I am going through the Leerburg video "Housebreaking 101". Near the end of the video the author suggests "leash correcting" accidents using two "Pops" of the leash. Does Leerburg really think this is a correct way to train a puppy?

If the pup is on an absolutely controlled schedule and take out every 20 mins or so at this age then no corrections should be needed.

AT MOST, and only if i catch the pup in the act I will scruff it with a firm no and take it outside.

Then I will ask myself why I wasn't watching it.

If a pup this age can't be watched EVERY MIN it out of it crate then every accident is the owners fault and not the pups.

If the video is more than seven or so years old, some of the info in it may be outdated. Ed's and Leerburg's methods have changed and evolved a great deal in the last decade. Nowadays, Leerburg advocates controlling the pup's environment and minimizing the pup's opportunities to fail.

ETA: Most trainers, even ones like myself who have been at it for 40+ years, have adopted newer, more positive, reward-based training. Many of us still use some compulsion, feeling that balanced training is more fair than positive only, and that proper corrections are neither harsh nor cruel. Almost all working dog owners (who this sight was originally geared toward) use some forms of correction. I would caution against being too critical of old school methods simply because you favor or only know newer methods. Many older methods worked for years, and they still work for some of the older trainers who now how to properly apply them. There are more ways to train dogs than there are to skin cats.

Edited by Duane Hull (02/09/2016 05:03 AM)
Edit reason: additional thoughts

The video is by Mark Keating, and it is newly released.

When Mark talks about correcting a puppy, he prefaced it by saying your correction should be based on the puppy's character, and suitable for the action. The correction is only to let the puppy know that what he is doing is wrong. Personally, I think the word correction is wrong to use, it is more like a redirection.

In other words, when you catch the puppy in the act of making a mess in the house, you do what will interrupt the behavior while letting the puppy know it is doing something wrong. If giving a minor tug on the puppy's drag line will do that, then that is what you will do for that particular puppy. Then you pick the puppy up and take it outside - praising it when it finishes it's business out there.

You are NOT mad. You are NOT yelling. You are NOT yanking the hell out of the puppy's neck. You are simply interrupting the behavior, and letting the puppy know it's wrong. It is not stressful for the puppy, it simply lets the puppy know, "Nope, not here."

For my puppies, just saying the word NO would interrupt the behavior and convey that the puppy is doing wrong. Each puppy is different, and what you do will depend on that particular puppy's temperament.

I hope I have cleared that up a bit...

--Kelly

I started to write a post and then realized I was just re-stating Kelly's post. Correction doesn't necessarily mean punishment. A few light pops on a line to re-direct the pup would be the same as clapping your hands, stomping your feet, etc that's often recommended when you catch pup in the act of pottying. It's just a redirection. It's communication. Don't get wrapped up in the terms. Look at the intent behind it.

Yes, that clears things up.


Thanks.

 Quote: Cathy Goessman

Don't get wrapped up in the terms. Look at the intent behind it.

Worth its weight in gold that sentence.