Comparison gifpost.
First row shows shut down dogs, trained to heel using aversive methods. Tucked tails, hunched posture, low energy, low heads, think you can see some lip licking in that 2nd one.
Second row show a dog trained by Jenny Gould with positive reinforcement. Very energetic, pricked ears, wagging tail, head up and focused on the handler.
Third row is Clinton Anderson (who trains exclusively using aversive methods) working with his horse Mindy. You can see pinned ears, lip licking, clamped tail. There is irritable, anxious and passive body language depending on the point in the video.
Fourth row is Mint, trained by Shawna Karrasch with positive reinforcement. Note the presence of real positive body language. Pricked ears, head toss, relaxed tail.
Obviously I have an agenda re: encouraging the use of positive reinforcement, and discouraging the use of negative reinforcement and punishment, but mostly this gifset is intended to make it obvious that what we think of as ‘relaxed’ or ‘submissive’ body language can actually be a sign of a shut down animal that has learned not to react, or react only when made to. A horse is not relaxed just because they aren’t reacting. A horse is not happy just because they aren’t actively fighting. Horses can be taught to shut down just as easily as dogs, and typically, they are. The next time you watch a training video, watch for the quiet signs of stress (tight mouth, whale eye, clamped or thrashing tail, pinned ears, lip licking). You’ll be surprised how many ‘calm’ or ‘relaxed’ horses are exactly the opposite.
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