The fallacy of dog behaviour quick fixes

Canine behaviour modification

There are very many social media and even printed literature examples of “dog trainers” with experience[1], but poorly aligned skills and little or no formal training in animal behaviour or research methodology. Unfortunately, many such trainers demonstrate their outmoded, punishment-based methods of modifying dog behaviours, with a particular focus on both dogs pulling on the lead and canine “reactivity” – which most like to label “aggression” (probably because that makes them look more heroic in confronting the “vicious” dog and “curing it in a single session”, thus creating a social media following). We also occasionally see this approach taken by “private dog trainers” and even a few well-meaning volunteers at dog clubs.

The message here is simple.

Firstly, the next time such examples of the “instant cure” for pulling on the leash or quick fix for canine reactivity are viewed, try to put the demonstration in the context of Tinbergen’s four elements – understanding the contributing factors of function, evolution, mechanism and development of behaviours[2] - in analysing the causality and relationships of the canine behaviour patterns, as well as the dog’s view of what it is now confronted with (i.e. the umwelt[3]). Then, in what is described or videoed, is this really a fair and reasonable testing ground, is the dog actually displaying normal/expected behaviours? Has any consideration been given to the dog’s breed, age, sex, background/upbringing and what has contributed to the undesirable behaviour under discussion, that is (to simplify the Tinbergen four-dimensional frame of reference) a basic “root cause analysis”?  Can this dog possibly start to overcome the view it has of life and learn positive, desirable behaviours from the treatment being delivered?[4]

Secondly, observe both the handler/trainer’s behaviour and appearance as well as the subject dog’s body language, as the trainer “takes control” of the dog[5]. Is the trainer “unusual” compared to the guardian – is the trainer large compared to the guardian, a different gender, bearded, wearing strange clothes (wearing a hat, wearing sunglasses which suppress the important ability of the dog to read body language, adding to wariness and even fear, etc.), behaving “strangely” (constantly talking to a camera/audience rather than paying attention to the dog), applying an unknown type of collar restraint (such as a thin, choking slip lead or prong collar)? Does the trainer pat the dog on the top of the head and the dog cringes at that action (very many dogs do not like to be patted on the head, experiencing that as a threatening gesture – especially when performed by an unfamiliar human) and the trainer appears oblivious to this reaction and just keeps going? Any, or all, of these elements may cause uncertainty, stress, fear and reactivity in the subject dog. Also, has the trainer bothered to learn the dog’s name it responds to and then use it appropriately as the precursor to a cue to slow down, change direction, sit, drop down, halt, remain calm, or whatever (as a simple reassurance that this is a friendly encounter promising positive outcomes)?

As to the dog’s body language, as the trainer demonstrates the “clever cure”, is the dog panting, lip licking, glancing at the handler and back at its guardian (if present), is the dog’s back hunched,

tail down and even between its legs, are its ears down or sloping back (when normally they would be erect or relaxed) and is it walking cautiously, seemingly uncertain and not confident of where it is supposed to be or what direction to take?[6] Observe the dog’s body language at the start of the session and then at the end of the session. On so very many of the examples you will view, the sad story is the same for the unfortunate dog – the relationship with humans has been damaged and the dog is now in a state of uncertainty and even fear, total abject submission and most often, a state of learned helplessness[7].

Even if some of these elements are observable, the training session is not just a waste of time, but is actually potentially amplifying the problems the dog and their guardian are experiencing. After such a session, not only will the dog be confused, but most likely the guardian will be as well, feeling like they did something wrong or worse, that it is all the dog’s fault and they just need to apply more direct punishment/bullying/leadership in overcoming/correcting the unwanted behaviour. Still, the root cause remains untreated and the guardian has certainly not learned anything of value in dog training or altering undesirable canine behaviours.

As the dog’s companion, ask yourself do you want a confident and happy companion, or is it just about your dominance and the dog’s submission – that is, just about your ego – because you just want the dog to “behave nicely” with minimum effort in training? In working through turning around undesired behaviours in a companion dog, keep in mind how you wish the relationship between dog and guardian to develop and be maintained. Will it be a relationship of true companionship, or one of fear and uncertainty? As the guardian/handler/trainer, are you teaching the dog desired behaviours through appropriate cues (usually audible, but may also involve gentle/appropriate body language) and positive reinforcement for the desired outcome, or are you placing the dog in a position of uncertainty of your desires and fear of your abrupt and unjustified behaviours?[8]

