What a weekend!
Action, adventure, intrigue, name calling, fighting, a battle of brains and brawn. In the end, our hero’s were victorious.
The New England Patriots totally outfoxed the Ravens and I am not gloating because for most of the game, I was wondering why I ever became a fan. There is so much emotion wrapped up in a game that will have zero outcome on my life.
The Patriots winning or losing the Superbowl will not improve relations between my wife and me. It will not make me a better father. It will not increase or decrease my income, it will not make me healthier, or more spiritual.
So why do we get so wrapped up emotionally in a game that really has nothing to do with us?
Believe it or not, dog training is highly emotional. There are dog trainers that will tell you that you can only use “positive methods” when you train your dog.
If you talk about using negative consequences you’ll be shunned, called names, even threatened with physical violence! By the very people that claim to be the most peaceful.
You should see the things I’ve been called and I don’t use choke collars and I still get shishkabobed on a weekly basis.
It’s a funny profession – but I am not complaining. I share this with you because the “all positive” crowd has taken over much of the information you’ll find on the internet and it will end up confusing you and in the long run, it may actually harm your chances at training your dog.
But I’ll give it to you straight. I’ll take the heat so you end up with a well trained dog. I’m here for you, not kudos and back patting from peers, so let’s mush on.
Dog training consists of teaching your dog to do behaviors for you – sit, down, stay, come, etc. it also consists of teaching your dog to STOP doing behaviors – jumping, stealing, barking, chewing, etc.
To get your dog to do behaviors and to stop behaviors will require you to use both positive AND negative consequences. Here’s the deal, you’ll do about 95% of your training using positive consequences and about 5% negative consequences.
And the 5% does NOT have to include electronic collars, prong collars or choke collars. In fact, negative consequences do not have to hurt your dog.
When you learn how to reinforce and reward behaviors you want, when you learn how to stop and end behaviors you don’t like, you are well on your way to having a trained dog. I know there is much murkiness, confusion and despair out there but there is a beacon of light and it is called The Dog Training Inner Circle.
It’s where you can go to learn how to train your dog using positive methods that work and have helped save dog’s lives.
It’s where you can ask questions without being laughed at or ridiculed. It’s where you can go for all the dog training help you need. You can get started by going here NEXT:
Best,
Eric