Veterinary, Science Based Training Method Discussion

Posted on September 5th, 2022.

Dog behavioral problems are the most frequently cited reason for rehoming or relinquishment of dogs to shelters and then euthanasia.*

That is why Oklahoma Rehabilitative Care for Animals Foundation is trying to educate with appropriate information and providing helpful resources. We have been discussing basic scientific principles of learning these last few Info-Portal Posts. 

It is now critical to address the important use of reward-based training instead of using aversives. This is not an opinion. It has been studied and proven for years now. This is an animal welfare issue. 

Below are position statements from respected leaders in the veterinary field and studies that show why the knowledgeable veterinary community has determined reward-based training to be the only acceptable method of training.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has published an in depth position statement with cited scientific papers throughout for your reference. See the incredibly informative position statement Humane Dog Training- AVSAB to get right to where you can find the detailed PDF FREE. 

Here are just a small selection of studies the AVSAB discussed in their statement:

1. Hiby et al (2004) found that obedience levels were highest for dogs trained exclusively with reward-based methods and lowest for dogs trained exclusively with aversive-based methods. They also found that dogs trained with a combination of rewards and aversive-based methods (often referred to as ‘balanced’ in the dog training industry) produced lower obedience levels than reward-based but better than exclusively aversive-based training.

2. Rooney and Cowan (2011) found dogs who were trained with aversive methods were less likely to interact with a stranger during relaxed social play. Dogs trained using physical punishment were also less likely to interact with their owner during play.

3. China et al (2020) found that dogs with a history of off leash behavior problems had no difference in the proportion of disobeyed cues between dogs trained with electronic shock collars by manufacturer-nominated trainers compared with reward-based training. Dogs trained with reward-based methods had a shorter delay before responding than the group trained with electronic shock collars.

The American Animal Hospital Association has published Canine and Feline Behavior Management Guidelines** that is 17 pages of detailed information about this subject and other veterinary behavioral issues. Here is a very brief excerpt:

“Aversive training has been associated with detrimental effects on the human-animal bond, problem-solving ability, and the physical and behavioral health of the patient. It causes problem behaviors in normal animals and hastens progression of behavioral disorders in distressed animals. Aversive techniques are especially injurious to fearful and aggressive patients and often suppress signals of impending aggression, rendering any aggressive dog more dangerous.”

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists has published a statement:

“The ACVB stands against training methods that cause short or long lasting pain, discomfort or fear. Aversive training methods can be dangerous to people as well as animals and pose a threat to animal welfare by inhibiting learning, increasing behaviors related to fear and distress, and causing direct injury.”^ 

This means the old idea that aversive training, like e-stim collars, will make dogs more responsive to cues and more reliable is scientifically false. It also shows a glimpse into the socially damaging side effects aversive training methods have. Aversive training is shown to be inferior to properly applied reward-based training. If you are working with a veterinarian or trainer that is recommending the use of the harmful and less useful training methods, you are putting you and your dog at risk. They are misinformed and you need to seek safer professionals to work with.

If you have questions, would like the mentioned guidelines/statements emailed to you, or there is anything the Oklahoma Rehabilitative Care for Animals Foundation can help you with- Please fill out the Contact Form below.

I sincerely hope this has clarified the scientific reasoning behind aversive-based training methods not being approved by the American Veterinarian Society of Animal Behavior, American Animal Hospital Association, and American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

-Written by: Emily Hall, DVM, CCRT, CPAT-KA

References:

1. Hiby EF, Rooney NJ, Bradshaw JWS. Dog training methods: their use, effectiveness and interaction with behaviour and welfare. Anim Welf. 2004;13(1):63-69.

2. Rooney NJ, Cowan S. Training methods and owner-dog interactions: Links with dog behaviour and learning ability. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2011;132(3-4):169-177.

3. China L, Mills DS, Cooper JJ. Efficacy of Dog Training With and Without Remote Electronic Collars vs. a Focus on Positive Reinforcement. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:508.

* https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0225023#pone.0225023.ref002

** https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/behavior-management/2015_aaha_canine_and_feline_behavior_management_guidelines_final.pdf

^ https://www.dacvb.org/page/PositionStatement

https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AVSAB-Humane-Dog-Training-Position-Statement-2021.pdf