3 Essential Differences Between Dog Trainers and Behaviorists You Need To Know
Training our dogs has become an integral part of our pet parenting journey. Whether you're seeking to teach your puppy basic commands or advanced obedience, the options are plentiful. But when behavior issues such as resource guarding, leash reactivity, trauma, fear, or aggression come into play, it can lead to confusion on whether to consult a dog trainer or a behaviorist. Today, we're here to dispel the ambiguity and shed light on the critical differences between the two, and explore the new trend of dog training that combines both in 2023.
Before we delve into the meat of the matter, let's understand the scope of the issue. Unfortunately, 60-70% of dog owners report at least one behavioral problem with their dog. Interestingly, despite their dogs' mastery of commands like SIT or COME, these issues persist, proving obedience training does not always fix behavior problems. Hence, there's a need to understand when a trainer might be a better fit than a behaviorist and vice versa.
1. Objectives: The Cornerstone of Dog Training vs. Behavior Modification
When deciding between a dog trainer and a behaviorist, start by understanding your goals.
Dog training often focuses on teaching new behaviors through commands like SIT, STAY, DOWN, or COME. It enhances communication between you and your pet, ensures their safety, and can even be a fun bonding activity.
On the other hand, behavior modification aims to change a dog's response to various stimuli. It isn't about teaching new behaviors but reshaping the existing ones.
2. Process and Methods: The Diverse Techniques Employed
In dog training, trainers often use one or more of the four quadrants of operant conditioning to teach behaviors. It's generally a straightforward process that pet owners appreciate.
Behavior modification, however, utilizes techniques like desensitization and counter-conditioning to rehabilitate challenging behaviors. While there may be overlaps in methods used, behavior modification requires a more comprehensive and personalized approach, diving into the root cause of the issue.
3. Duration and Consistency: A Test of Patience and Commitment
Achieving obedience in dogs can be relatively quick. However, behavior modification, given its complexity, often takes a longer duration. The key is to establish a good "diagnostic marker" in your dog’s behavior to track progress.
The New School of Dog Training
Understanding and stimulating your dog's reward system is crucial to both training and behavior modification. Knowing how to trigger dopamine release in your dog can be beneficial, leading to motivated behaviors.
Understanding neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections, can also be beneficial. It is a myth that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". Dogs, regardless of their age, can learn and adapt, thanks to neuroplasticity.
Stress management in dogs is another important factor to consider. While short-term stress can stimulate learning, long-term stress can hinder it. Over-training and burnout are common if we disregard our dogs' coping abilities.
By understanding the science behind motivation, optimized learning, and stress resilience, you can create a training regimen that is enjoyable and aligns with your lifestyle.
At Canine Decoded, we combine the principles of dog training and behavior modification, with cutting-edge research insights to help you create a lifestyle that suits both you and your dog. This unique fusion is the essence of the new school of dog training.
If you're struggling to find the right training approach for your dog, we're here to help. Feel free to leave your questions in the comments, and we'll address them in our upcoming videos.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. To view the original discussion on the topic, check out our YouTube video. Until the next time, I’m Dr. Melanie Uhde. Tschüss!