Question:

Hello People, I have used non force training methods on some of the most aggressive and biggest, and smallest and shyest, dogs you could possibly find, and I stake my life on non force, non confrontational training methods. I haven’t used a sharp correction on any dog in twenty-five years. Proper handling and behavioral conditioning techniques solve serious behavior problems in minutes, not weeks and months, with no negative interactions, no confrontation, fear, or force. Conditioning and shaping behaviors avoids the pitfalls of the probable side effects of inhibiting and repressing a dog’s natural, instinctive behaviors. Repercussions from conflicting with a dog’s instinctive, natural, behaviors, are stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and adversion (a loathsome life condition), and often result in excessive barking, destructive chewing, pacing, whining, self mutilation, and other such stress induced anxiety relief mechanisms… That’s why I laugh at these trainers that take months to train their dogs. They bust their butts busting dogs butts, and constantly have to keep doing more of the same. Constantly correcting their dogs, "reinforcement never ends," always having to immediately react to each undesirable behavior… Specific behavior problems are inhibited, but the behavior changes to other undesirable behaviors as replacements, because the nature or cause of the problem has not changed. Many undesirable dog behaviors are reflexive in the dogs thinking. That means he has given little or no thought into what he has just done, he simply reacted to circumstance. How can you correct a dog from doing something that he did, that he didn’t even know he had done? For sure, that leaves plenty of room for misunderstanding and conflict. Most behavior problems are a result of conflict and stress. Those conflicts are often misunderstood and mistaken by the so called "domination/submission" theory trainers, to mean that the dog is always challenging them. To their way of thinking, dogs are constantly challenging us for "authority," and it is our "obligation" to react in kind, and push back harder to intimidate the dog. While that may or may not be the case in some small percentage of dogs, it is unfortunately widely taught and used. The problem with that approach, is that by nature, it is adversarial and compunctuous. It challenges a problem that does not deserve attention, and makes a serious issue that never ends, out of something that could have easily been finessed and redirected, through proper conditioning, demonstrated self control, and positive reinforcement. In order to get control, you have to give up on the micro aspects of control and force. It is when we force control, that we challenge instinctive behaviors and create and encounter out of control behaviors. Any behavior can be modified through proper conditioning without force or conflict. Using non force methods you can teach a dog to come every time you call in about forty minutes. Using non force methods, you can stop a dog from jumping, in about fifteen minutes, maybe less. Using non force methods, you can avoid the substitution of other negative behaviors as replacements. Using non force methods is the fastest, most effective way to get your dog to do anything you ask, without stifling the dogs personality, breaking his spirit, or adversely affecting his temperament. I don’t use non force methods because I’m a wimp, or just because force training is "cruel." I use non force methods because I have been training dogs for thirty-six years, and I learned the hard way, that force, and fear, have no place in a training environment. Compulsion training is less efficient, and potentially causes more problems than it solves. Consistent, positive reinforcement and praise, coupled with Pavlovian conditioned reflex, are the only effective tools necessary that will permanently improve any dog’s behavior, and compel your dog to do anything you ask.. DRAINING THE SWAMP, AND RELOCATING THE GATORS… J>>> "CUSTOM WILL RECONCILE PEOPLE TO ANY ATROCITY." G.B. Shaw. "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."                                              Leo Tolstoy Is it any wonder that the following sig file has generated more complaints to my personal email than any other controversial post I have made to date, bar none?:                                             caveat If you have to do things to your dog to train him, that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer that tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, or punish him in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows Howe. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                       -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after. Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                      -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow exponentially, to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                   -Jerry Howe-

Response:

Jerry,      Since this approach of yours has been gaining popularity in both the raising of children and dogs over the past 20 to 30 years, how do you explain the increased numbers of behavioral problems in both? Steve * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

> Jerry, >      Since this approach of yours has been gaining popularity in both > the raising of children and dogs over the past 20 to 30 years, how do > you explain the increased numbers of behavioral problems in both? > Steve > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Because it is not being used. I see people being violent with their children and animals more now than ever before. Furthermore, two counties have closed down their juvenile offenders "boot camp" programs that were basically a variation of the NILIF methodology, because it was only marginally more effective than their ordinary "correctional" programs. J>

Response:

>Jerry, >     Since this approach of yours has been gaining popularity in both >the raising of children and dogs over the past 20 to 30 years, how do >you explain the increased numbers of behavioral problems in both? >Steve

