positively reinforced

A collection of thoughts from the mind of a Canine Behaviour and Training undergraduate striving to help people understand the way their dog thinks and why our dogs behave the way they do. No dog is inherently bad, and every dog can benefit from force free training. 🐾

[peduncling-away-deactivated2019]

So I was wondering, what is so wrong with Cesar Millans training techniques? For some reason all of tumblr seems to hate him, and I can't, for the life of me, figure out why? His techniques work. He doesn't hit the dogs, I don't see obvious abuse.. So help me out here. What's so wrong?

First of all. Yes he does hit dogs. And kicks them. And don’t tell me he doesn’t because he does. You can skirt around it using buzz words like “touch” and “energy” but it’s a hit. It’s positive punishment - applying an aversive to suppress behaviour, especially aggressive behaviour, which is often caused by anxiety. And it’s not okay. It is abusive.

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare stipulate that animals must be free from pain and fear. Cesar Millan’s techniques, especially with aggressive dogs, rely on aversives, which cause pain and discomfort and stress. And that’s not okay.

His methods are highly aversive and can exacerbate or even cause aggression. They revolve around intimidation, pain and coercion and are highly stressful for dogs. They result in shut-down, miserable dogs often with chronic stress.

The highest frequency of aggression occurred in response to aversive (or punishing) interventions, even when the intervention was indirect:

• Hitting or kicking the dog (41% of owners reported aggression)• Growling at the dog (41%)• Forcing the dog to release an item from its mouth (38%)• “Alpha roll” (forcing the dog onto its back and holding it down) (31%)• “Dominance down” (forcing the dog onto its side) (29%)• Grabbing the jowls or scruff (26%)• Staring the dog down (staring at the dog until it looks away) (30%)• Spraying the dog with water pistol or spray bottle (20%)• Yelling “no” (15%)• Forced exposure (forcibly exposing the dog to a stimulus – such as tile floors, noise or people – that frightens the dog) (12%)

In contrast, non-aversive methods resulted in much lower frequency of aggressive responses:

• Training the dog to sit for everything it wants (only 2% of owners reported aggression)• Rewarding the dog for eye contact (2%)• Food exchange for an item in its mouth instead of forcing the item out (6%)• Rewarding the dog for “watch me” (0%)

(source) (CM uses 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, a version of 9, and 10 extensively. (x)

Also:

He employs an archaic ideology that all misbehaviour is caused by dogs trying to assert their dominance. Which is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. This crap has been disproved countless times. Dogs are not trying to achieve world domination jfc

His methods have been condemned by veterinary behaviourists, animal behaviourists and animal welfare groups.

He sets the dogs off deliberately for the show. Seriously. He sets them up for failure and then punishes them for reacting. That’s not ethical and it compromises welfare.

Here’s some handy dandy links for you to read because I have gone over this so many times and I feel like a broken record at this point:

Up to date information on wolf pack structure by top wolf biologist L. David Mech:

Alpha Status, Dominance, and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs

Whatever Happened to the Term Alpha Wolf?

Information on dog training and dog behavior and why Cesar’s methods are outdated and ineffective (many of these articles are by vets and certified animal behaviorists) :

Cesar Millan, Dominance Theory and Modern Dog Training

The Dog Whisperer Controversy

The Dog Whisperer: Frequently Asked Questions

Modern Dog Training vs. Cesar Millan

The Dominance Controversy and Cesar Millan

From Andrew Luescher, DVM, Veterinary Behaviorist

Veterinary Behaviorists Take a Stand Against Cesar Millan

dog training gone bad - Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB

I’m not sure why people are even trying to defend Cesar Millan on that slide for my animal welfare presentation(which got really popular wowie did not expect that). I explain very clearly what learned helplessness is. I put a picture of a dog in a state of shut-down with Millan leaning over it and grinning like it’s the best thing ever. And people are still defending him and don’t see an issue with it. Take off those blinkers and look.

