Dog Star Park

There is an uncomfortable silence after an earthquake. Dust still hangs in the air, debris smoulders, and the world seems to have stopped. Then, amid that silence, two sounds are heard: the scrape of rescuers' boots on broken concrete, and a deeper, more primal sound: the rhythmic panting of a search and rescue dog.

This article is a tribute to them. To the four-legged heroes.

"Sure, with food any dog obeys." "My dog should do things because they respect me, not for a biscuit." "Positive reinforcement works for tricks, not for serious problems."

If you've ever heard (or thought) phrases like these, this article is for you.

Positive reinforcement is probably the most misunderstood concept in dog training. It's not "bribing the dog with food". It's not "being soft". And it's definitely not "letting them do whatever they want".