choke chains were the main thing for years before CM and dog borstal, way back to the 70's

Yep but not in my area. I'm sure they were elsewhere, but just not where I'm from.

bright people your area

I'm with these two ^^.

Roger Mugford was repeatedly advocating using a rattle can to correct behaviour in his training book published back in 1992, way before Dog Borstal: "Never say 'NO' when a rattle can works better".

Priceless!

I don't think anyone is saying that "old school"/older methods make you a cruel owner, just that the term "old school" conjures up the thoughts of older methods - some of which are cruel but some that just aren't so modern. Nothing wrong with using some of the older methods if they work and don't distress the dog, but OP asked what the words mean to us and everyone's stated that. Not sure why people are taking it personally (I, myself, also don't let the dogs on furniture either)

I didn't hear of prong or electric shock collars until very recently.

My GSDs were trained in the 70s. There were NO TREATS. It was praise based. We were told over and over NOT to shout at (or sargeant major) the dogs. But choke chains were used on big dogs and given a jerk but we were told they were more useful for throwing against a door when the dog was the other side of it barking like a loony.

No one hit their dog in my classes. We were told a rolled up newspaper was an invaluable tool to hit yourself over the head with if you took your eye off the ball when training. And to whack a table with if they were chewing or whatever (hell - it's a long time ago!)

Walking to heel was taught by keep stopping and changing direction. I remember being told not to make eye contact with my GSD (coz she obviously loves you so much!) and then not even to say her name when giving a command for the same reason. I'm sure it took longer then but I had nothing else to compare it with. I did not want to be one of the dog owners who screamed at and/or beat their dogs.

My dogs were not allowed upstairs or on the furniture - main reason for that being their size.

Yes, all this treat and reward based training is news to me really. I hardly had to train a cavalier (didn't do anything wrong anyway - once housetrained and taught to stop pulling on a lead). The min pin I have now was VERY easy to housetrain and seems to be very smart anyway and was taught to walk without pulling and come back to me and stay without using treats. Just constant repetition and praise (I'm a beach bum I've got all the time in the world).

After joining this site and learning how to teach with treats I did teach Bella 'paw' (taught her high five too!). It's gone by the by now because there isn't really any reason for it. I don't find a lot of reason for 'SIT' to be honest.

STAY! or WAIT! and WALKING (which is what I say instead of 'HEEL') and THISWAY! which is my version of COME! and OUT! is about all I need.

cheers

buth that really is my answer to the question

"Old School"doesn't exist IMHO, old fashioned, outdated yes when thinking about dog training.

The old methods of dog training that go back centuries were formulated when compulsion was used in all types of training/education for animal & humans alike, little was known or understood about how animals & humans learn.

Choke chains have been used to train dogs for over 50 years, the theory behind correct use is that the noise of the chain corrects the dog & they can be used without damage/pain to the dog, sadly this is rarely the case & most are used as a chain noose.

To me old fashioned/outdated dog training is very physical with the dog being compelled to do what the owner requires rather than being taught what is required by using the dog's learning ability.

The only thing I agree with with the likes of CM is that dogs live in the now, they have no sense of guilt or of wrong behaviour. Using the reward for good/desired behaviour has worked for my dogs for over 40 years, I haven't used a choker since 1964 & haven't owned one since then(except for a gold plated snake link one given to me when we made up our breed champion which has never been used as a choker).

I love watching dogs learn behaviours by being rewarded by a click &/or treat, to see the dog working things out & then successfully learning to do as they are being aimed at is very rewarding