Rethinking Dog Training: Beyond Commands and Corrections
In the realm of dog training, a crucial but often overlooked aspect is the deep understanding of dogs and their feeling or motivations. It's not just about teaching commands or correcting unwanted behaviours.
True dog training starts with a profound appreciation of their unique nature, emotions, and how they perceive the world.
This understanding is especially vital in the light of common misconceptions about dog behaviour, often based on outdated and flawed interpretations of wolf behaviour.
Many training methods are still rooted in the misinterpretation of wolf behaviour, treating dogs as if they are striving for dominance in a human-led 'pack'.
This approach leads to punitive measures and dominance-based training, which can be detrimental to a dog's psychological wellbeing.
Dogs, although descendants of wolves, have evolved differently and their social structures and behaviours aren't directly comparable to wild wolves.
The Need for Educated Trainers
The persistence of outdated methods in dog training not only hampers progress but also highlights an urgent need for dog trainers to commit to ongoing education in modern, science-based canine behaviour and psychology.
This evolving field continuously sheds new light on how dogs think, learn, and interact with their environment, offering insights that are critical for humane and effective training approaches.
An informed trainer is aware that traditional punishment-based methods are not just ineffective, but they can actively harm the dog’s psychological well-being.
Such approaches often stem from a misunderstanding of canine social dynamics, mistakenly attributing human-like motives to dogs or misinterpreting their actions as attempts to assert dominance.
This flawed perspective can lead trainers to employ punitive measures, under the misconception that they need to establish a hierarchical 'alpha' status.
However, recent advancements in canine behavioural studies have shown that dogs, much like humans, are complex beings with a wide range of emotions.
They respond to their environment in ways that are often a reflection of their emotional state. For instance, a dog displaying aggressive behaviour might be doing so out of fear or anxiety, rather than a desire to dominate.
In such cases, punishment can exacerbate the underlying issue, intensifying the fear or anxiety, and potentially leading to more severe behavioural problems.
The Damaging Nature of Punishment in Dog Training
Punishment-based methods can damage the trust and bond between a dog and their trainer or owner.
Dogs learn best in an environment where they feel safe and secure. Fear and mistrust, bred from punitive training, can hinder learning and make training a stressful and unproductive experience for both the dog and the trainer.
It can also lead to adverse side effects, such as increased anxiety, avoidance behaviours, and even aggression.
On the other hand, a training approach grounded in positive reinforcement and empathetic understanding promotes a healthier learning environment.
Dogs are more likely to engage in training sessions that are fun and rewarding, leading to better outcomes. This method reinforces desirable behaviours without causing psychological harm, ensuring a trusting and affectionate relationship between the dog and their handler.
In light of these insights, it's crucial for dog trainers to stay abreast of the latest research and techniques in canine behaviour and psychology. Regular participation in workshops, seminars, and continuing education courses is essential.
Such an informed approach to training not only benefits the dogs but also enriches the trainers’ understanding and effectiveness, ultimately leading to a more harmonious human-canine relationship.
Start Your FREE CPD Skill-Hub Trial Today
Commitment Free 3 Day Access
Empathy and Understanding For Dogs
Empathy is not just a key component, but the very heart of responsible dog training.
It requires an insightful understanding of the emotional states of dogs, ranging from anxiety to joy, and responding to these feelings with kindness and compassion.
By recognising and thoughtfully addressing their emotional issues, trainers can adopt a more effective and humane approach than merely attempting to control or suppress behaviours.
In tandem with empathy, patience plays a crucial role in the training process. Every dog is unique, possessing their own rhythm and pace of learning.
Understanding this individuality is vital. Rushed or forced training methods not only induce frustration and emotional distress in dogs but are also counterproductive, hindering their ability to learn and develop trust.
This patience, coupled with a deep understanding of a dog's emotional landscape, creates a nurturing environment conducive to learning.
It fosters a positive and supportive relationship between the dog and the trainer, one where training is not a task but a journey of mutual growth and understanding.
Together, empathy and patience underscore the importance of perceiving dogs not just as animals to be trained, but as sentient beings with distinct personalities and emotional needs.
This perspective shift is essential for effective, respectful, and compassionate dog training.
How To Become an Ethical Dog Trainer
Enrol in The Canine Coaching Diploma with Canine Principles!
The Canine Coaching Diploma with Canine Principles is an excellent start to an empathetic and ethical career with dogs.
