When did "positive reinforcement" become the preferred dog training method?

Question

I remember a time when the "rolled up newspaper" method of dog training was the accepted norm. Back then, many trainers taught their dogs to do amazing things (and do them quite well) using methods that most folks today would consider "cruel". I'm not advocating any particular school of training here, but I was wondering: What happened that most people changed their training habits? How did positive reinforcement start, and do you think it will continue to be the preferred method of dog training?

Does anybody here really believe that folks who trained their dogs using harsh methods actually loved their dogs any less?

Is it really so bad to learn out of fear? Once again, I'm not advocating a particular training method, but if it works is it such a bad thing?

St. Lady raises a good point ... I too learned many things out of fear of my parents' reactions to things I did when I was younger. I learned right from wrong because I knew that wrong behaviors had negative consequences. I think I turned out OK. Couldn't a dog?

Anybody who wants to read a good article about how Ian Dinbar started positive reinforcement and how he compares to Caesar Milan's methods should definately click DogJudge's link.

Answer 1

I think it started about the same time that spanking your kid became "cruel". The world is so full of candy-a** idiots, that we have to consider everythings "feelings" first.
Now, I am not for the rolled up newspaper per se, but the people that can't stand to MAKE Fido behave make me sick. "I can't get the doggie of the couch because he will bite me, so I lure him off with the biskie". That is today's "positive reinforcement"!!!!!!

Of course you are going to be thought of as a dog "dominator" and not a dog "lover" if you use harsh methods!! That is how people think now days.

I am not a fan of hitting a dog at all. Heck, my Newfies would pee themselves if I did that. But actually MAKING them do what you wnat, and maybe the odd ear pinch, is necessary.
Many people that train with positive reienforcement are not TRAINING, they just BRIBE the dog to behave for the moment. Then they wonder why when the hand is empty, the dog doesn't listen. What have they trained???? Nothing. They do the same with their kids. "Behave in the store and you cna have a toy". If you are not going to give a toy...no behaving.
That is my beef with "positive reienforcement".

Answer 2

Well most dogs, like mine are walking stomachs so I think thats where the idea came from, however you see alot more overweight dogs now than you did 10 or 20 years ago. Positive reinforcement works very well for some dogs. I really think "positive reinforcement" (in one way or another) is here to stay for at least a while as long as it is at all effective. I think more people should be trained themelves before getting a dog. Dog wouldnt misbehave if the owneres didnt let them. Get what I'm saying? LOL

Answer 3

It has been discovered that this type of training is far better then the "Old School" method. Better results come from it. If you understand the way a Dog processes info that you are giving him, it really makes perfect sense.I was raised with the "Old School" methods....but after I learned the positive effects of positive reinforcement, and saw how much better it was...I would never do it any other way. Dogs are very eager to learn and please......this method addresses that and builds on it. My experience with this method has been very satisfying and productive.....and I might add....they learn very quickly from it also. How can you complain, when using this method...your pup is house broken in 2 days?Dogs respond with love and respect to kindness and patience and understanding , not with yelling and hitting with a newspaper. Think about the effect of that from a dogs point of view.....how they are perceiving it? They don't think like us...they are taught right from wrong...they are not born knowing it.

Answer 4

Oh, they've been around for a very long time, but no one noticed them simply because they were all mostly just ring filler. But then this group of frustrated non-trainers, unable to meet the requirements of this country's oldest and only qualified association of obedience instructors, felt dis-infranchised because they had no voice. And why should they, they could not even meet the standard of being able to teach their students novice level obedience.

So these folks got together to form what I like to call the Association of Platitude Dispensing Trainers - and the whole positive movement then had a collected voice ... and boy have they got a lot to say (you'll soon see what I mean). And the best part ... to this very day, the only membership requirement is that members have to keep their dues paid. Members do not have to be able to train any dog, heck, there is no requirement to ever have even owned one. If you can fill out the application and a check ... you're in.

Funny as all heck ... at their annual conferences, attendees are discouraged (I've heard prohibited) from bringing any dogs ... can't be trusted to manage them in public places. How's that as a statement for the measure of the positive movement?

