When Dr. Ian Dunbar introduced his SIRIUS Puppy Training in 1982, dog training mostly comprised multiple leash corrections to punish dogs for misbehavior and noncompliance.
While positive reinforcement is now widely adopted, Dunbar's new book details how training has strayed from his original, exceptionally quick and easy lure/reward approach, in which dogs understand our instructions and we can cue desirable behavior. Dunbar argues that the "reward vs. punishment" binary is a false choice, stopping unwanted behaviors is not enough, and it's unrealistic for us to expect dogs to stop acting like dogs. This book shows how:
- the biggest "shock" about electronic training collars, halters, and harnesses is they seldom work as training tools and instead become management tools for life.
- to phase out food rewards and use considerably more powerful "life rewards" - sniffing, walking, play with dogs, and interactive games.
- to use only the most effective reinforcement schedules - differential reinforcement and random reinforcement.
- the only path to long-term success is teaching puppies and dogs how, when, where, what, and/or for how long to chew, dig, bark, eliminate, jump up, and play.
- dogs have specific doggy needs and feelings, so behavior/temperament modification must simultaneously combine both classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
