Solid K9 Training Jeff Gellman 401.527.6354
Positive Training Methods
Do not be fooled by trainers that say they use "Positive Training Methods" in there training. They also state that anyone that uses Prong Collars are punishing dogs, also if you are not using food in your training then you are being mean, abusive and not positive in your training methods...well, it has gotten to the point that I am concerned that so many trainers are not thinking for themselves, they are not doing the research behind the methods that they teach...this is not directed at any 1 trainer or group of trainers but you the dog loving public needs to know the real truth behind what "Positive Training Methods Are".
First, it is important that we differentiate the difference between "punishment" and a "correction". It is important that we "correct" our dogs when they do something wrong.
I will give you an example.
I am walking with my dog in a proper "Heel" and when I come to a stop I expect my dog to sit, my dog already knows how to sit, so if my dog does not sit, I say "NOOOO" and gently give a leash pop and gently do my 2 finger method at the bottom of the spine to GUIDE the dog into a sit. This is called a correction. If my dog does it correctly the first time I will say "Good boy" this is praise.
Now...training with food. imagine the same scenario as above and when the dog does not sit, the person withholds the food from the dog until the dog sits....THE WITHHOLDING OF THE FOOD IS ACTUALLY PUNISHMENT. Hard to believe isn't it...you are punishing your dog by not giving your dog food for doing something right..you are withholding food..So yes...when training with food you are actually rewarding for the right behavior and punishing for the wrong behavior. I don't use food in my training since I do not feel that we should PUNISH our dogs. This is plain and simple behavior management stuff that everyone that is a trainer should have learned on day 1. Somehow people have chosen to forget this though.
It is important that trainers and dog owners understand the difference between a punishment and a correction and how important corrections are to training.
I never punish a dog, I am a positive motivational based trainer who uses a lot of verbal and physical praise in my training as well as corrections where needed..Punishing a dog for unwanted behavior is very dangerous to do. Please remember that there is a HUGE difference between punishment and corrections. Trainers that only use food are doing a big disservice to the dog owning public. All of your basic commands sit, stay, come, wait, heel, leave it, and place should be done with correction based training utilizing both physical and verbal praise along with the proper body language, facial expressions, subliminal thoughts as well as tone of voice. I expect my clients dogs to step up to a higher level of training than your average dog. I firmly believe that a family dog can behave in a way that a service dog or working dog can.
Yes I tend to rant about things...i am so utterly passionate about dogs and training. I strive to train every one of my clients dogs to the best that the dog can be. I handle so many dogs that have been to other food based trainers that have so many problems it is incredible.
Yes....a dog will do something for food. I don't disagree with that. Yes you can make a dog sit and down with a food reward, I don't disagree with that...but that is not training...
First, it is important that we differentiate the difference between "punishment" and a "correction". It is important that we "correct" our dogs when they do something wrong.
I will give you an example.
I am walking with my dog in a proper "Heel" and when I come to a stop I expect my dog to sit, my dog already knows how to sit, so if my dog does not sit, I say "NOOOO" and gently give a leash pop and gently do my 2 finger method at the bottom of the spine to GUIDE the dog into a sit. This is called a correction. If my dog does it correctly the first time I will say "Good boy" this is praise.
Now...training with food. imagine the same scenario as above and when the dog does not sit, the person withholds the food from the dog until the dog sits....THE WITHHOLDING OF THE FOOD IS ACTUALLY PUNISHMENT. Hard to believe isn't it...you are punishing your dog by not giving your dog food for doing something right..you are withholding food..So yes...when training with food you are actually rewarding for the right behavior and punishing for the wrong behavior. I don't use food in my training since I do not feel that we should PUNISH our dogs. This is plain and simple behavior management stuff that everyone that is a trainer should have learned on day 1. Somehow people have chosen to forget this though.
It is important that trainers and dog owners understand the difference between a punishment and a correction and how important corrections are to training.
I never punish a dog, I am a positive motivational based trainer who uses a lot of verbal and physical praise in my training as well as corrections where needed..Punishing a dog for unwanted behavior is very dangerous to do. Please remember that there is a HUGE difference between punishment and corrections. Trainers that only use food are doing a big disservice to the dog owning public. All of your basic commands sit, stay, come, wait, heel, leave it, and place should be done with correction based training utilizing both physical and verbal praise along with the proper body language, facial expressions, subliminal thoughts as well as tone of voice. I expect my clients dogs to step up to a higher level of training than your average dog. I firmly believe that a family dog can behave in a way that a service dog or working dog can.
Yes I tend to rant about things...i am so utterly passionate about dogs and training. I strive to train every one of my clients dogs to the best that the dog can be. I handle so many dogs that have been to other food based trainers that have so many problems it is incredible.
Yes....a dog will do something for food. I don't disagree with that. Yes you can make a dog sit and down with a food reward, I don't disagree with that...but that is not training...