When you start allowing people or dogs to think for themselves, you must be prepared for the consequences.  The kids will start asking a lot of why questions for which you must have answers better than becasue I said so.  If you are so stupid that you don’t have any other answers they will start to have what you call behavioural problems.  I call them natural reactions to your stupidity.  If your reaction to their striking out at your unexplained and unfathomable rules is to yell, scream, beat, whip, or exile, then you have joined the cretins of modern conservative society.  Just say no to this and use the golden rule.  For your edification, it says "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."  It does not say "Do unto others as was done unto you."  It does not say "Do unto others as others say you should do."  It does not say "Do unto others before they do unto you."   If you would like to have been trained to follow Mommy at the grocery store by having Mommy jerk your neck in a chain collar when you lagged, then you are the perfect Koehler child.  If you would have Mommy beat the shit out of you when you wet the bed, then you are the good Koehler child.  Must I continue? Of course you will start that old anthopomorhism whine about how dogs are different from people and that should not be confused.  I ask you why you think an animal is supposed to respond in a more refined manner than you would expect children or teens or draftees?  A human that strikes back at brutality is SANE!  A dog that strikes back is killed. Maybe you should give that paradox a few moment of thought before you run your brutalistic mouth about children and dogs. St. John the Trainer

Response:

     No, it’s because people are confused, knowing a simple correction will do the trick, but nooo, this book and 48 Hours says don’t correct… talk to them about their feelings, etc, etc.      So, these confused people try to do what the book and 48 Hours says to do, and both the kid and the dog tell ‘em to fuck off, in fact begging to be told what to do, but they can’t do what’s proper cause society has gone crazy. They finally lose it, cause it’s not working… and you’ve got another abuse statistic.      When all that was necessary was for them to be allowed to say No!, and slap a little hand reaching for the "whatever", or being smacked upside the head for beating up on his sister. (You can substitute mouth for hand and attacking the cat for beating up sister) Steve * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >      No, it’s because people are confused, knowing a simple correction > will do the trick, but nooo, this book and 48 Hours says don’t > correct… talk to them about their feelings, etc, etc. >      So, these confused people try to do what the book and 48 Hours > says to do, and both the kid and the dog tell ‘em to fuck off, in fact > begging to be told what to do, but they can’t do what’s proper cause > society has gone crazy. They finally lose it, cause it’s not working… > and you’ve got another abuse statistic. >      When all that was necessary was for them to be allowed to say No!, > and slap a little hand reaching for the "whatever", or being smacked > upside the head for beating up on his sister. (You can substitute mouth > for hand and attacking the cat for beating up sister) > Steve > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Inappropriate and ineffective methods, whether forceful or not, are nonetheless, ineffective and inappropriate. That’s why I’m here. That’s why you are history. Bye! The Fat Lady. DRAINING THE SWAMP, AND RELOCATING THE GATORS… J>>> "CUSTOM WILL RECONCILE PEOPLE TO ANY ATROCITY." G.B. Shaw. "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."                                              Leo Tolstoy Is it any wonder that the following sig file has generated more complaints to my personal email than any other controversial post I have made to date, bar none?:                                             caveat If you have to do things to your dog to train him, that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer that tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, or punish him in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows Howe. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                       -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after.  Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                      -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow exponentially, to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                   -Jerry Howe-

Response:

To: Jerry (The Fat Lady), and To: whoever the fuck Anonymous is;      Yeah, "…because I said so!" does work. And there’s nothing wrong with thinking for yourself… as long as you know, there are consequences to your actions. When animals, that’s all of us, are allowed to behave unchecked, what do you think the outcome will be??? Bliss, Utopia, Eden??? Not in our life time!!!      Have you ever watched Discovery, how ’bout OZ; ever lived with a hundred security dogs or in share cropper housing with a bunch of indigent alcoholics??? I have, and I know all about the "plight of man" and the suffering of animals… Having to conform to the rules, what an inconvenience, blah,blah,blah. Get a clue…we all have to deal with "The Rules", and they’re not learned through any positive motivation!!! All of us "animals" learn how to conduct ourselves through avoidance of negative consequence, positive reinforcement is merely an accelerator… not even necessary except for cohesion.      And for the record; I do not condone, recommend, or teach – beating, whipping, or brutalizing any creature in any way…But, I do teach the proper application of physical communication, both positive and negative, of which there are no more ancillary effects than that of gravity. Steve Boyer www.TheDogman.com * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

Response:

Steve, there’s a couple of fundamental faults with your thinking. > To: Jerry (The Fat Lady), and To: whoever the fuck Anonymous is; >      Yeah, "…because I said so!" does work.

