Training Philosophy
Positive Reinforcement
Canines on Track trains with 100% positive reinforcement dog training methods which is a reward based system that shapes and reinforces behaviours that you want while eliminating the behaviours you don’t want. We do not use any aversive methods and are completely fear/punishment free. Rewards should be tailored to your specific dog as dogs often vary in what motivates them. Positive reinforcement training is scientifically proven to be a very effective way to shape and modify canine behaviour and leads to happy, well-adjusted companions.
The Dominance Myth - Don't punish, teach.
The dominance theory believes that you need to dominate your dog in order to prevent them from challenging you for the “alpha role”. This theory has been completely disproven. To read more about the dominance theory click here. People who opt for the dominance-focused training methods tend to look at positive reinforcement training as if it were a bribe and feel that their dog should obey simply because they’ve asked them to, but respect cannot be demanded, it is earned.
Positive reinforcement methods are highly effective as they are based on the science of the canine mind. Dogs are cause and effect thinkers so whatever gets them what they want is what they will do. They are also driven by their survival instinct. The better a dog is at controlling the resources, the more likely they are to survive.
You can greatly reduce any instances of your dog challenging you for resources if you ensure that you make them earn everything of value and ignore demanding behaviour. All of this can be achieved through positive reinforcement training which promotes learning and helps build a bond of trust and mutual respect between canine and human. Dominance and punishment, on the other hand, create stress, fear, anxiety and distrust which is counter productive to the learning process and in establishing a bond between human and canine. Fear and anxiety often result in aggression and prohibits the ability to learn.
Benevolent Leadership
Positive reinforcement does not mean that you need to be a pushover. It is still imperative that you act as a leader. Leading by example and ensuring you have control of the resources is far more effective and humane than punishing your dog and attempting to teach them right from wrong through fear and intimidation. As a benevolent leader you can foster a trusting relationship between human and canine that is built on mutual respect. It’s important to remember that being a leader means taking the time to teach the dog what you want them to do instead of punishing them for behaviours you don’t like.
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Have any questions? We are always open to talk more about how our services can assist your canines needs.