The Science
"The great thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe it." -Neil Degrasse Tyson
Scientific studies can be boring. Most people don't care about actual studies, but what we do need to care about is the results of these studies. This page will be updated as new scientific studies and findings come out. If you have a question about a study's efficacy or validity, please contact us!
Scientists have proven that punishment-based training increases fear, aggression and anxiety in dogs.
http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(08)00371-7/fulltext
Scientists have proven that punishment-based training is associated with human aggression.
http://www.appliedanimalbehaviour.com/article/S0168-1591(13)00292-X/pdf
Scientists have proven that positive reinforcement training is just as effective as punishment-based training.
http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(17)30035-7/abstract
Using Punishment for Behavior Modification in Animals: The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) Position Statement:
The Use of Choke and Prong, Common Fallout, Multiple Scientific Sources:
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/chokeandprongcollarpositionstatement
The Use of Shock, Consequences of Shock, Multiple Scientific Sources:
https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/shockcollars
Textbook Learning Theory Go-To's:
- Chance, P. (2013). Learning and behavior. Nelson Education.
- Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis. Pearson.
- Domjan, M. (2014). The principles of learning and behavior. Nelson Education.
- Domjan, M. (2000). The essentials of conditioning and learning. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
- Goodwin, C. J. (2016). Research in psychology methods and design. John Wiley & Sons.
- Honig, W. K. (1966). Operant behavior: areas of research and application. Appleton-Century-Crofts.
- Keller, F. S., & Schoenfeld, W. N. (1950). Principles of psychology: A systematic text in the science of behavior (Vol. 2). Appleton Century Crofts.
- Klein, S. B. (2011). Learning: Principles and applications. Sage Publications.
- Schwartz, B. (1989). Psychology of learning and behavior. WW Norton & Co.
- Shettleworth, S. J. (2010). Cognition, evolution, and behavior. Oxford University Press.
Copyright 2017 Eileen Anderson
"Science has indeed spoken about the use of punishment in training, the role of dominance in the dog world, the effectiveness of positive reinforcement and more. Though the argument rages on about the safest, quickest and most effective way to train dogs, modern behavioral science has definitively ended the debate.
Positive training is the future of dog training.:
- "The Use of Dominance Theory in Behavior Modification of Animals", American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
- "Whatever happened to the Term ALPHA Wolf?", article by L. David Mech, senior research scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey and founder and vice chair of the International Wolf Center.
- "Survey of the use and outcome of confrontational and non-confrontational training methods in client-owned dogs", Applied Animal Behavior Science, 2009; 117 (1-2): 47
- "Using ‘Dominance’ to Explain Dog Behavior is Old Hat", Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, May/June 2009, Pages 135-144
- "Dominance in dogs – useful construct or bad habit?",Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 4, Issue 3, Pages 135-144 (May 2009)
- "Alpha Status, Dominance, and Division of Labor in Wolf Packs",David Mech, Canadian Journal of Zoology 77:1196:1203. (Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page) Version 16MAY2000
- "Rethinking the Causes of Canine Aggression" Veterinary Medicine
- David Mech YouTube clip regarding myth of the "Alpha" and the origins of the mislabeling.
- Considerations for shock and ‘training’ collars: Concerns from and for the working dog community (Overall) Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2007) 2, 103-107
- Training Dogs With the Help of the Shock Collar: short and long term behavioural effects(Schilder, van der Borg) Applied Animal Behaviour Science 85 (2004) 319–334
- Can aggression in dogs be elicited through the use of electronic pet containment systems? (Polsky) Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2000 Vol. 3 No. 4 pp. 345-357
https://positively.com/dog-training/positive-training/the-science-behind-positive-training/
Copyright 2017 Victoria Stillwell