FAQs

“Force-free” dog training is a word that describes a humane and effective approach to training dogs. It’s also known as reward-based, fear free, modern, science based, evidence based, or positive reinforcement training. Rather than using punishment, it focuses on setting dogs up for success, rewarding desired behaviors, and addressing underlying emotions to change behavior.

“Balanced” training is a word that describes a training method that uses rewards as well as punishment. Punishment may be referred to as “corrections”, which may be verbal, physical, or environmental. The techniques use intimidation, fear, discomfort, force, coercion or pain to change behavior.

It is generally agreed upon that the best training method for dogs is reward-based or positive reinforcement training. This approach is backed by science and research and is recommended by many animal welfare organizations. 

Clicker Training is a training technique which uses a marker signal before rewarding the animal, to let them know exactly what behavior or stimulus earns a reward. The marker signal may be from a simple device that makes a “click” sound when pressed, a verbal signal, or something else that the animal can perceive. Using a marker signal makes training easier for the animal to understand, therefore making the training faster and more effective.

It may look impressive when someone puts a prong or shock collar on a dog and “fixes” an unwanted behavior in 20 minutes. When we take a closer look at the dog’s body language, we can see that the dog is showing signs of stress and fear. Dogs can quickly learn to avoid something that produces scary or painful events. However the unwanted behavior is likely to reemerge later, because the motivations and emotions that were driving the behavior were not addressed.

“Correction” is a word for punishment, which is something that decreases behavior. Although the word implies that it “fixes” behavior, it really just suppresses behavior without addressing the root cause. Some of the fallout from punishment include increased fear and anxiety, damage to the dog-human bond, aggression to the handler/owner, aggression to others, or physical injury.

Counter conditioning is a behavioral therapy method used to change an animal’s emotional response towards a stimulus, such as strangers or another dog. It helps overcome fear, anxiety, or aggressive behavior by pairing the stimulus with something the dog loves, such as hot dogs or cheese. The stimulus needs to be presented at an intensity which does not create a strong negative emotional response, with the intensity gradually increasing over time as the dog becomes more comfortable. 

Shock collars and e-collars use a remote-control device to deliver an electric shock to a dog, generally to punish unwanted behavior. Some pet owners and trainers may prefer the term e-collar to distance themselves from the negative connotations associated with shock collars, but ultimately they are referring to the same tool with the same function. With different products there are differences in the intensity and duration of the electric shock, with some providing more options including vibration and beep functions. The use of shock collars/e-collars is controversial and can have negative impacts on a dog’s well-being and behavior.