Why We Use Positive Training
The Humane Society of the US, the American Veterinary Society of Animal
Behavior, and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers all promote this type of training as the most effective and humane way to train dogs.
- Positive methods, unlike harsher ones, are not known to create fear or anxiety issues in dogs.
- Positive trainers look for the root of a behavior problem, rather than just suppressing a behavior.
- Suppressing a behavior doesn’t mean that the problem won’t re-emerge later in a different form.
- Dogs enjoy training, instead of complying out of fear.
- Training is based on how dogs learn. Strength isn’t required to train a dog.
- Dogs learn to trust their owners. While this is important for all dogs, it is particularly important for shelter and rescue dogs.
- Positive training is unlikely to cause injury to people or animals. Both have been hurt when owners try to imitate unsafe punishment techniques.
- Positive training will not have the unintended consequence of creating a negative association between the punishment and whoever or whatever is there at the time.
- Positive training allows dogs to use their brains during training. Mental stimulation is as important as physical exercise to the welfare of a dog.
- Positive training includes management methods that permit dog owners to set their dogs up for success – for example, no-pull harnesses to help with polite leash walking, baby gates to separate dogs from visiting children, and interactive toys to help occupy and provide mental stimulation for dogs.
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