now in Italy for several years now using a method known as kind to educate dogs. I say finally because here in Italy, from the standpoint of dog, we're really back at least 20 years compared to other foreign countries.
What is this gentle method: practically give directions to the dog to let him perform a move or ask him to do something that we humans and if the dog is rewarded properly execute the request, otherwise not. As premiums usually requires appetizing morsels of food, caresses and compliments of the owner with the voice. This has proved to be exactly the opposite of the methods used above, the so-called punitive or coercive methods, where the dog was given an order and if not performed correctly were punished, physically and verbally, but if you do it correctly did not receive any punishment. Imagine what a difference for the dog psychologically receive orders and, if punishment is wrong, than to receive requests, and the worst that can happen is not to receive any prize.
course, the gentle method allows you to create a good working relationship with the owner, which is impossible with the methods of punishment where the owner or educator will be limited to the tyrants who rule and punished!
This is a very positive trend that is leading us to study and learn to know ever better the dogs, to be able to relate ever more closely without requiring the use of violence. Thanks to the gentle method is in fact possible to teach many things to do in any type of dog, dog breeds or even timid, is obviously impossible with the methods of punishment, as if the dogs are shy or fearful already tend to close down!
addition, with the gentle method is already possible to educate the dogs puppies, because the dog will be pleased to understand and learn spurred by its owner and without any fear of being corrected in any way! From this you can understand how beautiful the that these methods are now used more or less everywhere in Italy now.
The problem is that there are many centers and dog-trainers, who are still using the methods of punishment, which in 2009, after all the studies done to know the dogs find a real barbarity and angers me the fact that they continue to do so undisturbed, indeed paid by people to do evil and damaging to the dogs just because this is the only result of methods so restrictive!
recently in the United States came to the fore a trainer who calls himself the man who whispers to dogs. Well, this Sir, if we may so call it, claims it can solve any behavior problem dogs in one sitting! Incredible! A real magician would anyone know anything about dogs! How does his sessions, though: a video that I had personally seen a dog that showed aggression towards other dogs. To "solve" this problem the gentleman in question has put a dog leash with a choke collar and has slowly approaching another dog. If the dog showed any sign of aggression towards the other dog received tug of the collar (which are very painful!) And if it was exaggerated even hung by the neck, threatened to strangle him. Well You can also imagine that the dog has stopped quickly to do anything, but simply because he is terrified to say the least, and once he was presented a second dog, he no longer dared to do anything. "Miracle!" he thought the owner, in fact the problem seemed solved by that video. Too bad they did not see how it behaved the same dog the next day, they actually no longer showed any signs of aggression toward other dogs, in what has been nothing short of shocked and did not dare do anything, but he redirected all his frustration in another way, starting to bite the owner! Here this is an example of how a person completely ignorant dogs, using methods that date back to at least 30 years ago, but which he says is his discovery, but whisper to dogs, traumatize them and cause some real life problems in other areas!
Violence in dogs as in people always generates more violence, no more! We can not think of solving the problems of the dog in a short time, you can not and who wants you to believe is certainly one person who knows nothing about dogs!
Dogs are animals with a very complex mind, and behavioral change interventions that are time and patience, as well as train a dog! Be wary then of all those who use the word gentle method and then at the earliest opportunity, if they can not get something with your dog, go the hard way, of any kind, this has nothing to do with the way nice! If a dog fails to execute a request is usually the problem of the educator, then useless to blame the poor dog!
gentle method to be truly such, does not allow any violence, either physical or verbal, or psychological, but provides a thorough study of the dog and its language, as proposed by the latest currents of thought in Northern Europe that put the dog in the foreground and their needs in relation to a person, such as those I love so much and I follow the famous Norwegian educator Turid Rugaas, which codified the signs of calm. In this regard, I invite you to read books and watch videos on this topic very interesting and these theories and use products that do not cause any harm to your dog, as the Swedish harness, all of the company Haqihana , which for years seeks to apply these theories in its products Turid Rugaas.
Learn to understand your dog, do not try to control it because they know you will find many very interesting aspects and above all you'll learn something from them, as happens to me every time I stop to watch!