We are still living in a society where dog training is the go to response when a dog might be inconvenient to live with.
Let's face it, we humans are inconvenient to live with all the time and yet, we only train the dogs.
And..
Dog training can be terribly invasive if it isn’t delivered with the utmost skill and empathy.
It must be ethical and it must be for the right reasons.
When Dog Training is Suitable
Learning New Behaviours
Training becomes important when a dog needs to learn new behaviours that support their well-being or improve their relationship with the world around them.
For example, teaching a dog to respond to a recall cue can offer them more freedom in a safe, controlled way. Training to walk calmly on a lead allows them to enjoy walks without stress. Positive reinforcement techniques are especially useful here, as they empower dogs to learn in a way that is enjoyable and non-invasive.
Unlearning a Learned Behaviour
Some dogs develop habits or responses that, over time, become problematic. This might include jumping up on people, excessive barking, or pulling on the lead. Training can help dogs unlearn these behaviours by guiding them towards more appropriate actions. However, it’s important to remember that many of these behaviours may have been reinforced by the environment or their human companions, even unintentionally.
This means we also need to train the humans involved - as gently as we train the dog.
Dog Training Needs to be Welfare Driven and Ethical
Without focus on welfare and delivered by an ethical dog trainer, training can cause many more problems that it solves.
Imagine a dog who has learned to jump up but is otherwise happy, learning through 'training' that people will hurt him.
Or an emotionally secure puppy who just needs to learn to come when called being shocked by a collar, they might come when called through fear after that, but have also learned that the World is a dangerous painful place.
Ethical dog training uses a number of things in its approach. It uses positive reinforcement because it’s empowering and non-invasive for the dog. Positive reinforcement is at the heart of ethical dog training. It’s a method that respects the dog's emotional state, helping to build trust and confidence rather than fear or confusion.
Positive reinforcement works by rewarding a dog for desired behaviours, encouraging them to repeat those actions without the use of force or coercion.
This approach empowers the dog to make choices and engage with their environment in a safe and positive way. It doesn’t just create well-behaved dogs; it creates dogs who feel secure, understood, and eager to engage.
When we choose positive reinforcement, we are telling the dog: "I see you, I hear you, and I am willing to work with you, not against you." This cultivates an environment where the dog feels safe to learn and grow, knowing that their efforts will be met with understanding and kindness.
With positive reinforcement, even when they get things wrong, dogs are not punished and blamed but guided into a better way to manage and cope.
Let’s take a closer look at when training may not be the right approach, and when it can be used effectively.
When Training May Not Be Appropriate
Fear
Fear-based behaviour cannot be trained out of a dog. When a dog is afraid, their brain is operating in survival mode, which makes learning new behaviours difficult, if not impossible.
Attempts to train a fearful dog can exacerbate their anxiety, leading to further withdrawal or defensive reactions. In this case, the priority is to create a sense of safety and trust, allowing the dog to recover at their own pace. This means creating a predictable environment, offering comfort, and letting the dog approach new experiences on their own terms.
Trauma
Dogs who have experienced trauma may exhibit behaviours that are often mistaken for defiance or disobedience, but in reality, these are coping mechanisms. Trauma can cause hyperarousal, dissociation, or shutdown behaviours, all of which require a delicate approach.
Training in the traditional sense, particularly if it involves commands or expectations, may re-traumatise the dog and halt their recovery. Instead, we should focus on rebuilding trust and providing consistency, allowing the dog to feel safe enough to engage with their environment again. Training can wait until the dog has reached a place of emotional stability.
Illness
When a dog is ill or in pain, training is not appropriate. Physical discomfort can result in changes to a dog’s behaviour, including irritability, reluctance to engage, or aggression. In these cases, training is not only unhelpful but potentially harmful, as it can add stress to an already suffering dog. Illness should always be addressed first, ensuring the dog is healthy and comfortable before any attempts at training are made.
Environment
Sometimes, the environment itself is not conducive to learning. A dog in a chaotic or overstimulating environment, for instance, may not have the capacity to focus or engage in training. Overcrowded spaces, excessive noise, or the presence of unfamiliar or threatening stimuli can make it impossible for a dog to learn. In these situations, changing or improving the environment is the first step—creating a calm, predictable, and safe space allows a dog to settle before training begins.
Learn what your dog needs with my book on Canine Communication here.
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