It was science appreciation day last week, and in all good research, the commentary was delayed until I had the full story!
Science backs a lot of dog training – the good, the bad and the outdated. And it can be challenging to work out if your potential new trainer is just spouting some terminology to you, or do the really truly understand it?
There are two main pieces of science that trainers and behaviourists refer to, and a lot of misinterpretation or changes of understanding that has happened along the way, as well as more research into the topics that have changed the impact of them.
Let’s start with the Dominance Theory.
In fact, this was not a theory at all, but a piece of (since debunked as flawed) research on another species, that covered a wide range of topics, but literally one paragraph was taken and made into what was at the time ‘THE’ method to train domestic dogs.
In a nutshell, Schenkel in the 1930s, and then Mech in the 1960s (that’s 65 years ago!) trapped a number of unrelated, mostly adolescent, wild wolves, put them into captivity and watched their behaviour. They fought, they scrapped over food, and it was deemed that you have dominant and submissive wolves so this must be how our pet dogs are.
The study has since been debunked by Mech himself, citing all the flaws and how unreliable it was, but the genie was out by those humans who just loved being assertive over their pets – do as I say and nothing else types. And the rest of us got sucked up into the hype.
In reality, you can make parallel assumptions of this study to a bunch of teenagers in prison. There will be tensions, there will be fights over special rewards, it’s a total pressure cooker of restrictions. None of them will be ‘dominant’ but desiring that particular resource. Others may not put up resistance as the reward is not desirable enough – does that make them submissive, or smart?
My older and bigger sister used to always pick fights for the extra biscuit or treat, and most of the time I let her as it wasn’t worth my while getting injured (yes I was!), but not always. How can she be dominant when I also won some of the treat battles?
And in competitions, the players are not dominant, but competitive, as they see the reward as highly prized. Others take part for other reasons, such as team socials or personal development, but the prize is not so interesting to them.
Have you seen the film The Shawshank Redemption? You have a bunch of thuggish prisoners forming a gang (the Sisters) who use brutality to get an instant gratification, a dopamine hit and a (probably temporary) feeling of superiority. Are they the dominant ones? No. The real prisoners in charge are not the ones who fight, but those that may be called ‘submissive’ however they get the contraband in, or literally run the admin behind the warders backs. Now who is dominant???
In humans we use words like competitive, assertive, ambitious, single minded – all describe a drive to succeed. So why can’t our dogs be described by these words instead? Anyone else is not submissive, but maybe uncomfortable in certain situations, not desiring the same results, or rather would use their brains for another way to get the prize.
Dogs are not then dominant in every environment or situation, and most I would argue is bravado masking insecurities rather than brave. Or they just wanted that extra piece of food!
Now onto the lovely ‘4 quadrants’!
Back in 1938, Skinner did a lot of experiments on how we learnt. He found out that learning and behaviour changes as a result of ‘reinforcement’ and ‘punishment’ – the environment controls behaviour.
Let’s take stock here – this research is 86 years old!
The foundations have stood the test of time but as with all ancient things, research progresses and theories get manipulated.
The short basis of the original research is that if you add or take away actions/resources, this can either increase or decrease the likelihood of a behavioural response.
There were four main components in this particular piece – positive reinforcement, positive punishment, negative reinforcement and negative punishment.
To explain:
- positive reinforcement is to add something to increase a behaviour (such as rewards, play, access to something)
- negative punishment is to take something away to decrease a behaviour (eg removing access to us so they cannot jump up on us)
- positive punishment is to add something to decrease a behaviour (such as tightening a slip/prong collar or pressing the button to give a shock – or stim as some will have you believe)
- negative reinforcement is to take something away to increase a behaviour (such as taking your finger off the shock button or releasing the tension on a slip/chocking lead)
The terminology used often out of context. Positive does not mean good, and reinforcement is not just giving treats; likewise punishment is not corrections/corporal punishment.
You may see many trainers say they ‘train using all 4 quadrants’ which means they apply all of the above. Or some that say they only use the positive reinforcement box – which is almost impossible.
But science has developed in 86 years. Life is not as simplistic as the 4 quadrants. When we learn, there are environmental factors (nothing is that clinical in life to only have one thing affect our behaviour) as well as emotional and welfare considerations.
I would treat anyone quoting the ‘4 quadrants’ with caution, as to me, it seems they are quoting some terminology but not really understanding what they are doing and the impact it has. Balanced trainers will argue that throwing food at a dog when it’s in the midst of a meltdown doesn’t work, so therefore the whole training principal doesn’t work, but reward trainers will agree that treats are wasted on a dog in this situation, but they don’t flood the dog to make them react in the first place. Instead, they build the dog up to emotionally coping before they are put into anything like the stressful situation they used to struggle with.
The difference is setting up the dog to fail to be able to ‘correct’ it (and a showy quick fix mentality) versus setting the dog up for success in a slow, controlled way that is longer lasting, less damaging and more manageable for the owners, with the relationship forefront of their mind. They will find the right rewards for each of the situations, which can be food, toys, sniffing, affection or even watching.
A great trainer/behaviourist will have a more holistic approach, and the overriding factor will be the welfare of your dog, the emotional state of your dog throughout any session, and the impact of what you are doing and how it affects your relationship and trust with your dog. They will teach your dog what you want them to do and actually be working to increase the desired behaviour.
If you are using things that are designed to hurt your dog (whether it’s the cheap or expensive brands, or if you are ‘using it correctly’ or not), then your dog will not be as bonded to you, making training and responses even tougher. Using punishment in the layman’s meaning, such as corrections, only make your dog anxious and worried. Yes, they will stay with you as they have no option to leave and survive – think of it as a coercive relationship, and yes, they may have moments of happy running around, but the emotional impact is damaging.
I much prefer to call myself a fear free trainer. Yes I will use force in an emergency, and I will control where my dog walks, when it eats and making it wear a collar, but I won’t use any intimidating, fearful or painful techniques. Fear is in the eye of the recipient, so just because I might find a prong collar manageable around my arm, it doesn’t mean it’s not painful around a dog’s throat.
Science in domestic dogs is continually evolving, as should our techniques, interest and our abilities to continue to develop.
It’s important to look at the research carefully, what are the trends (rather than one paragraph only in one study), what are we learning and building on, and should we adapt/change with it.
When you look for a behaviourist or trainer, are they just spouting the ‘4 quadrants’ to look fancy and proud to deliver painful (and uneducated) consequences, even if it looks like a quick fix? Or are they more concerned with your dog’s wellbeing, and your relationship with your dog?
A great fear free trainer will have NOTHING to hide. Do your research, and ask difficult questions including what they would do if the dog is not doing as asked.
And with any great reward trainer, the most they will get you to buy is a harness, long line or tasty treats or tug toys!
Jo, Pippin Pets, 2024