Ask the Trainer - Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of frequently asked general questions regarding my training methods. Please email questions to Allison. Due to my hectic schedule and daily email volume, personal replies are not aleays possible although I will try. The most interesting questions and my responses will be posted as merited.

Q1. Does positive reinforcement work with aggressive dogs?

A1. I believe that the vast majority of, if not all, aggression issues are rooted in fear. Positive reinforcement training is based on calm, kind techniques that eliminate fear and uncertainty. The last thing you want to do with a scared dog is punish him. Can you imagine how you would feel if you are already frightened and somebody then proceeds to jerk you around, hit you, or yell at you? It's only going to intensify the 'scary'. Additionally, if an aggressive dog is challenging a human, and the human proceeds to confront the dog, it's a volatile situation at best. Dogs are hard wired with two choices - flight or fight. If you remove their ability to flight via a strong, physical, aggressive confrontation, you have left them with no choice but to fight it out. And dogs are faster than us and have powerful jaws, so humans are generally going to be on the losing end of a dog fight.

Q2. Do you take on "tough cases" such as dogs that have bitten people, very high anxiety dogs, etc.? If not, what are your limits?

A2. I will take on 'tough cases' but I do have my limits. For dogs that are highly reactive and aggressive with people and/or have bitten at a level four or beyond on the 'bite scale', I believe that you need to consult with a veterinary behaviorist. I will work with any dog with a high anxiety level as the root of high anxiety comes from a lack of confidence, understanding, or exercise/stimulation. Anxiety cases respond extremely well, and usually quite quickly, to positive reinforcement training methods.

Q3. Can you train my dog to hunt?

A3. No, I do not do any field training. My goal is to help pets and humans communicate and live together happily in their daily lives. Hunt training involves specialized skills which I have never practiced. Many hunting trainers use harsh tactics in training dogs, and believe that making a dog part of the family will ruin them for hunting. This cannot be further from the truth because a dog that respects you as his human and wants to please you will be easier to train and eager to make you happy. There is an increasing movement towards positive reinforcement hunt training. If you are interested in training your dog to hunt, I strongly encourage you to check out POSITIVE GUN DOG - CLICKER TRAINING FOR SPORTING BREEDS by Jim Barry, Mary Emmen & Susan Smith. This book can be purchased at www.DogWise.com.