Consent In Dog Training: The Misuse, Misunderstanding And Misapplication #106
Aug 27, 2021
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Consent in dog training is a vital yet often misunderstood concept. The discussion highlights the difference between various types of consent and how dogs communicate their willingness or refusal. There’s a focus on the importance of cooperative care and understanding a dog's emotions. The podcast also explores how to recognize implied consent and the role of T.E.M.P. in gauging a dog's comfort. Listening to our dogs and learning to turn refusals into agreements is essential for positive training experiences.
Understanding the different types of consent—expressed, implied, and substituted—can significantly improve the relationship between dogs and their owners during training.
Recognizing when a dog says 'no' is crucial for adapting training methods and expanding the dog's comfort zone to encourage cooperation.
Deep dives
Understanding Consent in Dog Training
Consent in dog training refers to the dog's ability to give permission for activities, influencing two main categories: general training and health-related procedures. Expressed consent occurs when a dog actively demonstrates approval, such as lying down calmly during nail trimming, while implied consent is shown through excitement for activities, like dancing at the door when the owner grabs keys. The importance of recognizing consent derives from its roots in fields like marine mammal training, where a lack of cooperation can result in significant challenges. Emphasizing consent fosters a more cooperative and positive relationship between dogs and their owners, ensuring both parties are engaged and eager to participate.
Categories of Consent: Expressed, Implied, and Substitute
Dog consent can be categorized into three main types: expressed consent, implied consent, and substitute consent. Expressed consent is an active signal from the dog, while implied consent indicates eagerness to engage, as seen when a dog anticipates a car ride. Substitute consent is necessary in emergencies where the owner's intervention is crucial, such as rescuing a dog in distress without waiting for permission. It is essential to avoid manufactured consent, where an owner may mistakenly believe they are gaining consent through coercive actions, which can lead to confusion and anxiety in dogs.
Navigating No: Understanding Dog Responses
Dogs may say 'no' for various reasons such as lack of perceived value in the task, competing interests, emotional discomfort, or physical pain. When a dog withdraws or refuses to engage, it often signifies a need for reassessing the training approach, ensuring that the task holds value for the dog. Training should aim to expand the dog's comfort zone, as reinforcing a 'no' can cement fear or reluctance rather than encourage participation. By understanding the dog's perspective and modifying the environment or activity to facilitate a 'yes,' owners can improve training outcomes and foster a more meaningful connection.
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Understanding Consent in Dog Training: Importance and Misunderstandings
The idea of getting consent to train your dog is growing in popularity for a good reason. It is something I have been doing for many years. But consent is also misused, misunderstood, and misapplied, which can cause massive setbacks for dogs and their owners. So, what is consent really, and how does it benefit our dogs?
In the episode you'll hear:
• Where consent in animal training comes from and why cooperative care is important. • About the “game on” position that I use in my training. • The two categories of consent: general dog training and husbandry for health. • How my dogs show me I have their expressed consent. • What implied consent is and how dogs show you permission. • How our dog’s T.E.M.P. indicates their implied consent. • The category of substituted consent and what that means for our dog’s safety. • What manufactured consent is and why I don’t use it. • The reasons why a dog might say “no, thank you!”. • Why to pay attention to your dog’s emotions, eustress, and physical discomfort. • Where things go wrong when a dog says “no”. • Why we want to grow our dog’s comfort zone. • The importance of D.A.S.H. in dog training. • What to do when your dog says no and why we want to turn that to yes.