That challenges the dogs natural instinctive behavior and puts you in conflict with Nature. You are not more powerful than nature, and you cannot call nature a liar, and expect the dog to trust and follow you with high regard, confidence, and reliability. You set up a mistrustful and adversarial relationship that operates on a lowly, base or gut instinct level, rather than higher thinking and appreciation. > And there’s nothing wrong > with thinking for yourself… as long as you know, there are > consequences to your actions.

That’s what I keep trying to tell you, but you are not willing to use your intellect.  Instead, you rely on fear, force, and confrontation, and provoke arguments with dogs in an effort to dominate and subordinate them. > When animals, that’s all of us, are > allowed to behave unchecked, what do you think the outcome will be???

Howe you equate using intelligent, scientific, Pavlovian conditioning, and psychological behavioral modification techniques, and positive motivation, as "allowing behavior to go unchecked," is prima facia evidence of your inability to understand the basic concepts of dog training and the values of science, basic human decency and civility, and common sense. > Bliss, Utopia, Eden??? Not in our life time!!!

Not with punks like you running amok, telling people to hurt and fight with their dogs. >      Have you ever watched Discovery, how ’bout OZ; ever lived with a > hundred security dogs or in share cropper housing with a bunch of > indigent alcoholics??? I have, and I know all about the "plight of man" > and the suffering of animals… Having to conform to the rules, what an > inconvenience, blah,blah,blah.

Nope. Never had the pleasure. > Get a clue…we all have to deal with > "The Rules", and they’re not learned through any positive motivation!!!

Perhaps that’s part of the problem, wouldn’t that make sense? Oh, excuse me, I forgot… > All of us "animals" learn how to conduct ourselves through avoidance of > negative consequence, positive reinforcement is merely an > accelerator… not even necessary except for cohesion.

I’m not going to dignify that with an answer, except to say that you are a menace. >      And for the record; I do not condone, recommend, or teach – > beating, whipping, or brutalizing any creature in any way…

Not at all. You have more creative methods of inflicting pain and expressing your dominance and demonstrating that you are a basic wild animal with no self control, no self discipline, no self respect as a human being, and no respect or regard for dogs or any other living being, except for yourself… > But, I do > teach the proper application of physical communication, both positive > and negative, of which there are no more ancillary effects than that of > gravity.

Gravity can kill you. > Steve Boyer > www.TheDogman.com > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!

So can stupidity. Stupidity is a fact of life. The only negative consequence of stupidity is in not learning from it. You can’t recognize stupidity because you do not have the intellectual ability or the moral fiber to discern Right from Wrong. DRAINING THE SWAMP, AND RELOCATING THE GATORS… J>>> "CUSTOM WILL RECONCILE PEOPLE TO ANY ATROCITY." G.B. Shaw. "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."                                              Leo Tolstoy Is it any wonder that the following sig file has generated more complaints to my personal email than any other controversial post I have made to date, bar none?:                                             caveat If you have to do things to your dog to train him, that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer that tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, or punish him in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows Howe. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                       -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after.  Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                      -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow exponentially, to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                   -Jerry Howe-

Response:

Hi If you look at people who own dogs and have children, you will usually find the dogs and children have the same kind of behaviour.  Either calm and under control, or naughty and out of control.  With the out of control kids, don’t the parents usually scream and shout and smack.  These people may have been taught these non aggressive tactics to control there dogs but they sure as hell don’t use them.  It’s how the dog is treated every day that matters, you can teach them the best methods in the world, but if they won’t use them what can you do?  A smack to a lot of owners is quick and gets the desired effect, so they think. Lucy

Response:

>    And for the record; I do not condone, recommend, or teach – >beating, whipping, or brutalizing any creature in any way…But, I do >teach the proper application of physical communication, both positive >and negative, of which there are no more ancillary effects than that of >gravity. >Steve Boyer >www.TheDogman.com

Sounds like you have abandoned Koehler and slapping pups that nip.   Good for you! It also sounds like you still believe in hanging.  That is what you meant by gravity effects wasn’t it? Lying hypocrite. St. John the Trainer

Response:

Some of the Behaviors you mentioned can also have something to do with diet, not just the type of training the dog received. I train my dogs by the Paul Loeb method and I do not keep repeating the lessons. Once my dog sits I don’t repeat that behavior everyday. Try reading "Smarter Than You Think " by Paul Loeb you might learn how to be a dog trainer. Wright’s Danes

Response:

Hello steve, Looks like you’ve got it all figgered out, huh?

