Dog training – I believe in Positive Reinforcement
I am really happy to hear when friends get a new family member in form of a dog.
In Sweden for some reason Cesar Milan (& Swedish Börjesson) is the main TV dog training show. I do not like punishment dog training. Unfortunately when talking dog training and philosophy behind it, this topic can easily go way over board. I dont like to talk dog training on my blog´s too much. But I am FORE Positive Reinforcement dog training.
Positive Reinforcement means, in short, that you don´t punish your dog in any way what so ever. Instead you encourage your dog. And you learn how to ”read” your dogs language, signs. There is a science behind it. Something Milan dont use. One good thing is to look at and compare Stillwell videos on Youtube with Milan videos. If Milan says ”The Pack & Dominance”, I instead say ”A Family member and a friend, we listen and respect”. You could also frase it: ”I dont correct my dog, I reinforce my dog for good behavior”
Here you can listen to one British dog trainer, Victoria Stillwell, who used to be aired on Swedish TV, but for some reason TV-people like Confrontation and action and dramatic violent Drama. Such as Cesar Milan and Börjesson.
Victoria Stillwell is the opposite in dog training on TV, and I hope we get more of that in Sweden instead. Stillwell dont use punishment anymore. And I thank her for that.
Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator, artist & graphic designer
Hi, Stefan, I agree about to teach our dog without punish on any way. I believe the most important contribution of César Millán is: ”I’m not training dogs, I’m teaching humans to live with dogs”. Sometimes we believe the dog should think as a human, but he’s a dog and he will think as a dog. So, we must learn about our dog, and how to live with our pet. This is specially important with cats. I love cats, and if you want to teach something you should use love, a lot of love, If somebody punishes a cat, the cat will never obey.The cat learns quickly, though small, but never through violence.We can not pretend that the cat act like a dog, and the dog act like human, it is we who must adapt to them.
Hi Arieal, Glad to see you here mate! Agree that is the good part, but to me that´s where it stops with Milan for me. I fully agree that with Cats and Dogs we should use friendly training. I am glad to hear you use that training yourself.I´ve seen many of Milan´s shows. In the beginning, back in 2003 when I were on my first of several monthly trips to Arizona, USA, I first watched his tv show on animal plaet I believe. It was interesting because it was a dog program. But when I cam e back home to Sweden, it started to air on Swedish TV as well. And the more I looked, the more I saw how odd his dog training was. It was also at that time the Victoria Stillwell first TV show had aired in Sweden. Her first TV program wasnt my favorite, but then she made a new show and it was so much better. And thats the one she works with now.