There are
numerous variations on the theme of dog training, many based on misconceptions
around wolf behaviour. A study in the
1990’s by Dr. David Mech of the University of Minnesota concluded that much of
what was widely believed about wolf packs was mistaken, but it was these
misunderstandings that had underpinned
the dominance hierarchy / alpha leader version of dog training. Dr Mech studied natural wolf packs in the wild for
over 12 years and attributes many of the misconceptions to observations of
unnatural packs of unrelated wolves in captivity. He identified that the natural wolf pack is
typically a family, with a breeding pair of adult wolves and their offspring
and the terms "alpha" or "dominant" are less appropriate than
"parent." A
wolf pack should be seen as a family unit which serves to raise the young, with the adult parents guiding
the activities of the group before the young disperse to pair up
with other dispersed wolves and form a breeding pair and a pack of their own. To ensure their survival, canines have developed body language and behaviours that have a calming effect so the animals can co-operatively hunt for prey, raise their young, and resolve conflicts without violence.
Although dogs are not wolves, they are pack animals and they want someone to
take charge. They want to be led by a
calm, even tempered leader; someone who will deal with whatever situation
arises with confidence, and communicate to them that they are safe and secure –
a parent figure rather than a tyrant figure.
A handler taking on the role as pack leader has to communicate that they
are in control, are the source of the dog’s food, are in control of the space
in which it lives and the resources it wants to access, and help the dog
understand those actions that constitute acceptable behaviour through positive
obedience training and building a close, trusting relationship with their dog.
Dogs learn
very quickly and from an early age – both from each other and from humans. Puppies can learn behaviours quickly by following
examples set by experienced dogs. Studies have also shown that dogs
engaged in play with other dogs change their behaviour depending on the
attention-state of their partner. Play
signals were only sent when the dog was holding the attention of its partner.
If the partner was distracted, the dog instead engaged in attention-getting
behaviour before sending a play signal.
Similarly in a training environment handlers have to secure the
attention of their dog before giving it an instruction.
To train any animal the behaviour of
the animal must be understood. A bond
between trainer and animal must be developed so that the responses of each
become predictable. The animal needs to learn
that the trainer will respond predictably when the dog offers certain
behaviours, i.e. the trainer will offer rewards. Similarly the trainer learns that reinforcing the
desired response makes the response more likely to be repeated in the future. One of the aims of dog training classes is to
train the handlers to be predictable so that the dog realises that responding
in a certain way has a desirable outcome.
Reinforcement is a reward for desired
behaviour and gives the trainer a means of managing the behaviour of the animal
as whenever a particular activity is reinforced, the chances of that activity
being repeated are increased. To be effective, a reinforcement must be given
almost simultaneously with the desired behaviour (and certainly never before). A reinforcement can be a food reward, a
verbal reward (praise), a physical touch (stroke, tickle etc) or even a game
(throwing a ball etc).
Inducement training can also be used
to shape and reinforce a behaviour that at first approximates the desired goal
behaviour. Through further selective
reinforcement and shaping, the dog's behaviour eventually meets the handler's requirements. Psychologists identify this process as a form
of operant conditioning. The inducement can be in the form of a
favourite toy, or a treat. When the dog
responds with the desired behaviour, the behaviour is then reinforced by verbal
praise.
So to summarise:
·
The handler has to understand what a dog is – a
pack animal that wants to live in a co-operative family unit with a firm but
fair pack leader who makes the dog feel safe and secure.
·
Owners should remember that dogs are not wolves,
and breed personalities have been shaped by selective breeding during
domestication.
·
Dogs learn quickly, from both other dogs and
humans, and through selective breeding have acquired the ability to interpret
subtle social cues from their handlers.
·
Dogs need to be trained using positive
reinforcement methods, and handlers must understand that they need to
demonstrate predictable behaviour to the dog so that the dog realises that
behaving in a certain way has a desirable outcome in the form of a reward.
