Re: [PyrNet-L] Re: pinch and electric collars

["Tracy Bassett" <espinay@dynamite.com.au>]

<< I would hardly think that thinking like a dog think  would lead to a more
gentle method of correction.  If we look at dog society, we do not find them
offering food to each other in order to cajole other pack members into
obedience. >>Brandy

Who said anything about 'cajoling'?  We are talking about operant
conditioning and positive reinforcement.  A very well tested scientific
theory.  Here is a link which will explain the theory a little better:
http://www.valdosta.peachnet.edu/~whuitt/psy702/behsys/operant.html .  Any
book by Karen Prior will also throw quite a bit of light on the subject.
"Don't Shoot the Dog" is probably the best starting point.

As for thinking like a dog, I would encourage anyone who wishes to learn
more about how their dogs behave and WHY they behave the way they do (and
how we can use it) to read, for starters, Turid Rugaas's book "On Talking
Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals".  "The Evolution of Canine Social
Behaviour" by Roger Abrantes is also useful, although it is written in a
more 'scientific' language.

Canine behaviour is not all aggression and dominance. It is much more
complex than that.  In fact in a normal pack situation, a dog will in the
main go out of its way to avoid conflict.  'Harsh' corrections are very rare
in the natural pack structure.  It is very possible to use what we know
about dog behaviour to remove the need to resort to harsh forms of
'punishment'.

Tracy Bassett
Canberra, Australia
espinay@dynamite.com.au
visit my webpage at http://members.dynamite.com.au/espinay/index.htm