Withholding food is aversive?
I’m working on my 3rd certification and going through some of the text and it says that withholding food is considered aversive, inhumane, and abusive. Yet, I know many FF trainers (I am Force Free certified) that withhold food to increase engagement and prey drive during training sessions. WTF?!?
Now it doesn’t define out what “withholding” means, but taken at face value it means not feeding the dog. Many people don’t withhold food completely and decrease the amount at mealtime. But that’s still withholding in a sense. And yes, the dog is fed through training and earning it. Some people feed an entire days worth of meals through a training pouch. Again, in the strictest sense you’re withholding food until the dog earns it.
I find it ludicrous that all these new age “Force Free” training methods will find nearly anything to be aversive. No wonder why there is so much confusion. Aversive by definition is “something that causes strong dislike and avoidance”. In the strictest terms a leash and collar can be considered aversive. Everything is aversive now. Including food.
Rant over. Good day