Conclusion

The single session, 10-minute, quick-fix for undesirable canine behaviours are invariably disaster

scenarios, aggravating reactivity and aggression (if that is genuinely in play, not just an extension of apprehension/fear-based reactivity). This cannot be overstated and applies to the range of “expert cures” we are presented with, from pulling on the leash to reactivity towards other dogs and humans. What is required is, firstly, getting to know and understand the dog in question – a true root cause analysis – which is rarely performed by the “instant cure pundits”, who most commonly use confusion (to the dog and guardian), punishment and abuse to address these challenges. Secondly, the remedy and overcoming the challenging behaviour is available, but it will take time and patience – if you do not have those two elements available, reconsider your suitability to be a canine companion[9].

References

There are many reference books on this subject (refer to those mentioned under References in the Training article “Managing reactive and predatory dog behaviour” on this website). A good place to start is the book (which is well illustrated with colour photos and easy to digest on the subjects of canine stress, anxiety and aggression, understanding the cause of an undesirable or aberrant behaviour, avoidance of punishment regimes in the “quick fix” solutions) made use of in composing elements of this article, is that of Hallgren, A (2012) Stress, Anxiety and Aggression in Dogs; Cadmos Publ. Ltd, UK; 143 pp. Hallgren does draw parallels between human examples of thought and emotional reactions – which is an area I stay away from, as it is often overly anthropomorphic and potentially misleading – but in the context in this referenced book is relatively harmless and does add something to the understanding. As always, any misinterpretations or wrong conclusions are, of course, my responsibility.

[1] Such trainers describe their own abundant experience – but, unfortunately, seem to come to only a single solution, suggesting one confirmation-biased method and outcome scenario run multiple times and all too frequently involving various degrees of punishment techniques in dog training (grading to abuse, cruelty and stupidity – pity the dogs and their guardians exposed to these singular regimes).

[2] Tinbergen, N (1963) On aims and methods of ethology; Zeitschrift fur Tierpsychologie 20; pp 410-433. A possibly more accessible account of this work (in English language) is summarised by Miklosi, A (2015) Dog Behaviour, Evolution and Cognition; Oxford University Press; Ch 2 pp 16 – 38. Refer to Article on this website “Canine ethology:  anecdotes, experience and science” for a fuller explanation of Tinbergen’s parameters.

[3] Again, refer to Article on this website “Canine ethology:  anecdotes, experience and science” regarding the umwelt.

[4] Especially where punishment or severe restraint is being added to the already high stress/fearful canine state.

[5] I will readily admit to a bias against “dog behaviour specialists” (and I use the term very loosely) who take the dog from its guardian/companion (usually by grabbing the dog and applying a garroting slip lead or prong collar) and attempt to prove that they can reform, control or suppress this unfortunate subject in just a few minutes of a single training session – commonly referencing concepts of “leadership” and “dominance” (shown to be based on total misconceptions more than a quarter of a century ago). Almost every case I have witnessed shows a dog regressing into learned helplessness, increased fear and severely suppressed emotions, waiting to explode at a future provocation. This does absolutely nothing to help the dog or the guardian – in fact it worsens every element of the challenge the dog and guardian face.

[6] To appreciate the full spectrum of issues touched on here, please refer to Articles and Training texts on this website: “Dog Body Language”; “Dominance – is it a real thing?”; Should certain dog training devices be banned?”; “How Dogs Learn”; Managing Reactive and Predatory Dog Behaviour”; “Common dog training challenges: Pulling on the lead & unwanted behaviours”; and “Training equipment used (and misused) in dog training”. 

[7] See further the Article “Reinforcement vs punishment: A dog trainer’s perspective” on this website; some key references therein are repeated here for convenience: Overmier, J. B. & Seligman, M. E. (1967) Effects of inescapable shock upon subsequent escape and avoidance responding; Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology; 63(1):28-33. For an expose of more recent articles ranging from 2002 to 2021 see URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/learned-helplessness#: [Note that a number of experiments described read as unpleasantly as the aversive techniques being discussed]. Maier, S. F. and Seligman, E.P. (2016) Learned Helplessness at Fifty: Insights from Neuroscience; Psychol Rev. 2016 Jul;123(4):349–367; note that "Passivity in response to shock is not learned. It is the default, unlearned response to prolonged aversive events ... " [available at Nat. Libr. Med. URL https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4920136/ ].

[8] Again, reference the articles on this website referenced in Footnote 6 above.

[9] See Training article on this website “Managing reactive and predatory dog behaviours”.