Positive (and Not-so-Positive) Dog Training Gear
February 10th, 2010
One of the best arguments for employing positive dog training, as opposed to old-fashioned coercive training methods, was put forth in a commercial that aired during the 2010 Super Bowl on February 7.
As you can see, Doritos Guy got a first-hand demonstration of just how nasty a coercive tool such as a so-called anti-bark collar can be. Hopefully, DG got the point: that dog training should never, ever cause a dog physical discomfort or pain. In other words, you don’t need an anti-bark or other shock collar, a choke collar (also known as a slip collar or a training collar), a prong collar or any other discomfort-inducing device to teach your canine companion what he needs to know to become a well-behaved dog.
Here’s what you do need, in addition to a clicker, for starters:
– A non-coercive collar. A flat or rolled buckle or snap collar made of leather or nylon is the way to go if you want to use positive methods to train your dog.
– A six-foot leash. A leash of this length made from either leather or nylon will help you teach your dog to walk politely alongside you. I prefer leather, because it’s easier on the hands if your dog pulls. I do not favor retractable leashes for several reasons: they encourage a dog to pull, they’re difficult to use, the hard-to-see leash can be dangerous for nearby pedestrians, and the long lengths of those leashes often violate local laws.
– Really tasty treats. You work for pay, and so does your dog. Of course, he has no use for a monetary paycheck; he needs a different kind of reward. Soft, meaty treats such as tiny pieces of hot dogs (microwaved or not), canned chicken (thoroughly drained), or meat rolls are great ways to reward your dog for doing what you’ve asked. And of course, you can find similar goodies here on K9Cuisine.com.
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8 Responses to “Positive (and Not-so-Positive) Dog Training Gear”
Susan McCullough has been a professional writer for 30-plus years, but didn't start focusing on dogs until 1996, when an overzealous Sheltie attacked and shredded a message that had been faxed to Susan's office. Instead of merely telling the sender "My dog ate your fax," Susan decided to see seek expert advice about how to share an office with one's animal companion. She turned that advice into an article for a national pet magazine, and she's been writing about dog behavior and care ever since.
I love that Doritos commercial – I hadn’t seen it before! It really does make a point about coercive training tools.
I have a question for you. Any idea why so many people who otherwise seem like they’d be savvy about positive dog training use Medieval-looking prong collars on their pit bulls? I see it all the time amongst people who are heavily involved in rescue. (Maybe it’s just where I live, I have no idea, but I’ve always been curious.)
Allie, Pet Tips & Tails
Hi Allie — I loved that Doritos commercial, too.
Many people who use prong collars believe that the collars help prevent dogs from pulling while on leash. That may be somewhat true in some cases, but there are many other devices that are far more humane and, IMO, more effective.
Thanks, Susan. I look forward to reading more here. Great stuff so far!
Allie, Pet Tips & Tails
I love this commercial. Those darn shock collars really do cause pain and fear (no matter what people say). There is some research from police dog training, where the dogs seemed fearful of their trainers even when the shock collar wasn’t on. So sad.
That’s true not only for shock collars, but for other aversive training devices, I think. Case in point: I know a couple who takes great pride in how docile their Great Danes are on leash. Of course, the leashes are heavy chains and the collars are prong collars. The couple cannot understand why the dogs don’t like having their collars put on ….
I told my nephew once that he needed to put a shock collar on his leg to see how painful it was. Needless to say, he quit using them.
I don’t understand why people think negative reinforcement is the way to train a dog.
I agree that dogs are smart and don’t need force to get a point. But, you all are also assuming that you have one dog to train and walk. I have 7 rescue dogs I walk twice a day. They range in size from a Great Pyrenees, to a 85lb labrador, to a german pointer, 2 feisty terriers, schnoodle, and beagle. I walk all 7 at the time. They are generally good, even with deer and cats around. But, if another loose dogs comes charging, it is difficult to control them so for the big ones I have pinch chokers and for the little ones I have harnesses. And there are still times I have to let the pyrenees loose to keep approaching street dogs at bay. So, not all folks are in the same situation as you are. I am a working woman, so there is not an option not to walk them all at one time.
Dagmar, your point is well taken. That said, I think there other, less aversive devices that would work well for your larger dogs. I’m thinking here of front-clip harnesses such as Premier’s Easy Walk Harness and SoftTouch Concepts’ Sense-ation Harness. IAC, I’m in awe of your walking seven dogs at once. You could make a great living as a professional dog walker!