Training, Food and Luring vs. Upbringing

By Anders H. Davidsen
SAHD

Introduction

Everyday life with a dog makes demands on both owner and dog. Most people want a dog who is secure, independent and able to manage different situations without constant guidance or avoidance. At the same time, methods used in training and upbringing are often mixed together, which can lead to difficulties. Many owners turn to techniques that focus on food as a reward or lure without reflecting on how this may affect the dog’s mental resilience over the long term.

Today dogs are expected to handle everything from meeting strangers to coping with everyday noises or being home alone. Training principles originally developed for sport and competition can produce quick results, but they can cause problems when used as the main strategy for dealing with everyday challenges. This has led to concern that dogs may lack the mental tools needed to meet life with confidence and independence.

What is the difference between training and upbringing, why is it essential to understand and apply ethological principles, and how can we raise dogs who do not merely obey but are also able to manage everyday life?

In a world where dog training is increasingly associated with using sometimes large amounts of food as a reward and lure, we see a worrying trend: dogs who do not develop the mental strength to manage everyday life risk becoming dependent on external stimuli to navigate situations. Luring and rewarding can shift the focus away from the challenge and towards the reward, preventing the dog from developing natural coping and adaptation. Although this may give the owner a feeling that a conflict has been resolved immediately, it overlooks the dog’s need to encounter and process situations independently. Over time, this can hinder the dog’s ability to build experience and resilience. Without the opportunity to build these through gradual exposure, the dog may experience even ordinary situations as difficult or even insurmountable. This approach, often rooted in training philosophies designed for sport and play, has found its way into the everyday lives of ordinary dog owners. The consequence? Dogs that avoid challenges rather than face them, and owners who have less understanding of the importance of natural behaviour and practical upbringing.

What does ethology tell us about dogs’ natural behaviour?

Ethology, the study of animals’ natural behaviour, gives us insight into how dogs function as individuals and as part of a social structure. Dogs are social, group-living animals with an inherent ability to communicate, adapt and learn through experience. Their natural behaviour includes:

1. Exploration and problem-solving: Dogs use their senses and experience to explore and adapt to their surroundings. They learn through trial and error and develop strategies for solving problems.

2. Communication: Dogs use a complex language, including body language, facial expressions and vocalisations, to communicate emotions and intentions to other dogs and people.

3. Social structures and cooperation: As social animals, dogs understand social structures and cooperate to achieve shared goals, which can matter in both play and situations involving survival.

4. Adaptability: Through experience, dogs learn to understand and respond to different situations, helping them adapt to familiar and new environments alike.

5. Conflict management: Within a group, dogs learn to balance calming signals with clear boundaries to prevent conflicts from escalating.

6. Acclimatisation and habituation: Through exposure, dogs can naturally become more comfortable in situations they previously experienced as threatening.

7. Interaction and coping: Dogs learn social rules and gain confidence in their surroundings by encountering and managing challenges.

Over-focusing on food as a lure in everyday life can disrupt important processes by shifting the dog’s attention away from the situation and towards the reward. This can weaken the dog’s ability to develop natural coping and self-regulation. A balanced approach to reinforcement, in which food is used as part of a varied strategy, produces better results. Luring can often be replaced by gradual exposure and reinforcement of desired behaviour, allowing the dog to process and understand its surroundings independently.

The difference between training and upbringing

Training and upbringing are often confused, but they have fundamentally different aims:

1. Training:

   • Teaches the dog specific skills, such as sitting, staying, performing sport-like exercises or, where relevant, useful work in society.

   • Often uses rewards, including food, to strengthen a desired behaviour.

   • Focuses on control and precision.

2. Upbringing:

   • Builds the dog’s ability to function in everyday life, including handling stress, managing social situations and respecting boundaries.

   • Requires the owner to understand the dog’s natural needs and communication.

   • Aims to create an independent, balanced dog able to navigate life without constant external direction.

The problem arises when training principles from sport and play are used as a substitute for upbringing. This can leave the dog’s basic needs for security, independence and emotional regulation unaddressed. A more holistic approach, emphasising natural behaviour and a balance between reinforcement and coping, is needed. Training is often short-term and goal-oriented, while upbringing requires a long-term investment in the dog’s mental development and ability to cope.

Remember: Working from an upbringing perspective, or in other ways, does not mean that you should never give your dog a treat or use food as reinforcement. The point is to get the balance right, so that food is not overused, misused or used as a lure. The same applies to toys and any other items one might use.

Consequences of misapplying training philosophies

Excessive use of luring and food rewards can lead to several challenges:

1. Avoidance as the main strategy: Dogs that are continually lured away from what they fear never learn to manage the situation. As a result, the fear may persist or increase.

2. Reduced independence: A dog that always depends on its owner’s lure or reward does not develop the mental tools needed to deal with everyday challenges.

3. Lack of coping: When challenges are avoided through luring, the dog loses the opportunity to build confidence by managing them. This may result in an insecure dog that avoids even ordinary situations.

4. Confusion between training and upbringing: Ownership and boundaries require a different approach from exercises such as “sit” and “down”. Misapplied training philosophies can prevent the dog from understanding important social rules.

5. A distorted picture of behaviour work: Many dog schools based on sport-training principles use them under the banner of “behaviour work”. This distorts what behaviour is and how lasting change is achieved. Methods aimed at teaching specific skills do not capture the complex needs involved in addressing emotional challenges and building resilience. Owners may therefore develop an inaccurate understanding of what behaviour training actually entails.

6. The influence of social media and television: Social media and television programmes have promoted a short-term approach to dog training by highlighting quick fixes and immediate results. This can give an unrealistic picture of what sustainable training and upbringing require. Owners may be influenced by the immediate satisfaction of quick results, at the cost of the dog’s long-term coping and resilience. Effective upbringing takes time, patience and a holistic approach that extends beyond short clips or television episodes.

The importance of practical upbringing based on natural behaviour

To raise dogs who can manage everyday life, it is essential to build on ethological principles. This requires:

1. Exposure and acclimatisation: The dog must have the opportunity to experience different situations and adapt to them, without overprotection or constant rewards.

2. Clear boundaries: A dog needs to understand what behaviour is acceptable and what is not. This requires clear, consistent signals from the owner.

3. Trust-based leadership: A secure owner helps create a secure dog. The owner should be a calm and stable leader who guides the dog through challenges without unnecessary luring or avoidance.

4. Understanding canine communication: Instructors and owners need to read and interpret the dog’s signals so they can adapt their approach to the dog’s needs and state of mind. Dog trainers—and representatives of dog schools in particular—should also set a good example and have a well-adjusted dog of their own that can naturally adapt to different environments.

Conclusion

This article has explored the differences between training and upbringing and emphasised that different methods suit different purposes. The point is not to rank methods as better or worse, but to understand when and how they should be used to support the goals of both dog and owner.

For owners and instructors, the key is to adapt the approach to the individual dog’s needs and life circumstances. Balancing theory with practical application provides a sound foundation for building a secure and independent dog. One should also consider which methods a dog school or instructor promotes, whether these fit the desired outcome, and whether representatives of the school can put them into practice with their own dog as well as in their work with other dogs.

Effective upbringing strengthens a dog’s mental resilience and ability to manage everyday life with confidence and independence. Through patience, adaptation and the use of natural behavioural principles, we can create harmonious interaction between dog and owner, where both thrive and grow together.