Hunger Games - The PAINFUL Side of Reward-Based Training

[@SaroDogTraining]

Introducing dogs to mild discomfort during training is a natural part of their learning process, helping them adapt to various situations and understand life's complexities. Unlike traditional methods reliant on treats, I avoid using food due to the emotional distress it may cause. My approach involves using play and praise as rewards, fostering a deeper bond and understanding between dogs and humans. Overreliance on treats by trainers and owners can limit a dog's potential and hinder the desired outcomes. Emphasizing positive reinforcement beyond food yields more well-rounded and emotionally secure canine companions.

[@dr.melanieuhde]

Thanks for sharing!

[@BlueSkyDogs]

This is great advice, especially for those with dogs with a lower food drive. However if used correctly food can still be a great motivator and a positive reinforcement, sometimes however it can also be a punisher. I have seen people punishing with food more times than I would like!

[@AmandaRose-vb7sb]

I am a relationship based balanced trainer and i find overusing the food makes the dog LIE to you about their understanding of behavior simply to get the food. i DO use food in my training methods, i use what motivates the dog be it a toy, food or praise but i often find that the overuse of positive feedback to the dog makes them connect a behavior to the immediate positive response rather than the actual behavior itself. often we refer to this as "house obedience" where the dog can sit with a cue but has no flowthrough with the behavior and can not reproduce the behavior in the absence of reward. i HAVE seen in my professional experience R+ trainers STARVE dogs in order to heighten the food drive to work with them. it is a unfortunately common process that takes place and i ALWAYS find that more abusive than the use of "adversities" it is not uncommon for these types of trainers to starve dogs for 3+ days when they find the dog does not have the level of food drive they need. its disgusting. i understand working a dog on an empty stomach to create more drive but i would NEVER do that to a dog

[@TeslaNick2]

Brilliantly explained as always. I've always looked at it as is the dog moving away from something (hunger) or towards something (food). "The show me the money test" - love it ! The dissapointment gap is why I tend to stick to one type of reward in a training session and never mix up different treats.

[@dr.melanieuhde]

Love it

[@davidg1782]

I watched Beckman Dog Training video on training a puppy. He used a treat, but really just let the dog lick it and used it several times before the puppy had the chance to eat it. I used treats on my Shih Tzu because I wanted to get him to come to me on command. He's an outdoorsy dog and we walk a golf course. However, on two occasions, coyotes came within 30 feet of him while he was behind me and walking. No problem the coyotes were moving away from us. What happened is that when he knows I have a treat, he won't leave my side. Not at all.

[@robinrutherfordcost4748]

Oh wow! Thank goodness nothing happened. Scary and to actually see the coyotes too.

[@dvorachmelevsky1947]

Wow thank you so much for this information ❤

[@sun-kim-chats]

Great content!

[@dr.melanieuhde]

Thanks!

[@Doggie650]

Love hearing more folx talk about science about pain. These nuances are important. This is why more dogs care about social and emotional needs when food is present. Dr Anne Lembke describes this really well. Our workshops and lives talk about this, not just for food and training, but helping with emotional needs and recovery/healing from stress.

[@dr.melanieuhde]

YESSS nuances matter

[@zsahe21]

[@zsahe21]

3:28

[@dr.melanieuhde]

👌🏻

[@gerrardflannigan3773]

While I agree that there are a lot of misconceptions out there in dog training, I am not certain you are yet clearing up the confusion. All training, no matter what you do, is aversive to some degree. However, you need to perhaps give a definition of what you mean by pain and talk about levels of aversion. I, personally, believe that dog training should be going toward least aversive methods of training necessary. To say that reward-based training is 'painful' puts it on the same level as the most extreme populist dog trainers in which the trainer essentially suppresses the dog's response with their training strategy.

[@dr.melanieuhde]

In the video I'm defining "pain" as a range of discomfort of various degrees. This video is not about comparison to other training methods but about the nuances and neurobiological mechanisms of food rewards which hinges on the pleasure-pain balance.

[@brucemacwatters9221]

I really liked the video. It really makes me think. As a trainer I have lately been thinking about how much food is given out and what it is really going on. I remember the days of dog training when you were not allowed to use food because it was a basic need. How times have changed.

[@dr.melanieuhde]

@@brucemacwatters9221no food, only aversive tools, now too much food. Things have changed (for the better) but there is still more we can learn.

[@brucemacwatters9221]

I agree things have changed for the better. I cringe at the things I was told to do back in the early 80's with my German Shepard in the Air Force. Back then I thought that's what everyone did@@dr.melanieuhde

[@romeofabian8102]

Everybody wants to train their dogs in the least aversive way possible. Nobody in their right mind WANTS to inflict unnecessary pain to their dogs. Dog abuse happens when people lose control of their emotions or are psychopaths and take it out on their dogs. To say you believe dog training should be as least aversive as possible means nothing when what should matter is what is MOST effective in creating a good life for the dog and a strong bond between the dog and owner.

[@HopeandI]

Who’s going to tell her positive reinforcement doesn’t rely on food?

[@dr.melanieuhde]

Yep it’s far more complex. But this episode was about food. And the concepts explained remain valid no matter what type of reinforcement you use…