No! The “old school” method of dog training (some years ago, but there are still some old-school trainers out there) could be heavy-handed and would sometimes result in a dog who basically obeyed because he was afraid not to. Those dogs are so sad to me — working with their tails down or tucked under, always glancing up at their owners with a worried look. That is NOT how I train, and that is NOT how dogs I work with look. I train dogs in a positive, motivational, humane way with an eye toward what is more natural to them — meaning what they, as dogs, can understand best given all we know about dog behavior. They respond to training because it’s positive and fun. They work smiling and with their tails wagging. The way it should be. They very much have their spirit, playfulness, sense of fun, and individuality intact. But they know, in a way they can understand, how you expect them to behave. Dogs are much happier when they know the rules and have the skills to follow them. So nope. No mindless robots here. And no broken spirits — ever.
