) are presented to the dog, either verbal or physical, ever.

Corrections, of any kind, are considered cruel and abusive.

This mindset is the goal of all motivational trainers, myself included, when teaching new behaviors.

However, the Purely Positive approach has serious limitations when strictly adhered to.
Before going any further, a quick review of the four components of Operant Conditioning:

Positive Reinforcement (R+)
A desired stimulus is given for a particular behavior, thus increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Example: Your dog sits on command, and he gets a treat.

Negative Reinforcement (R-)
An unwanted stimulus is withheld for a particular behavior, thus increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Example: Your dog ignores another dog barking like crazy behind its fence, and he doesn’t get a leash correction.

Positive Punishment (P+)
An unwanted stimulus is given for a particular behavior, thus decreasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated. Example: Your dog tries to attack another dog and receives a leash correction.

Negative Punishment (P-)
A desired stimulus is withheld for a particular behavior, thus decreasing the likelihood that it will be repeated. Example: You ask your dog to sit, and he just stares at you, so he doesn’t get his treat.

As you can see, two of the components, R- and P+, deal with corrections. Knowing what one cannot do is just as important as knowing what one can do. This is real science and real life. Dogs, as well as humans, correct each other frequently. Corrections are an integral part of the learning process. Limits and boundaries must be set in any social group and must also be enforced. That’s why we have police and a military.

After hearing and reading numerous accounts of aggressive dogs being cured using Purely Positive techniques, I remain skeptical. I’ve worked with too many clients who have worked with Purely Positive trainers for months and spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, yet their dog still has aggression issues. Why? Because they were told that corrections are mean and will damage their bond with their dog. In reality, the opposite is true, and I’ve proven this time and again. Furthermore, what you don’t hear from Purely Positive trainers is their failure rate, or the number of cases that they refused to take.

The No. 1 reason that dogs are surrendered and euthanized is behavior problems. It sickens me to think of the number of dogs killed every day that could have been saved with the use of an appropriate correction. Having an opinion, or a philosophy, is great, but you must be able to prove it. You can’t ignore reality and proven science just because it sounds unpleasant. Keep this in mind when searching for a trainer!

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Jim Beinlich is the owner of Cool K9’s Dog Training in Colorado Springs and a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Reach him at Jim@coolk9s.com.