How long will it last? Part of me says: I hope forever ... they are great for business!! But then I see the numbers of dogs they are failing, or breeds they are contributing to the banning of (by failing to get the dogs trained and the owners motivated) and I hope they go away, before my best friend does.

Answer 5

I guess I am a mixed bag. I think that positive re-enforcement is a good thing. I also think there is nothing wrong with a bark collar. It is a very effective tool. And it works very quickly. I do think that at times a swift swat can do wonders. When the right behavior is done, reward is fine. Some of my dogs have been very hard headed(just like my kids,at times). All the smiley,sweet talk and worry about hurting the poor thing, just doesn't work for me. My pets love me to death, and I them. But I do believe that a "Little" fear goes a long way. With children as well as dogs. With a little fear, they learn to give some respect.

Answer 6

There will always be trends in dog training just as with any other sport or hobby. I have two dogs with two very distinct personalities. I use two very distinct training methods with them. My lab is extremly dominant (female) who will try to mount pretty much every dog in sight. She scent marks her territory too! This have obviously lead to some dog fights, she used to be a horrible leash lunger and resource guarder as well. She has worn a prong collar and has seen some more corrective types of training, and it's worked. I can't deny that.

I also have a b.c. mix that is a sweet pea and wouldn't fight with another dog, ever. He is clicker trained, never worn a prong or choke and never needed to. He's a natural follower, looking to me for guidance at every turn.

I think positive reinforcement should be used for household tricks and behaviors. Sit, down, stay, speak etc. And also for dog sports--my lab has 3 years of agility under her belt, 100% positive training.

However I have never garnered a clear understanding of how a clicker and some treats are supposed to stop or prevent a dog fight. Or prevent my lab from trying to dominate every dog in our neighborhood.

It's a mixed bag for me, you have to tailor the training to the dog. Both methods have been proven to be effective in various situations. What worries me about the resurgance of corrective methods is that with little information the average person has the potential to harm their dog with these techniques. No easy answer I suppose.

Greekman--for the type of work you do, the training you use is spot on. I would argue however, that just as many good dogs have been ruined by corrective training as those ruined by the positive training. My border collie would break under that kind of pressure, however he would never be the type of dog to use in protection work or ring sports. Each dog has a job to fullfil and your training methods depend on that entirely!

Answer 7

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A friend recommened it to me a few years ago, and I was amazed how quickly it worked, which is why I recommend it to others. The dog training academy also has as an excellent home training course.

Answer 8

I have to agree with Torbay, it started about the same time as the no spanking kids movement and look at what that has gotten us, a bunch of badly behaved kids that do not know or understand what responsibilty is.
Dog training should be fitted to the dog you have, there is no such thing as one size fits all when it comes to dog training.
Beg and bribe does not work for all dogs.

ETA: To Jackie G,
A lot of dogs have devolped fear, aggression and injuries from traditional methods
This is untrue, dog do not become aggressive because of training unless the training was unusually cruel, unjust and the dog did not understand what was expected, then the dog would come to fear the handler and become aggressive because it had no choice but this is not what is being discussed. If you were a knowledgeable dog trainer, you would know that all dogs do not react the same to every training method. Also, I just want to add that I do use corrections in my training and my dogs do not fear me, as a matter of fact, I have 5 shadows everywhere I go because they see me as the leader and they respect me. Dogs are not humans and they do not view things the same as a human would.

Answer 9

People decided to change when they realized that dogs aren't as stupid and without feeling as they (most people) thought. I hope it continues to be the preferred method of training because dogs should be treated with respect and they should lead happy lives while they can, because they're not very long. Maybe you should think about which is more important- showing off a dog who does great tricks, or having a happy and healthy dog.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

I'm not sure when it became the preferred method, but here's something I do know: These days, people have grown to love their dogs more than ever. And hitting your dog with an old newpaper would be like hitting their family. That's probably why people consider it cruel. Yes, it probably will be the preferred mothod in the future as well.