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Techniques that force a dog through pain (or the elimination of pain when the dog performs - i.e. "I keep yanking this leash until you listen and will stop when you do.")
are to be avoided. Dogs need to want to work with us and we can teach this through positive motivating, redirecting and fun.
You do not have to yank a leash every time a dog fails to listen – maybe you just need to make yourself more appealing! Food, toys, happy voice and teaching the dog a VERBAL cue ("Ahhh! Ahhh!) when you are unhappy as oppose to ear pinching, hauling off and jerking the poor dog around or yelling make for far more encouraging training.
On the other hand, some techniques such as clicker though very positive, are not for all dogs either.
I have known dogs to be afraid of the clicker sound. Does this make training fun? No. Not really.
I like to find a balance of fun-based and enjoyable techniques and fit training to the dog – NOT dog to the training.
What works great for one dog may not work great for the one next to it. And if a techniques does not work, then the instructor and student need to work together to find what best motivates the INDIVIDUAL dog to want to work with us and utilize the most positive methods we can.
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