So... I am hoping that I don't offend with this post. It is aimed at no one in particular but just a general post and something that is close to my heart.
It's about positive training and behavioural science in general.
Lets look back to the "Olden Days' children were seen and not heard. If they misbehaved or stepped out of line they were beaten or severely reprimanded. Did this work? Yes it did, the children may have been somewhat robotic, lived in fear of their parents and were scared of thinking for themselves but it worked. As time went on we found that there were better ways of bringing up children. Kindness, love, rewards for good behaviour and consequences for bad along with firm boundaries were the key.
Years ago, when i was fourteen years old I got my first dog, she was probably the most loyal dog I will ever own. Back then very little was known about using positive reinforcement in dog training and everything I was taught and therefore used on my lovely Jasmine was punishment based. Dog's who didn't listen were branded naughty, dominant or rude, we were even advised to have Jasmine PTS by Border Collie rescue as she was 'food aggressive' (resource guarded). Despite my horrible methods I ended up with a kind, sweet and genuine dog. Luckily she was a very confident character so despite the collar pops (yanking dogs collar if they pull), shoving her bum down if she broke her wait, scruffing her for growling etc she still was not fearful or aggressive towards me as she got older. Did the punishment methods work? Yes to an extent they did. Did I enjoy the training? Did Jasmine enjoy the training? No resolutely not. We ended up Ok in spite of what I did to her. Don't get me wrong she got treats when she did things I wanted but I still used a LOT of punishers.
Pretty much EVERY dog trainer at Crufts etc were using aversive training (punishment based methods) to get the responses they desired. If the top handlers were doing it, surely it must be right!
As the years went on dog training progressed, we learned a better way of doing things. We started to use what we knew about behavioural science to train our dogs using Positive reinforcement and Negative punishment and consistent boundaries and rules. We built better relationships with our dogs and had a true two way street. We learnt that 'dominance', pack theory, and 'rude' and 'stupid' dogs were basically a load of twaddle. It was just about finding the correct rewards and appropriate punishment. When I say punishment I do not mean hitting or hurting I mean withholding reinforcers and using time- outs effectively. Instead of labelling dogs dominant we found out what was causing the behaviour, was it fear? Pain? We then dealt with that issue using counter- conditioning and rewards. Please realise that rewards don't necessarily mean treats, it could be praise, a hug or a game of ball.
Did I look back and feel guilty at the way I treated Jasmine? Hell Yes! But I did what I knew at the
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| Cesar Milan- happy dog? |
time. I was a fourteen year old girl being led by top trainers and they in turn were teaching me in the best way they knew. As soon as I found a kinder and more scientific way to train I changed route quickly and happily and have never looked back. We now view trainers who use punishment as 'old fashioned' and hope that everyone is open enough in their own mind to see a better way to train. Don't get me wrong, in my roles as a parent and as a dog owner I do use positive punishment and usually feel terrible afterwards. Shouting at Ethan or shoving the dogs of the sofa is not how I want to be... I am however only human so hey- every now and again (ok maybe a bit more than that) I slip down the positive punishment route!
So that brings me to present day and my relationship with Carats. Since being n the equine world I have been constantly amazed by the HUGE amount of positive punishment used with horses. Most trainers and owners still use positive punishment over reward based training. The same excuses are used that were used with dog training all those years ago. "But it doesn't work with this type of animal". "Treats make them nippy" etc. Horses are branded as rude, dominant, aggressive etc. We moved away from this with dogs over TEN years ago, so why oh why is the equine world so far behind. If the horse won't go through the puddle or stand still at the mounting block you should firstly be asking why BEFORE you begin any training. If they simply don't understand that they should then why punish them for moving? If they have had a scary or painful experience by the block then punishing them for moving will only make it worse. If they find standing still boring then you should look at the original training and ask yourself why they lack value for that and find a way to add it! Horses are an animal like any other, they do what is reinforcing for them and fear is even MORE relevant than it is with a predator animal like a dog- so why are we punishing fear? We KNOW that punishment doesn't help overcome fear.
Imagine the one thing you are most fearful of. Lets say its heights. Someone forces you up a two storey building and tells you to bungee jump off it. To them its not that high but to you it may as well be the empire state. They drag you up there and stand behind you with a cattle prod. You might be so fearful of heights they might even have to shock you a few times but eventually you will jump to escape the pain, will that make you any less fearful? No, you jumped but the fear has probably now been made worse. Next time they might not have to cattle prod you as you know the pain will come if you don't jump. The fear ISNT GONE it has just been masked. In fact next time they do to drag you up the building you might just run before they can catch you.
Now lets take another approach, I approach you and say I know you are sacred of heights and I accept your fear. Today I want you to stand on the mounting block and jump off. You do so and I take you out for a nice meal- you think huh- all that reward just for that- easy! The next day we move to a slightly higher step and so on. Now ok, you are probably never going to overcome your fear totally but you are probably going to feel a darn sight better about trying!
Horses are generally fearful, they are scared of the plastic bag that looks like a predator in the grass and the puddle that might drown them, is it correct and right to punish it? Would you punish your dog
for that? Your child?
So called 'bad mannered' horses. Why do they have those bad manners? The horse that nips for treats? Is that created by training with food? I very much doubt it, its probably had a history of being inadvertently rewarded for mugging and nipping and therefore continues the behaviour. I know my dogs don't get rude with food because I use food to train them, they are rude with food if they have been treated for doing nothing or been fed scraps from the table or stolen dropped food on the floor. In fact the treats for training helps them LEARN food manners. Horses learn the same as ANY other organism- they do what gets reinforced and stop doing what doesn't!
However, I am fully aware that I probably won't have the 'perfect' mannered horse, the same as my dogs aren't either, I like a bit of sass and personality. Yes my dogs can be naughty and cheeky but they are happy. Remember the Cesar Milan clips of his dogs walking behind him with their ears back, the unsure approach to food. Standing still because they are too scared of a reprimand to move. Yes the 'pet owner' they might think they are perfect. To me thats the last thing I would want from my child, dogs or horse. To live so much in fear of making the wrong choice that they just shut down. Personally I don't have the time or inclination to train out every 'bad manner' that Carats shows, as I don't with my dogs. Crack on with your naughtiness Mr C- I love the sass!
I do however believe in learning and moving forward with training, horses are still very much a learning curve for me and I speak to as many people as I can about they opinions on training, I value every opinion and idea as it helps to teach me more and understand people and their ponies. We are trying to organise for an equine behaviourist to come to the yard and teach us a little more. She seems lovely and follows the basic and scientific principles of learning and behaviour modification with common sense and experience thrown in. I am looking forward to learning from her very much and I think it can only help build on mine and Carats relationship.
