Quote:
Originally Posted by Ayoka  The word for it is aversive, but I'm not sure it's any better or worse than a collar correction, oir an e-collar, or a citronella collar, which I have used and won't likely use again.
I remember one of my first questions on here was about spray bottle for garbage diving...it was actually in a dog training book that I read it. It was suggested to me that the dog would STILL likely eat garbage if I wasn't around so making it inacessible was a better way to handle it. This has worked quite well - in fact now we have a garbage closet. |
I'll give you an example of where I'm coming from on this:
Chili likes to bark at the front window when people/dogs go by. I have 3 options in dealing with this - 1) restrict access to window; 2) spray, yank, yell at her; 3) give her an alternative behavior.
I do restrict access when I'm not home to manage the activity. Rather than using #2, however, I chose to use #3 and reinforce her "leave it" training, so I give her an alternative. Chili has been taught that "leave it" means "look in my eyes, it's gonna pay off, baby". When she barks at the window, from wherever I'm at in the house (upstairs, in the kitchen, watching TV - doesn't matter) I say "Chili, LEAVE it!" and what does she do? She instantly comes FLYING as fast as she can to me. I don't have to move a muscle. What do I do when she gets here? Why, I tell her how fantastic she is and I either offer a treat or engage her in a game of tug (which really helps diffuse all that excitement she built up by the visual out the window). I've given her an alternative way to USE HER ENERGY, and I've REWARDED her for using it in that way.
Call me crazy, but I'll choose a progressive, positive approach in every situation I can that actually teaches my dog ways to use what she's got over essentially telling her to "shut up" with an aversive like a spray bottle. And I've got quite a little spitfire here that's always willing to work for me!
