Personally I don't really like any "negative" training unless really absolutely necessary
I totally agree. Aversive free training ( no corrections or aversives whatsoever ) also known as ‘positive only’ training, is the ideal, and for some dogs, in some situations, a very high standard can be reached with these methods. Aversive free training always involves tight control of rewards, as these are the currency with which you train. Where gundog training, or in fact exercising your keen hunting gundog in the countryside is concerned, maintaining control of rewards becomes more problematical. This is because much of a gundog's natural behaviour when allowed to run free, is intrinsically more rewarding than anything you are able to offer him. This is not an insoluble problem for the 'positive only' trainer, but is a problem.
Whether or not a gundog owner actually intends to work their dog in the shooting field, gundog training is designed with that purpose in mind. Working a dog in the shooting field amongst guns and sometimes near roads or railway lines, is a big responsibility and is also a health and safety issue. Obedience is not optional.
For the their own safety, and for the safety of those around them, working gundogs must have a focus on and respect for their handlers to a degree simply not required for pet dogs or in ring based sports like obedience and agility. In the obedience ring, for example if a dog disobeys it might be embarrassing for the handler and give the audience a laugh, but it will not endanger the dog’s life.
Positive reward based training gives amazing results long term - and I mean years ahead. What you teach them now, stays with them for life, so do your best to make it an enjoyable positive experience.
Very true. Gaining this degree of obedience should be a gradual and positive process and experienced trainers begin by encouraging the dog into the right behaviours from the very start, setting the dog up to win, and avoiding influences which may cause the dog to go astray and indulge in unwanted behaviours. In other words they 'control the rewards' and create good habits from the word go.
Family pets have often grown up without these ‘channelling influences’ and may have got into some bad habits. (not coming instantly when called, chasing things etc) In addition, many pets have been through puppy or basic obedience classes and learnt an array of basic skills (sit, stay etc) in a very specific environment such as ‘the village hall’. Often however, to their dismay, their owners find that these skills completely fall apart in the distractions of the countryside or the local park where wildlife or other dogs abound.
This is not because their dogs are disobedient but simply because dogs are very poor at generalising skills to different locations or situations and do not understand that the same commands apply there. Gundog training teaches a dog to ‘generalise’ commands, and to obey them in many of the situations you are likely to come across in the countryside, and in the presence of other dogs, and in that sense alone is useful. It effectively takes the dog’s obedience skills to the next level.
This part of the training process - in which a dog learns to obey basic commands even when distracted, is called proofing, and is the longest and most commonly neglected or rushed part of any training process. When obedience is proofed in this way the benefits to your dog are many as you will enjoy his company so much more and be able to involve him in your life in more ways than before.
In an ideal world, proofing to a high standard would be easily available to all dog trainers with no aversives whatsoever. Clicker training, which I use and enjoy, has been mentioned and is a very effective way of introducing the basics to working gundogs. It takes a degree of skill and a dog with relatively calm temperament to progress to high levels with these methods, and avoiding all forms of ‘correction’. This is reflected in the fact that there have not yet been any Field Trial Champions made up by trainers using positive only (no aversives at all) training methods. Part of the reason for this is that ‘proofing’ with clicker methods is time consuming and involves ‘engineering’ gradually ‘stepped up’ distractions in a logical and progressive manner.
Proofing with more traditional methods can progress quicker because occasional corrections give feedback to the dog as to where it is going wrong, this reduces the negative influence of any mistakes you inevitably make, and allows you to skip some of the tiny gradual steps needed in the clicker training proofing process. When you are working with rewards alone and no aversives, you need to keep control of environmental factors to ensure that the dog is not rewarded accidentally for the wrong response. The more factors you bring into the equation - such as other dogs or wildlife - the harder it is to maintain this control and to ensure success without the feedback of corrections. Gundog trainers nearly all therefore use a limited amount of aversives or corrections.
Once it is accepted that corrections are a part of the training programme, then a decision needs to be made as to how to correct. In times gone by corrections were very harsh, but this is happily no longer considered acceptable today. The appropriate level of correction will always be dependent on the temperament of the dog, but must by definition be firm enough for the dog to register your disapproval.
Spaniels, especially cockers are often extremely ebullient and confident. A handler with a young spaniel who has not previously experience much in the way of disciplined training may need to be firmer than they are accustomed to in order to communicate their feelings to their dog. This does not mean frightening the dog or inflicting pain on him. For many dogs a firm, deep, growling noise of disapproval ‘arrggh, aargh’ is enough to stop the tail wagging, long enough to make him discover that his owner actually exists and would quite like to work with him.
Fashions in dog training just as in everything else, come and go. The pendulum swings first one way and then the other, and hopefully finds a happy medium somewhere along the way. Dog training methods generally have changed for the better over the years. People are kinder and more patient and have a better understanding of how dogs learn and communicate. This is true of the gundog training community as well as the pet dog world. However, whatever training method is used, it is important that it actually works for you and your dog.
Most people agree that all dogs should be well behaved. Many people feel let down by their training classes, which though very kindly led, often do not help them learn to control their dog outdoors. To be realistic, for most people a degree of firmness is almost always necessary to create a meaningful relationship with your dog and one in which the dog is well behaved both in private and in public.
Gundog training is a discipline. It has structure and purpose. Personally I believe it opens up a wonderful world of pleasure and fulfilment, brings out the best in any gundog and enhances his life beyond measure. If the price to pay is an occasional growly voice - well I think your dog will thank you for it.
Pippa
Oops - rather long I'm afraid