Recent Posts From The Dog Blog
Follow Us
Exclusive News & Offers
Canine Principles
#Dog Skills For Humans
-
Canine Principles is a trading name of
CANINE PRINCIPLES LTDRegistered Company Number 11458645VAT Registration Number: GB300008875CPD Provider Registered Number: 60082The CPD Standards Office
Sit! Stay! Wait!
Remember To Enrol On
Your FREE Course
Loose Lead Walking
Help Centre
Qualifications Canine Principles is an AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group recognised centre and has been approved to deliver AIM Qualifications. AIM Are an awarding body recognised by Ofqual.
Each qualification carries an 8 digit qualification number that can be referenced against the existing qualification framework.
CPD courses are accredited by the CPD Standards Office.
Enrolled courses can be accessed anytime via the student dashboard. Once you are logged in to you account, select your course and you will be taken directly to the learning materials.
Online elements require an internet connection and suitable device.
Course(s) not showing on dashboard
Skill-Hub courses are only available while there is an active subscription. Check your account to show the most recent payments and membership expiry.
Occasionally, students have more than one account as they have signed up for a free course or newsletter with a different email. Contact us using the form to solve this issue.
Email not recognised
Check all spelling is correct. Check the email account for previous correspondence from Canine Principles. If everything seems normal, contact us using the form to solve this issue.
Password Reset
You can manage your password here.
Manage subscription
You can manage your subscription settings directly from your student account page.
The 3 day free trial requires credit/debit card details to begin. Your card will be billed automatically when the trial expires and every month subsequently.
You can manage your subscription here.
Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.
Qualifications - All regulated qualifications inherit a 2 year registration period. The cost of registration is included with initial enrolment. When the 2 year registration period expires, students may re-register for an registration fee. Fees vary by course. Please contact us for details.
Students are also encouraged to support each other through built in student community and private Facebook Study Group. where discussions and new information are shared daily.
Ask Us A Question
Student Guidelines
Welcome to Canine Principles
Each individual has their own strengths, weaknesses and acquired skills that will help or hinder in their study. This guide is intended as an example of best practice that can easily be included in your current study routine.
In 2014, A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. This is great news for dog owners and something that you can definitely take advantage of as a daily walker.
Limit Distractions
Distractions can easily break our train of thought or pull us away from study all together. Find a suitable place to study that is conducive to learning. Set some time aside, ask for some privacy and turn off your phone.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration contributes towards fatigue and poor memory. A 2012 study, conducted by the universities of East London and Westminster, found that results improved by an average of 10% when students kept hydrated throughout exams.
Read Out Loud
In 2015, Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal completed research that suggested you are 50% more likely to remember information that has been read aloud than reading to yourself. You can either find a quiet place to read aloud to yourself or read directly to a friend or family member.
Teach as You Go
A step beyond reading aloud is to describe the lesson to somebody else. Try and make the subject understood and invite questions. If you don’t have the answer to the question, you have a new area of understanding to explore and study which will help to further your knowledge in a given subject.
Make Notes and Diagrams
Keep a pen and paper close to hand and be ready to note down specific areas of interest. Even if you are not artistic, a quick diagram that only you understand is a great aid to the memory and allows you to process the information in a different way.
Research
Even when you feel that you have fully understood a subject from the course material, take some time to research further by looking online, reading books or talking to others who are involved in the subject. The study group is a great place to meet like minded people who are also learning new topics.
Review
Going back over previous course topics and modules, with the benefit of newly acquired knowledge, can help us to understand the connection between subjects. If we only focus on one subject in isolation, the connection may never be made.
Create Flash Cards
Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge. Write a subject on one side of the card and then explain the subject on the opposite side. You can either draw the cards randomly and test your own knowledge or ask a friend to help.
Assessments will begin by advising the maximum possible score for each section and how this score can be achieved. Every module has an overall pass mark of 80%. Whilst the pass score is 80%, any assessment that scores below this will be returned with constructive feedback. Feedback is intended to describe where further marks can be achieved. You can re-submit a revised assessment to improve your score.
Assessments that score between 80% and 100% will also be returned with feedback, however, there will be no further grading as the threshold for passing the module has been met.
Each assessment will be marked and returned within 3 - 5 days of receipt by your tutor. If you have submitted an assessment and have not received any correspondence within 4 days, contact us here, via email or the study group to confirm the assessment has been received.
When you choose to include external research as part of your assessment, it is important that the work is clearly referenced. If you have previously studied at a higher level, you will be aware that there are many ways to reference your research. For the purpose of Canine Principles assessments, we are happy for you to include your references at the end of each answer.
References from online research can be included as a link to the source of the information: