by SpecialKRB

Dog Theory Based Techniques positive & Traditional Dog Training – Better Understanding of Dog Behavior – Explains How Dog Training Techniques Work

Though there are several German Shepherd training techniques, these can be categorized by the way they address behavioral issues. Thus, there are two main categories: 1) Techniques based on learning theories; 2) Techniques based on canine ethology.

The former category focuses on behavior modification, usually disregarding typical and natural behavior of German Shepherds. The latter one focuses on natural German Shepherd behavior and often ignores current learning theories.

In addition, techniques based on learning theories can be organized under three main subcategories: 1) Traditional German Shepherd training; 2) Positive training; 3) Mixed techniques.

Techniques based on learning theories

This category comprises techniques that use positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment as main ways to educate German Shepherds. Since those techniques are very different among each other, they are better organized under the three subcategories mentioned above and explained below.

1. Traditional German Shepherd training

Traditional German Shepherd training was initially developed to train war German Shepherds. It was very useful during World War I. This training technique was embraced by civilian trainers after World War II, and quickly became the standard way to train German Shepherds.

It seems that Colonel Konrad Most was the founder of this technique and, therefore, he is acknowledged as the father of modern German Shepherd training.

However, the main supporter of the technique was William R. Koehler. His book “The Koehler Method of Dog Training” could be the all-time best selling publication in the field.

Modern scientific principles of learning were not used to develop traditional training, so it is an empirical technique. Nevertheless, it seems that Konrad Most already understood the principles of operant conditioning on 1910, several years before those principles were published. So, this technique can be explained by operant conditioning principles.

Negative reinforcement and punishment are the main teaching ways of traditional training.

Negative reinforcement is the process that strengthens a behavior because an unpleasant situation is stopped or avoided as a consequence of that particular behavior. For instance, pushing on your German Shepherd’s shoulders will provoke an unpleasant situation for him. If the pressure over his shoulders disappears when he lies down, he will be more likely to do the same in the future, just to avoid that unpleasant sensation. Thus, your German Shepherd will be learning to lie down through negative reinforcement.

Punishment, on the other hand, is an unpleasant consequence of a particular behavior. Although punishment could weaken a behavior, it is not a guarantee that this will happen. Besides, punishments usually have undesired collateral effects.

An example of punishment would be if you hit your German Shepherd or yell at him because he climbed on the armchair. As a consequence you may get your German Shepherd off of the armchair, but there is no guarantee that he won’t climb again. Some possible undesired consequences could be that your German Shepherd bites you, he gets scared each time you appear or he gets phobia to armchairs.

Choke chains, prong collars and shock (electric) collars are common tools in traditional training and all its variants. Also, this kind of training is usually targeted to German Shepherd obedience exercises, disregarding behavioral problems.

Advocates of this technique often argue that traditional training provides reliable results which can’t be obtained with other techniques. They also claim that training collars (choke, prong and shock) are harmless because German Shepherds have a high threshold of pain.

Detractors of traditional German Shepherd training argue that both the technique and the tools are cruel and violent. They also claim that the technique can cause dangerous collateral effects, such as fear biting and damages to the German Shepherd’s trachea.

2. Positive German Shepherd training

Positive training was developed under the principles of Skinner’s operant conditioning. While it’s not a new technique, it didn’t get enough popularity until the nineties.

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Former students of Skinner, psychologists Keller and Marian Breland, pioneered commercial applications of operant conditioning when they created Animal Behavior Enterprises (ABE) on 1942. ABE was the first company that offered positive training services.

The huge popularity of traditional training prevented ABE to succeed in German Shepherd training. So, the Breland’s company was forced to look for new niches and ABE got focused on training animals for TV shows and commercials. Keller and Marian also pioneered dolphin training for aquaria and US navy.

Positive reinforcement is the main teaching way of these