I recently read a article in which a Swedish shutzhund trainer described how prong and e-collars were illegal in Sweden. He went on to say that trainers who used these methods lacked both imagination and knowledge. Like others have said here just because he is not using prong or e-collars doesn't mean that he is not using compulsion and like Larry has said compulsion is compulsion, the dog associates it the same way, but lets for discussion sake say he is, that he is using purely modivational methods. It certainly can be done especially where rotuine based OB such as in SchH is concerned. I often say that you can train a dog with a bag of Jelly Beans or s stick with a nail in it if you know what you are doing and certainly this is no exception to that. If you know what you are doing and have heaps of time, resouces etc you can certainly train a dog with no compulsion. It does however take a "LOT" longer and require substantially more knowledge to be able to pull it off. Now this is fine when you have this amount of time and the dog is trained for you for sport and as a hobby but if you are training the dog in real life usually you do not have the routines to work on (this doesn't mean you need compulsion just that it will add even more time to the process) nor such a large amount of time to get it right so if adding compulsion speeds that process up drastically then there is a clear benefit to it's use in this case.
Now to look to seek to find a way not to use compulsion at all you must first look at why you would seek such a path? What dangers to you percieve the use of such devices brings? The answer normally in short is a poor association to a command and a break down in handler/dog relationship and anyone with any reality would agree that thers is such a risk. Though in reality we must ask how big a risk is this really? For me in reality I wouldn't think it is that high a risk as long as the handler either has good handling skills or is working with someone else who has and can teach them. I see few truly adverserial relationships between handler and dog in the real working dog world and almost zero in SchH where for a dog to score the attitude of the dog is paramount to a good score. Now if in reality if there are few people having problems with the use of compulsion and it does speed the process up then I don't see it truly being something we moust avoid at all costs.
He went on to say that trainers who used these methods lacked both imagination and knowledge. Why is it that it is trainers who have chosen not to remove two powerful conditioning tools from their repetoir that lack imagination? Why is it assumed it is because we don't know better that we don't go down the path of using compulsion? Why is it not the opposite that is true that we have had the imagination and knowledge to not only use compulsion but to do so in a way that does not create the potential dangers as spoken about above. There is no reason to say that becasue a trainer still uses compulsion in their training that they are less of a trainer than someone who does not if in the end they get the job done with the dog having the same attitude towars it work, the accuracy to command is the same (usually better but thats a different conversation) and usually the job is done in less time? Why is it that this is not seen as a superior trainer who not only can use motivation well but who also has the skill/knowledge to use compulsion and gain such results? Could I train a PP/PSD/SchH without e-collars, pinch collars etc? Sure but if the results are good, quick and the techniques are easy for people to learn then why would I choose too? I do not often have the luxury of having such a huge amount of time as discribed nor do I have the luxury of a dog failing as to so so will normally mean that it does so in real life. Simply to make things harder for myself? The only true advantage to doing such things is that it forces you to search for other techniques but a truly good trainer will seek such things whether they have the equipment or not simply as it is part of what they do and who they are.
Now, are there top level sport dogs or competent pp dogs who have never had any kind of compulsion used on them? Shiela Booth is famous for trainer her SchH dogs with purely modivational techniques. Once again I truly think that you would have a better chance of doing this with a sport dog. Not to say it couldn't be done with a PSD etc just that it would add a lot to the process and probably put undue pressure on the program etc.
Has this been the easy way out this whole time? Yeah of course. All training collars are there to make life easier. It is their primary function and in reality with a truly great handler non of them arte necessary, they simply speed the process up and make it that you don't need to be a world class handler to get the job done.
My dog is from working lines, and recovers instantly from a correction with no change in demeanor. But I am now wondering if our bond would be deeper if I never had to inflict pain during training. I would be inclined to argue against this though I do expect to get shouted down. I truly believe that part of forming the bond is showing the dog that you will control things, show leadership etc. Now this need not be done with compulsion but I truly believe it is part of it and feel that with a strong, handler hard dog that it brings with it respect. Now just to clarify I am talking only about compulsion that is done correctly.
I am a believer in taking the road less travelled, even if it is harder and longer. Then this sounds like it is for you.
In reality all methods should be look at and going down this path at least for a time certainly has merit if you have the time etc to do so and it will be a great learning experience for you, just dont try to paint the picture as this trainer has that you are superior etc than those that do it differently. Pointing out that others do it wrong is simple and a very common problem in the dog training community (only thing two trainers agree on is that the thrid doesn't know what they are doing stuff) but by not being such a person shows greater strength and knowledge in what you do than being so insecure that you have to criticise in this way. Learn from everyone, tyake what you like from each and this is how you will truly become a great dog trainer. I am fortunate to have worked with many truly great dog trainers and I do not do nor agree with everything any of them say or do but nor do I feel the need to criticise any technique etc but rather I let their results speak for the technique and judge based upon that.
Mick.