An Overview of Dog Training Methods

Training is an important aspect of any dog’s life.  Whether he is a future police dog, an assistance animal, or a family pet, there are certain things that a dog needs to learn.  At minimum, a dog should be able to obey a few simple commands that are essential to proper behavior.

Dog training has undergone a lot of changes over the years, from objectives to techniques.  Some methods that are used today have been around for centuries, yet new ideas are constantly evolving. Here is a brief history:

• Prior to the 1700s – Dogs were usually trained only for work purposes.  They learned to do only what their prescribed jobs required, whether herding, hunting, guarding, or search and rescue.

• 1700s to late 1800s – Giving treats as rewards for good behavior during training came into fashion. This idea was featured in magazine articles and the book entitled Practical Training by S.P. Hammond in 1885.

• 1886 – Edward Thorndike began using a stimulus and response method of dog training involving repetitive practice and consistent rewards for obedience.  This was similar to many of today’s positive reinforcement training programs.

• 1903 – Ivan Pavlov concluded from digestion experiments that dogs could be trained to respond physically to outside stimulation.  He won the Nobel Prize for his work the following year.

• 1915 – Dogs began to be formally trained for military work during World War I by the Americans, Germans and French.  Methods used were similar to those used in military training of humans.

• 1943 – Marion and Keller Breeland pioneered the clicker training technique for animals, also known as operant conditioning.  This was originally used primarily to teach them to perform tricks for show.

• 1940s – William Koehler became a well known dog trainer.  He trained dogs for work in World War II, as well as training them for work in a number of Disney movies.  He was partially responsible for a resurgence in the popularity of negative operant conditioning, which consisted primarily of punishing incorrect behaviors.

• 1981 – Dr. Ian Dunbar began teaching puppy training classes.  His methods included positive reinforcement and a focus on socialization.

• 1985 – Karen Prior, a dolphin trainer, published a book entitled Don’t Shoot the Dog: The New Art of Teaching and Training.  She advocated the clicker training methods of the Breelands as a reward technique.

• 2004 – Cesar Milan’s television series, Dog Whisperer, premiered on the National Geographic Channel. His methods, which include alpha rolls and other forms of punishment and confrontation of aggressive dogs, sparked much controversy.

Today, dog training takes on many forms.  It has evolved not because previous methods were necessarily ineffective, but because of differing views of how those methods affected the dogs being trained.  As long as there are dogs, new ideas about their training will continue to come forth.