[fostermom]

We are fostering an untrained, undersocialized adolescent male rottweiler so are dealing with issues related to all of the above (ie, him being untrained, also undersocialized, plus the adolescent and male rotti issues!!!). He is a wonderful boy and has huge potential but he can be unruly and "reactive". I have been working with him with traditional methods to teach basic obedience...when we got him he really didn't understand or if he did understand he didn't comply with even basic sit or down commands...within two weeks he was doing hour downstays!!
I started him as well on clicker training and it is AMAZING what he is learning utilyzing this...three sessions and he's doing mock rally courses...the trainer said he'd be a GREAT rally dog. The trainer utilizes strictly positive reinforcement...told us to ignore bad behaviors, reward appropriate behaviors, offer appropriate alternatives when he is behaving "badly". So I've been trying...BUT the other night he kept jumping on me. When I ignored the behavior he seemed to escalate it, barking and grabbing at my pants legs and sleeves....after the third time in about half an hour that he did that, I caved and YELLED! Total change in behavior with no problems the rest of the night. I told the trainer that he was acting like a kid off or restrictions...knew he could get away with anything so was acting out...and that his behavior improved dramatically when I corrected him...got this response:
Oh dear...frankly Judy, the problem is that you are so entwined in the old "make them behave or else" methodology that it is inhibiting your ability to grasp the concept of giving dogs a choice and rewarding the correct choices. Dogs do what is rewarding for them...PERIOD
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So is it harmful to correct a dog or utilyze more traditional training methods in conjunction with positive reinforcement or is strictly positive reinforcement really better?? I'm ready to be beat up here LOL!!