Working with dogs positively

Dear Editor:

In response to the article written by Diana Young, from Camano Island Kennels, I have been working with animals in rescue, adoption and training for a number of years.

Having adopted my own severely abused and very timid dog, I know that the technique you are suggesting, which is referred to as "flooding" (actually overloading the nervous system), is not the way to help a dog overcome their fears, of anything.

Using this "flooding technique" to encourage a dog to become more comfortable amongst strangers or groups of people or to correct any behavior issues for that matter is counterproductive. By your suggestion of forcing a dog to endure an overload of stress and discomfort, you are likely to have a dog that, under that much stress, could easily "snap," and growl, lunge and bite.

The most healthy and healing method is using a "positive reinforcement" technique. This shows the dog that being around new people is a good thing and is fun and rewarding for him.

Your method would be like putting a small child who is deathly afraid of spiders in a dark basement invested with arachnids.

Using the positive reinforcement method, coupled with TTouch, my dog (who once ran under the bed and hid for hours when people came to the house), now greets those who visit with a big smile and a fullbody wag!

I don't think the results would have been the same with the flooding technique.

For more information about positive training techniques, visit APDT.com and TTouch.com.

Laura J. Boro
Stanwood