0124121, 6:55 PM How these two popular dog training styles differ. By Pamela Babcock FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Editor's note: Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, 52, died on Jan. 12, 2011. Mention training methods to a group of dog trainers, and you might want to prepare for a fight at the Some call those who use only positive reinforcement “cookie pushers” or “treat slingers.” The other side calls those who use more dominance-based techniques “choke folks” or worse — cruel and inhumane. These days, at least one person hopes to silence those barks and says it doesn’t have to be so black or white Cesar Millan, star of National Geographic Channel's DogWhisperer, realizes not everyone agrees with his "alpha dog" approach. So he consulted trainers of all backgrounds for his new book, Cesar’s Rules: Your Way to Train a Well-Behaved Dog. The book provides a range of theories and methods so dog owners can find what works best. “Human beings need options,” Millan tells WebMD. “If the dog people don't know how to become submissive with each other, how can we lead by example?” Here's a brief look at two major dog training styles and advice on choosing a trainer. All Things Positive Purely positive reinforcement has been made popular by trainers such as Victoria Stilwell, of Animal Planet's TV show It's Me Or The Dog. It’s also the method taught by Dawn Sylvia- Stasiewicz. Based in Hume, Va,, she trained Bo, the Obamas’ dog. The belief is simple: Dogs learn good by being rewarded for doing well. And punishment doesn't have to come in the form of a harsh reprimand or physical force. Sylvia Stasiewicz says more dominant training and techniques focus too much on “bad!” things a dog does and force the animal to figure out, through trial and error, what they must do in order not to be punished. “Training doesn’t have to be cruel and punishment-oriented,” Sylvia-Stasiewicz says. "If you train using positive reinforcement, you'll get a trained dog and you will maintain the spirit of that dog.” hitpsipets.webmd.comidogs!featuresidog-raining-positve-reinforcement-alpha-dog-methodi#t 19072421, 695 Pm (og Training Mathods: Poste Reinfrcament v. Alpha Dog Positive reinforcement trainers often use verbal cues, hand signals, treats, clickers, toys, and even games to help modify _ correct bad habits, and even to teach tricks. Trainers use both positive reinforcement (giving rewards) and negative punishment (taking away rewards.) “Anything the dog likes and enjoys is fair game to train with, she says. 1.2 3 4 Viewall [NEXT PAGE | TOP FURTHER PICKS READING Training Does for Small Your Dog Dogs Need Obedience School? How to Keep Your Dog How to Healthy Leash Train Your Dog Does Your Pet Need Clicker Therapy? Training 101 Ear Cropping Pull Toys and Tail and Tug- Docking of-War Games for Dogs hitpsipets.webmd.comidogs!featuresidog-raining-positve-reinforcement-alpha-dog-methodi#t 290124121, 6:55 PM hitpsipts.webmd.comidogs!featuresdog-training-positve-rinforcement pna-dog-methoditt 33