[happytripawd]

Lots of info in here fae-rachel both about Millan, and dominance theory.

[canisitsnotlupus]

beautiful

[badbreedingblog]

I came across this on youtube and this guy gives a nice on point rant about exotic bullies, the cruelty behind their breeding and numerous health issues and even explains his first hand experience as to how he saw the exotic movement come forth by people originally entering cropped french bulldogs and english bulldogs into American Bully shows and misrepping their dogs. 

He does talk about some short experiences watching exotics die at shows in 50 degree weather, suffocation, and die from mating.

[thepositivedogblog-blog]

This has nothing to do with behavior and training but its a horrendous practice and this guy knows what he's talking about.

[notapitbull]

^This is an emaciated dog^

THIS is not an emaciated dog:

Simple.

[thepositivedogblog-blog]

This is a friendly reminder that a dog wearing a muzzle is not about to gouge your eyes out and eat your children while you sleep.  Dogs can wear muzzles for a lot of different reasons.  Some dogs chase and catch small fluffies like rabbits, bids and cats if given half a chance.  Some dogs eat litter or other nasties off the street that can make them ill.  Some dogs are scared by over boisterous dogs trying to play, some dogs are ill or old or rescues with issues.  There are 101 reasons a muzzle can be worn and it isn’t up to you to judge.  If you are curious, ask, I’m sure the owner will be happy to chat.  Remember that whatever the issue, the owner is doing a responsible thing by muzzling to prevent a bite or their dog becoming ill or a cat being killed while they are working on their dog’s behavioral issue.  A correctly fitted and introduced box or basket muzzle used in conjunction with a force free training plan is a good tool in many situations. You don’t need to cross the street or pull your small child away, you need to bare in mind that a muzzle does not an evil dog make and remember, that even a dog muzzled for reactivity it cannot bite you - that is the whole reason it’s wearing it’s muzzle.

[athreegermansproduction-deactiv]

These are the early signs because catching this early means faster and safer cooling for your friend.

1) Mouth Wide The wider the mouth, the higher the AC is “turned up” in your dog. When it is wide open there will be wrinkling at the back of the lips and you’ll practically see his tonsils; he’s hot!

2) Tongue Long The more tongue hangs out of his mouth, the more air is being pulled over it with every breath and more cooling is possible. When your dog’s tongue starts hanging down well past his teeth, chances are he’s hot.

3) Tongue Wide As your dog heats up, his tongue widens and thins. The wider and thinner it is, the more surface area there is for cooling. In the picture above, you can see the tongue starting to broaden. I call that “bologna tongue” since that’s what it starts to look like.

4) Tongue Dark The hotter the dog, the more blood is sent to the tongue in an attempt to cool it. That increased blood flow darkens the tongue.

5) Fast Panting Makes sense, right? Faster panting is another way to up his AC. It’s his best way to try to cool himself.

[caninecuriosity-blog]

Dogs can speak, we just have to bother to learn there language- You can download the free poster here it’s a great way to learn what your dogs body language means.

[doggydayjob]

Passive-aggressive reminder that not all dogs are happy being social with other dogs. Not every dog who dislikes other dogs does so because they’re poorly socialized or afraid. Not being “dog park material” does not make that dog a bad dog; it just means they’re happier elsewhere. Please respect what your dog is telling you about themselves. You’ll both be happier for it.

[thepositivedogblog-blog]

I cannot agree wth ths more.  Please also respect what other people’s dogs are telling you.  Your dog may be friendly or “just saying hello” but allowing it to approach a dog that is on lead, is wearing an ‘I need space’ vest or is in any other way, whether it be t’s own body language or it’s owner’s request, is just plain rude and not at all thoughtful.  Your dog may be friendly, but that does not mean that all other dogs appreciate it’s overzealous greeting because you have failed to teach it it’s recall it or put it on it’s leash.  The other dog may be reactive, in heat, old, sick, or just not a dog kind of dog.  Respect what your dogs and tohers are telling you.