Training high drive dogs without the use of intimidation.
The dogs featured in this video belong to my friend youtube user: alomaro
There is a myth going around that is not founded in science, but is mere opinion, that high drive dogs need to be physically and psychologically intimidated in order to be trained. By using Progressive Reinforcement Training which involves no forms of physical or psychological intimidation, you can train high drive dogs the right level of arousal as well as reliable behaviors, and how to be friendly and calm around other dogs and people.
To learn exactly what Progressive Reinforcement is go here:
http://www.dogmantics.com/Dogmantics/Progressive_Reinforcement_Manifesto.html
The Need for a New Term:
A type of animal training exists that involves no forms of intimidation, confrontation, violence, reprimands, or domination.
This non-violent type of training has gone under many names: "Clicker Training," "Positive Training," "Positive Reinforcement Training," and "Reward Training," among others. There is a need for a more specific, more accurate, more inspirational term. The above terms have been used so loosely in recent years that they have lost their original meanings. How has this happened? Trainers who use compulsion methods may incorporate a clicker (a noise maker to mark desirable behavior) and refer to themselves as a "Clicker Trainers." Trainers who use painful or intimidating methods may include food or toy rewards in their training and refer to themselves as "Reward Trainers" or "Positive Reinforcement Trainers." It is already possible that a member of the public may seek the guidance of a trainer who claims to be "Positive," only to find out that this trainer routinely uses physical violence towards animals.
Progressive Reinforcement Training is a training system that is not only humane, compassionate, and reliable, but is also based on the latest scientific studies. Because this form of training constantly incorporates the latest and most reliable scientific findings, and because it furthers an evolutionary progress toward a more harmonious relationship between humans and the animals who live with them, it shall be referred to as Progressive Reinforcement Training.
Progressive Reinforcement Training essentially means teaching animals by rewarding desired behaviors and excluding the intentional use of physical or psychological intimidation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwA1O1mApWQ
It’s so interesting to watch these “intense/ high drive” dogs in such an orderly and playful manner! this is so cool 🙂
Such good dogs they are!! And of course so wonderfully trained. You can do anything with positive reinforcement. 🙂
Especially loved the part where the dog was running backwards on it’s hind legs, that was really talented!!
Anything is possible with progressive reinforcement training!! You go girl ; ]
It’s great to see someone proving that myth wrong. Those dogs are so lucky to have a wonderful trainer (and a beautiful home!).
I have a border collie, and when it was a puppy and went to his first puppy school class, the trainer would tug super hard on his lead to make it heel and yell at it. It was very traumatic for both me and my puppy. I ended up going home and practising like crazy with my puppy using his favourite toys, enthusiastic gestures, and food rewards, so he didn’t have to go through that ever again.
So cool to see them doing tricks. Normally I see this breed of dog in K9 jobs. Great work!
Loved this! 🙂 I love that they can have self-control around toys even though they are high drive dogs! 🙂
This is such a great video! Thank you for sharing 🙂
It was also great seeing a male owner utilizing positive training methods to teach his dogs so many cool tricks.
I know it’s not true everywhere, but in my area I find it hard to convince guys you don’t need to use “macho”, forceful training techniques. I’ll definitely use this video as a positive example!
Great video and so very true!!! Makes you wonder where that outdated myth came from–I find high drive dogs the easiest to train because they are so willing to offer behaviors, you have many more behaviors to choose to reinforce.
What gorgeous dogs! It’s so impressive to see Malinois with “inner calm”.
I recently went to a clinic with Dean Calderon and he uses the clicker method – albeit with a hand motion that he has taught the dogs means a reward. These schutzund dogs are getting better and better training.
Great video! Proof for everybody who says it can’t be done! Fantastic!
I am so addicted to these dogs. One day when I have the money and the time to dedicate to training I want to get one.
I almost made the mistake of buying one a couple years ago and I am so glad I didn’t.
Having enough money to pay for a dog and having enough money to take care of it if it gets sick are 2 totally different things.
I could not believe the vet bills my friend had to pay when his dog got sick.
I agree. Having had a female Malinois. We started education very soon and we had a wonderful trainer helping us. We where more trained as our dog 😉 We never used any violence. She was so lovely and also a wonderful family dog. I disagree with all who only see the police dog or military dog in a Malinois.
Very nice. Any dog can be trained with positive reinforcement. It just depends WHAT you should reinforce the most. High drive dogs you gotta reinforce calm and focused behaviour more so they don’t overflow, while more laid back or even lazy dog, you need to make things exciting for them.
I had an caucasian ovcharka (flock guardian breed) and many say that it’s extremely difficult to train them because they’re bred to make all decisions for themselves and they have zero need to please humans, but I managed to teach good behaviors and even tricks to mine. Just had to understand what he felt was beneficial for HIM and use that as a reward. Praise was not enough because he didn’t care for that. Now I have aussie and it feels like a dog from another planet since he actually wants to please me and do stuff, lol
This made me day. I get so discouraged as a positive trainer trying to get people to not use aversives and the best argument is well trained dogs like yours trained without pain. Thank you.