I’m trying to understand the different types of dog training. What’s out there, and what do people recommend?
You should check out the info section on this forum. There’s a lot on dog training methods, how learning works, and what’s backed by science.
Just a heads-up—punishment-based training has some serious downsides and isn’t supported by research.
If you’re thinking of becoming a trainer, there’s also a good guide on that:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/becomedogtrainer
You might find some good books on this at dogwise.com. Try to get the latest editions since training methods are always evolving.
If you’re looking to be a trainer, maybe focus on mastering one approach first. But it’s also good to know trainers with different styles in case a certain method doesn’t work for a particular dog.
There are different techniques within training, like luring, shaping, capturing behaviors, and chaining commands.
Positive reinforcement is backed by science and gives real results. Punishment usually just shuts down behavior instead of actually teaching.
If you want to go deep into this, learning about animal behavior, body language, and communication is really useful. There are some great books written by certified behaviorists that can help.
I use concept training, which is a little different. Instead of just teaching sit, stay, or heel, it focuses on things like confidence, calmness, staying close to the owner, and ignoring distractions.
The idea is to help dogs make good choices on their own without needing constant commands. It’s done through fun games instead of regular training sessions.
@Meryl
Is this from Absolute Dogs? I like their idea of concept training, and I’ve used some of their games, but I feel like they push their products too much. Do you know of anyone else teaching this?
@Alex_1
Yeah, it’s from Absolute Dogs. I had the same thoughts at first, but I saw great results, so I went all in and took their Pro Dog Trainer course and the Geek program. The science behind it is solid.
I’ve tried courses from other places, but I feel like I get the most value from them. Tom (one of the founders) really knows his stuff, and it’s great to have access to a vet behaviorist for questions.
Junita said:
@Meryl
What kind of games do you play?
It depends on what you’re working on.
For keeping a dog close to you, there’s the circle game—just walk in a circle and toss treats inside it. When the dog comes back to you, greet them and toss another treat.
For teaching them to ignore distractions, there’s the mouse game—hold a treat in your fist and let the dog sniff or paw at it. As soon as they back off, even just a little, you open your hand and give the treat.
There are tons more, but those are two easy ones to start with.
There are a few broad approaches:
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Balanced training: Uses both rewards and corrections. Some trainers use harsher methods like physical punishment, while others lean more toward reward-based training with occasional corrections.
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Compulsion training: This is more old-school—dogs are forced into behaviors, and the absence of punishment is considered a reward.
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Force-free training: No punishment, no intimidation, no force. The focus is on preventing bad behavior rather than punishing it after it happens. Some trainers follow this strictly, while others might hold onto a few outdated ideas.
If you’re thinking of training dogs professionally, you’ll need to go beyond just working with your own dog. Some dogs have really complex behaviors, and clients can be just as tricky as their pets. Dog training is as much about working with people as it is about working with dogs.
This guide might help: link. I’ve studied animal behavior for 20 years, trained my kid’s service dog, and I still don’t feel ready to work with other people’s dogs. There’s always more to learn!
I’m not a trainer, but after watching It’s Me or the Dog, one thing is clear—most problem dogs aren’t actually the problem. It’s the owners.
Sure, some dogs have issues, but a lot of bad behavior comes from people not understanding how dogs think.
If you want to be a great trainer, you need to be able to teach people as much as you teach dogs. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen someone call their dog, and when the dog finally comes, they scold them for taking too long.
That’s the kind of thing you’ll have to help people unlearn. Otherwise, no matter how well you train a dog, they’ll just go home to the same bad habits.