> When all that was necessary was for them to be allowed to say No!,

and slap a little hand reaching for the "whatever", or being smacked upside the head for beating up on his sister. (You can substitute mouth for hand and attacking the cat for beating up sister)  > Steve Using your hypothesis, I suppose we could substitute lots of things for intelligence and human decency…  ;-) DRAINING THE SWAMP, AND RELOCATING THE GATORS… J>>> "CUSTOM WILL RECONCILE PEOPLE TO ANY ATROCITY." G.B. Shaw. "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."                                              Leo Tolstoy Is it any wonder that the following sig file has generated more complaints to my personal email than any other controversial post I have made to date, bar none?:                                             caveat If you have to do things to your dog to train him, that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer that tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, or punish him in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows Howe. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                       -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after.  Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                      -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow exponentially, to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                   -Jerry Howe-

Response:

Hello People, I have used non force training methods on some of the most aggressive and biggest, and smallest and shyest, dogs you could possibly find, and I stake my life on non force, non confrontational training methods. I haven’t used a sharp correction on any dog in twenty-five years. Proper handling and behavioral conditioning techniques solve serious behavior problems in minutes, not weeks and months, with no negative interactions, no confrontation, fear, or force. Conditioning and shaping behaviors avoids the pitfalls of the probable side effects of inhibiting and repressing a dog’s natural, instinctive behaviors. Repercussions from conflicting with a dog’s instinctive, natural, behaviors, are stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and adversion (a loathsome life condition), and often result in excessive barking, destructive chewing, pacing, whining, self mutilation, and other such stress induced anxiety relief mechanisms. That’s why I laugh at these trainers that take months to train their dogs. They bust their butts busting dogs butts, and constantly have to keep doing more of the same. Constantly correcting their dogs, "reinforcement never ends," always having to immediately react to each undesirable behavior… Specific behavior problems are inhibited, but the behavior changes to other undesirable behaviors as replacements, because the nature or cause of the problem has not changed. Many undesirable dog behaviors are reflexive in the dogs’ thinking. That means he has given little or no thought into what he has just done, he simply reacted to circumstance. How can you correct a dog from doing something that he did that he didn’t even know he had done? For sure, that leaves plenty of room for misunderstanding and conflict. Most behavior problems are a result of conflict and stress. Those conflicts are often misunderstood and mistaken by the so called "domination/submission" theory trainers, to mean that the dog is always challenging them. To their way of thinking, dogs are constantly challenging us for "authority," and it is our "obligation" to react in kind, and push back harder to intimidate the dog. While that may or may not be the case in some small percentage of dogs, it is unfortunately widely taught and used. The problem with that approach, is that by nature, it is adversarial and compunctuous. It challenges a problem that does not deserve attention, and makes a serious issue that never ends, out of something that could have easily been finessed and redirected, through proper conditioning, demonstrated self control, and positive reinforcement. In order to get control, you have to give up on the micro aspects of control and force. It is when we force control, that we challenge instinctive behaviors and create and encounter out of control behaviors. Any behavior can be modified through proper conditioning without force or conflict. Using non force methods you can teach a dog to come every time you call in about forty minutes. Using non force methods, you can stop a dog from jumping, in about fifteen minutes, maybe less. Using non force methods, you can avoid the substitution of other negative behaviors as replacements. Using non force methods is the fastest, most effective way to get your dog to do anything you ask, without stifling the dogs personality, breaking his spirit, or adversely affecting his temperament. I don’t use non force methods because I’m a wimp, or just because force training is "cruel." I use non force methods because I have been training dogs for thirty-eight years and I learned the hard way, that force, confrontation, and fear, have no place in a training environment. Compulsion training is less efficient, and potentially causes more problems than it solves. Consistent, positive reinforcement and praise, coupled with Pavlovian conditioned reflex, are the only effective tools necessary that will permanently improve any dog’s behavior, and compel your dog to want to do anything you ask.. "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."                                 -Leo Tolstoy- Is it any wonder that the following sig file has generated more complaints to my personal email than any other controversial post I have made to date, bar none?:                                 CAVEAT If you have to do things to your dog to train him that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer who tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, chin cuff, scruff shake or punish your dog in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows HOWE. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                                 -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after. Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                                 -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                                 -Jerry Howe-

Response:

> Hello People, > I have used non force training methods

Non force training Best book out "Beyond Basic Dog Training" by Diane Bauman http://www.bright.net/~kparks/dogs/ds.jpg you will see happy dogs taking to it with interest and intent

Response:

