Are We Pushing Dogs Too Far?

My Instagram feed is full of images from wildlife photographers. Recently a birder posted something that really resonated with me: “The ‘perfect shot’ isn’t perfect if it comes at the cost of the animal’s wellbeing.” I absolutely agree. And a similar sentiment is true when it comes to training our dogs: Good training isn’t “good” if it comes at the cost of the dog’s wellbeing.

Too many times I’ve cringed watching a dog being trained. At times it was because the equipment being used was clearly causing the dog pain. Sometimes the dog was fearful and the person, unaware of the dog’s body language, continued to do things that frightened the dog. And in other cases, the dog had clearly become bored of doing the same exercise over and over, but was being coerced or punished to continue. All of those dogs were being pushed too far in the name of training.

In causes me pain in particular when I see someone pushing a fearful dog too far. Of course we want our dogs to be well trained, but at what cost? In group classes, if I had a student whose dogs was clearly fearful and under-socialized, I instructed them not to worry so much about performing a training exercise perfectly, but to pay more attention to their dog’s body language and comfort level. I would rather have a dog become more relaxed around other dogs and people than to have a perfect down-stay on a dog who was clearly uncomfortable. Even expecting a fearful dog to lie down in proximity to other dogs, which puts him in a vulnerable position, can be too much; the dog may do it, but he sure won’t be enjoying training.

The worst-case scenario of pushing a fearful dog too far happens when a dog is “aggressive.” We’ve all seen videos of trainers who fancy themselves “alpha dogs” pushing fearful dogs much too hard until those dogs finally display fear-based reactivity. Unfortunately, that is usually followed by a harsh correction until the dog submits or shuts down completely (learned helplessness, anyone?), thereby allowing the trainer to boast about how the dog is now compliant.

So, what should be done during a training session if a dog stops cooperating? First, assess body language. Is the dog afraid? Distracted? In pain? What about the environment? Is the dog being asked to perform an exercise he already knows when the location or perspective have changed, for example, you’re now standing differently in relation to him? What about the dog’s temperament? Is this a super-smart dog for whom three repetitions of an exercise might be better suited than ten?

Ethical dog training, like ethical wildlife photography, must ultimately respect the subject. If we truly respect dogs, if we care enough to read their body language and give them the space and time they need, we will be training with kindness and patience. We will not be pushing them too far. And if a dog is being pushed too far, maybe the behavior to consider is not the dog’s, but that of the one doing the pushing. Cooperation, not coercion, makes training a positive experience for everyone. _______________________________________________________

 You can find my books and streaming seminars at www.nicolewilde.com and follow me on Facebook @NicoleWildeauthor. My mentoring service can be found at Dog Trainer's Friend. And if wildlife photos are your thing, check out my Instagram at nicolewildeart.