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Originally Posted by Dayswalters  I don't have problem behaviors with my dog but I have seen people with dogs that are completely out of control. I'm not sure that strictly positive reinforcement would work to help in those cases. Especially people with aggressive dogs. I'm not advocating for any specific training. I just know someone that has tried several methods without success and spent $$$$ without benefit. |
I've worked with very aggressive, dangerous dogs who no one else could or would even approach, using only positive reinforcement techniques with very good results - have never been bitten by any dog since I was a kid and was bitten 3 times then. No need to punish or frighten a dog to control its mind and body - just work with it alone, establish trust, then respect and begin to motivate them to enjoy the "games" you play teaching them how to control their impulses and perform certain commands for rewards they want and in the process teaching them a new way of behaving and boundaries they must not cross. The dog of course has to be healthy, not brain-damaged or in pain for these techniques to work. Aggressive, dominant out-of-control dogs are far easier to rehab than those totally shut down and frozen with terror from aggressive, out-of-control humans.