Does Reinforcement Work on High‑Drive Dogs

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If you've ever had someone twist your training philosophy into something it's not, you've likely run into a Straw Man argument. In this episode, I'm breaking down ten of the most common ones aimed at positive reinforcement-based dog training, why they're not valid, and what you can do to create genuine conversations with people who hold a different view of dog training than you, all while staying centered and calm.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What Straw Man arguments are and why they show up in dog training conversations.

• Why these arguments misrepresent decades of science and practical application.

• Ten common Straw Man claims made about positive reinforcement-based training and my response to each one

- Straw Man Argument #1 - "Reinforcement trainers are just cookie pushers"

- Straw Man Argument #2 - "Positive training won't work with high-drive dogs"

- Straw Man Argument #3 - "Reinforcement takes too long, punishment is faster"

- Straw Man Argument #4 - "Dogs need leaders, not more cookies"

- Straw Man Argument #5 - "Dogs need punishment to learn what's wrong"

- Straw Man Argument #6 - "Training only works if the dog can see the cookie"

- Straw Man Argument #7 - "Positive trainers care more about the dog's emotion than outcomes"

- Straw Man Argument #8 - "Your dog will never recall reliably without correction"

- Straw Man Argument #9 - "A head halter is just another punishment tool"

- Straw Man Argument #10 - "Positive trainers avoid punishment because they don't understand it"

• How to stay centered, respond constructively, and keep conversations productive.

Resources:

1. Podcast Episode 146: Balanced Dog Training: Does It Really Exist? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/146/

2. YouTube Playlist: Reinforcement, Permissions and Transfer of Value - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy1IUj_4P54q2PIuLNtnXjFO

3. Podcast Episode 6: The Art of Manipulation - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/6/

4. Podcast Episode 245: Make Dog Training Easy! Quick Guide to Antecedent Arrangements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/245/

5. Podcast Episode 182: The Game Within The Game: How To Multiply Your Dog's Reinforcements - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/182/

6. Podcast Episode 302: The Recall Myth: Why Your Off Leash Dog Isn't Coming When Called And How To Fix It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/302/

7. Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/40/

8. Podcast Episode 304: Let's Talk About E-Collars: Why Dog Trainers Are So Divided - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/304/

9. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/dvAyGtpv2Mw