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In reply to the discussion: 'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan Under Investigation For Possible Animal Cruelty [View all]Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)I have played the doggie games for years and have multiple tests, trials, and competitions to my name. I love cookie training; however, to have a highly trained animal that is almost always dependable, there must be negative as well as positive reinforcement. Any trainer who tells you otherwise is full of it.
Take bitework. You have a high prey drive dog now latched hard onto the sleeve. Getting it to release via "positive reinforcement only" is not only silly, but dangerous. The dog has to know when the release command is given, it means NOW. A good trainer can still use pressure applied correctly to actually make it kind of a game for the dog. The faster you release, the faster the pressure goes away.
Anyway, too much to really post here, but you are wrong.