Hello People, I have used non force training methods on some of the most aggressive and biggest, and smallest and shyest, dogs you could possibly find, and I stake my life on non force, non confrontational training methods. I haven’t used a sharp correction on any dog in twenty-five years. Proper handling and behavioral conditioning techniques solve serious behavior problems in minutes, not weeks and months, with no negative interactions, no confrontation, fear, or force. Conditioning and shaping behaviors avoids the pitfalls of the probable side effects of inhibiting and repressing a dog’s natural, instinctive behaviors. Repercussions from conflicting with a dog’s instinctive, natural, behaviors, are stress, anxiety, fear, anger, and adversion (a loathsome life condition), and often result in excessive barking, destructive chewing, pacing, whining, self mutilation, and other such stress induced anxiety relief mechanisms. That’s why I laugh at these trainers that take months to train their dogs. They bust their butts busting dogs butts, and constantly have to keep doing more of the same. Constantly correcting their dogs, "reinforcement never ends," always having to immediately react to each undesirable behavior… Specific behavior problems are inhibited, but the behavior changes to other undesirable behaviors as replacements, because the nature or cause of the problem has not changed. Many undesirable dog behaviors are reflexive in the dogs’ thinking. That means he has given little or no thought into what he has just done, he simply reacted to circumstance. How can you correct a dog from doing something that he did that he didn’t even know he had done? For sure, that leaves plenty of room for misunderstanding and conflict. Most behavior problems are a result of conflict and stress. Those conflicts are often misunderstood and mistaken by the so called "domination/submission" theory trainers, to mean that the dog is always challenging them. To their way of thinking, dogs are constantly challenging us for "authority," and it is our "obligation" to react in kind, and push back harder to intimidate the dog. While that may or may not be the case in some small percentage of dogs, it is unfortunately widely taught and used. The problem with that approach, is that by nature, it is adversarial and compunctuous. It challenges a problem that does not deserve attention, and makes a serious issue that never ends, out of something that could have easily been finessed and redirected, through proper conditioning, demonstrated self control, and positive reinforcement. In order to get control, you have to give up on the micro aspects of control and force. It is when we force control, that we challenge instinctive behaviors and create and encounter out of control behaviors. Any behavior can be modified through proper conditioning without force or conflict. Using non force methods you can teach a dog to come every time you call in about forty minutes. Using non force methods, you can stop a dog from jumping, in about fifteen minutes, maybe less. Using non force methods, you can avoid the substitution of other negative behaviors as replacements. Using non force methods is the fastest, most effective way to get your dog to do anything you ask, without stifling the dogs personality, breaking his spirit, or adversely affecting his temperament. I don’t use non force methods because I’m a wimp, or just because force training is "cruel." I use non force methods because I have been training dogs for thirty-eight years and I learned the hard way, that force, confrontation, and fear, have no place in a training environment. Compulsion training is less efficient, and potentially causes more problems than it solves. Consistent, positive reinforcement and praise, coupled with Pavlovian conditioned reflex, are the only effective tools necessary that will permanently improve any dog’s behavior, and compel your dog to want to do anything you ask.. "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives."                                 -Leo Tolstoy- Is it any wonder that the following sig file has generated more complaints to my personal email than any other controversial post I have made to date, bar none?:                                 CAVEAT If you have to do things to your dog to train him that you would rather not have to do, then you shouldn’t be doing them. If you have a dog trainer who tells you to jerk your dog around, choke him, pinch his ears, or twist his toes, shock, shake, slap, scold, hit, chin cuff, scruff shake or punish your dog in any manner, that corrections are appropriate, that the dog won’t think of you as the punisher, or that corrections are not harmful, or if they can’t train your dog to do what you want, look for a trainer that knows HOWE. Sincerely, Jerry Howe, Wits’ End Dog Training http://www.doggydoright.com Nature, to be mastered, must be obeyed.                                 -Francis Bacon- There are terrible people who, instead of solving a problem, bungle it and make it more difficult for all who come after. Who ever can’t hit the nail on the head should, please, not hit at all.                                 -Nietzsche- The abilities to think, rationalize and solve problems are learned qualities. The Wits’ End Dog Training Method challenges the learning centers in the dogs brain. These centers, once challenged, develop and continue to grow to make him smarter. The Wits’ End Dog Training method capitalizes on praising split seconds of canine thought, strategy, and timing, not mindless hours of forced repetition, constant corrections, and scolding.                                 -Jerry Howe-

Response:

> Hello People, > I have used non force training methods

Non force training Best book out "Beyond Basic Dog Training" by Diane Bauman http://www.bright.net/~kparks/dogs/ds.jpg you will see happy dogs taking to it with interest and intent

Response: