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Willingness to Please

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Do you believe in willingness to pleae?

  • Yes.

    Votes: 121 95%

  • No.

    Votes: 3 2.4%

  • Not Sure.

    Votes: 3 2.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0%
  • Total voters
    127
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
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GoldDogger

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
There is some debate in the dog training community on whether or not there is a trait known as willingness to please. I thought it would be interesting to hear everyone's thought on this.

Do you believe willingness to please is a trait?

If yes, how would you define it? Why?

If no, why not?
 
#2 ·
I personally think it could a breed related thing. Some dogs are just more independent than others, and could care less if you're happy or not...they'll just do what they've been trained to do. Some will crawl through 100yds. of razor wire just to put a smile on your face...Funny ain't it? Neat post BTW!
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I agree--totally breed even dog dependent. The question though--does it even exist at all? I think it does--but I find a lot of trainers (more positive-based cookie trainers it seems) do not. It is frustrating for me. I am really curious to see how retriever people treat it.

The thing is--I just don't think some of the amazing things dogs do for people is motivated by compulsion or food/toys. I am thinking along war dogs, service dogs, guide dogs, police dogs, etc.
 
#4 ·
Of course there is such a thing. It can be breed specific but more so, individual specific.
I prefer labradors because they generally have a good blend of willingness to please and independance. But there are dogs I've gotten in that just dont' give a dam about me or what I want from them. Just- whats in it for them,and will only do whatever it is if I make them. Not a trait that should be in a labrador IMO.
I like the trainable ones.
 
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#5 ·
Good question....I tried to think of specific training/hunting situations that could give an answer to this question. It made me think of the instances when I go in the back yard and both dogs will have been part of a "problem" like chewing up a hose, or doing something they somehow knew was not good. Both dogs will know I am not happy without me saying anything. One dog will do his best to behave, be very calm, seeking attention in a calm way vs. the other dog who does not care. Definately different personalities.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Billie said:
Of course there is such a thing. It can be breed specific but more so, individual specific.
I prefer labradors because they generally have a good blend of willingness to please and independance.
Click to expand...
........Individual specific..:cool:..I've had the more "independent" dogs, who wouldn't otherwise give you the time of day, over time due to dependance on it's owner for certain neccessities and great bonding, turn into real Teddy Bears for affection/attention...(I didn't want to mention the Labs as a more willing to please canine,..didn't want to get kicked off the forum or start a war..LOL..you're a braver soul than I am),..:)
 
#7 ·
Weve had worse wars on here than breed arguments! Generally unless you directly insult someone or it gets nasty, theres some tolerance for 'difference of opinions". :)
Enjoy-
 
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#8 ·
I agree that there is a trait for willingness to please. it has alot to do with the individual personality of the dog. I also agree that it is breed specific, after beeing around several of the pointing breeds and labs and **** hounds I will agree that labs are extremely eager to please, as well as have been the few goldens Ive been around. seems like the more independent dogs that I dogs that i have been around have been the hound breeds. to be honest though Ill admit that in my experience an independent dog is raised moreso than bred..... the reason I say that is most of the independent dogs that I have been around have been the Pointers and hounds that were trained to do a job and then been kennel bound for the time that they werent in the field. the dogs I have been around that were more interested in the pleasing their handler have been dogs raised as part of the family so to speak and gained an atachment to their owners.
JIm
 
#9 ·
Dogs are by nature pack animals. They must be submissive and please the leader or they don't eat.Most human owners are the pack leader so their dog wants to please them so they can eat and remain a member of good standing in the pack.Some dogs have an Alpha trait and could care less about their owners. However food and lodging is about as far as it goes. Our retrievers do what they do because they love it and that's what they were bred to do.It's the hunt, prey drive. In the wild if they didn't do it they would not survive.
 
#10 ·
jimmyp said:
I agree that there is a trait for willingness to please. it has alot to do with the individual personality of the dog. I also agree that it is breed specific, after beeing around several of the pointing breeds and labs and **** hounds I will agree that labs are extremely eager to please, as well as have been the few goldens Ive been around. seems like the more independent dogs that I dogs that i have been around have been the hound breeds. to be honest though Ill admit that in my experience an independent dog is raised moreso than bred..... the reason I say that is most of the independent dogs that I have been around have been the Pointers and hounds that were trained to do a job and then been kennel bound for the time that they werent in the field. the dogs I have been around that were more interested in the pleasing their handler have been dogs raised as part of the family so to speak and gained an atachment to their owners.
JIm
Click to expand...
And Terriers....... :rolleyes: Oh my, now THEY can be independent little snots to train!

Love my labs.... :D and yes, I DO think that positive-only training CAN undo some of that natural willingness to please. If dogs are spoiled by too many freebies (food or chatter), I've seen even the most biddable ones turn into "leaders" over their owners, given a better distraction when my own (a sibling or close relative) still gives me great attention.

Actually that is fodder for another post. Anne
 
#12 ·
I voted yes. Thats why I'm getting up at 5AM to go train my wife's dog. She's outta town.
My dog... he's with his trainer...and what he (the trainer) tell's me is...he works hard...he tries to please...

JD
 
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#13 ·
In my experience, all dogs are willing to please so it must be an in-bred thing.

Wives, on the other hand, are not, and if only they were. As for daughters.....don't go there!

Where would be be without our dogs, our wives and our daughters?

Possibly a few pounds heavier, single and considerably wealthier!

Just my thoughs.

Bill
 
#14 ·
I voted "yes" because I've seen it time and again, and not just with my Sadie but with other dogs as well. Perhaps the trait is more pronounced in some breeds than others, but as far as Labs and Goldens are concerned my experience is that not only is there a strong willingness to please, but it can be very effectively employed as a training tool...it's also a trait that makes them such great family members as long as their position in the "pack" is clearly defined. As a child and young man, we had German Shepherds and even that dominant/aggressive breed had a distinctive willingness to please.
 
#15 ·
I voted yes. Individual dogs within a breed can be much more "biddable" or willing to please than others, but I feel that this trait has been bred into the dogs we work with. Retrievers, herding breeds, working breeds have all been bred to work with humans and the ones that do it the best get bred so the trait gets passed on. Terriers, hounds, some of the upland breeds; by the nature of what they were bred to do are more independent. Terriers certainly don't need or want humans telling them how to dig up and kill a rat. Hounds work very indepedently as do most upland dogs. Nordic breeds are another example of independent dogs. Their "jobs" don't require the level of human interaction that retrievers or herding breeds do. This trait can be lost or enchanced by the dog's environment and training. I have certainly found it more enjoyable training a dog that wants to do the right thing than one who could care less what I want.

regards
dawn
 
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#16 ·
A dog that is willing to please is easy and fun to train. By that I mean that they learn their lessons well and retain the training sessions. I was taught that when you get a new dog in for training to grade them from 1 - 10 on "intelligence, Trainability and desire." I've added "willinginess to please."
 
#17 ·
When you ask if there is a "trait" I take it as using the definition of "an inherited characteristic" and thus "willingness to please" could be bred for?
Ie Sire "A" was really independent, therefore his pups will have that tendency too, so you'd want to find a pleasing bitch to breed with?
I voted "not sure".
But if there is, where would it be on your priorities list?

Now if you take it as being defined as " a distinguishing quality (as of personal character)" between breeds, like in, say, Labs vs Mini Schnauzers (the dogs I have at home, not trying to start a fight), I'd say there's definitely some differences there..
 
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#18 ·
Mostlygold hit the nail on the head!
 
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#19 ·
I have pretty much only had retrievers for as long as I an remember. Mostly goldens, with labs thrown in there. All my dogs had a willingness to please but that being said... We just got our first well bred dog (lab) OMG this dog practically does cartwheels to do what we ask. She is so geared for it. It is a lot of fun. Everything we have asked of her she does so easily too. She is an absolute JOY to work with. She has her challenges, we have not had a dog with her drive or energy, but boy start working with her, and you can just see her brain shift. She will do your bidding, fast, energetically, happily, and repeat as necessary. We are in love with our little girl.

Ann
 
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#20 ·
Absolutly, no different in desire to retrieve, different levels in different dogs.

Had a hot blind situation the other weekend that tested which was stronger.... Dog disappeared in catails, showed up 10 yards downwind of the hot blind. His desire to retrieve told him to pick up that bird, his willingness to please made him come in on the whistle, and take an over cast to the mark. In that case desire to please outweighed the desire to retrieve. (two years ago it would not have ;-) )

Sometimes desire to retrieve can be developed or maximized, but the point of training is to teach the dog that by pleasing us they get rewarded also.... both are natural to a point, but both have to be developed as well.....
 
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pixiebee
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