How NOT to train your dog

TBH, the force fetch training was a lot less terrible than some stuff like that I've read about. I've read about dogs screaming during this training. That lab looked pretty emotionally stable overall. I know if anyone did that to Josey, Josey would have a mental breakdown. I can see how a skilled FF trainer could teach this behavior on a very stable temperament dog, and not ruin the dog.

What's a shame about all that, is its so unnecessary to use pain to train a retrieve. In the last 3 evenings Tessa has learned a pretty good retrieve just by shaping with the clicker training method a la Jean Donaldson. She went from an avid "keep away" dog to a happy retriever in just a few 5 minute sessions. and she loves it! And she really has very little natural retrieving behaviors in her to start with.

Those force fetch guys have been using pain as a motivator for so long, they don't even realize dogs will do stuff for fun, rather than simply to avoid punishment. I think many of these men were raised with spankings and other physical punishment from their fathers, (and that is what made them "men") so they think pain is the best way to learn. Sure, it works, and for really experienced trainers, it can be done without turning the dog into a nervous wreck, but it certainly is a dumb way to do it.