I believe that right or wrong is a subjective concept. As such there is no absolute right or wrong. Science does not prove absolute right or wrong. It provides various experimentally-based perspectives on a given situation. It is up to each person to decide for themselves what is right or wrong given the information they are willing to absorb, how they interpret it, what their priorities are, etc.

In my opinion, everybody is trying to do the “right” thing, but there are many paths and it may not be clear which one is “right” for them. I try to present the information and provide my own perspective on what I do and why. This more recent article has a bit more of my thinking on the matter – https://shibashake.com/dog/emotional-awareness-and-mindful-dog-training/

Thank you for asking this thought provoking question and sharing your interesting perspective. It has been quite helpful for me.

That goes against the studies and the information in the rest of the blog. Stick up for science. If you find positive reinforcement more effective than aversive training, then why not state that? When the studies that are linked to your accurate information say the same thing, why not state it? Today, every study done on domesticated dogs consistently shows positive reinforcement without negative reinforcement or positive punishment, is more effective and has no detrimental long-term effects. So, I’m going to agree with your dismissal of what you wrote. Yes, one method is absolutely better than the other method, which you overwhelmingly support in your blog, when you write that one is an absolutely right or more effective the rest of your information becomes less effective. Scientifically, overwhelmingly aversive training has is less effective and prohibitively risky to a dog’s well-being.
Of course, you can conclusively say one is better than the other, if you read the study of anything it’ll have a conclusion. When you add that paragraph, it reads as if you’re concerned about somebody taking offense or being defensive about dismissing dominance theory. The whole point of scientific study is to remove the emotions and anecdotal information that gets mistaken for facts. Science isn’t polite or concerned with making people feel better about being wrong.
The only reason I’m driving this point so hard is because accurate information shouldn’t get diluted into opinion, and opinion should not be undiluted into science.

I thought of putting the puppies up for adoption as the age is now 2.5 months so that they don’t have to roam on streets and am already in process of sterilization of the mother dog. As a result I got a lead for adopting both the puppies..and they finally have a forever home now.

All I am right now worried about is did I make a right choice by giving a 2.5 month old puppies because it separated them from their mother.. All I can think now is that was it a good decision of separating the puppies from the mother at 2.5 months of age though they are safe with the person who have adopted them.

It seems as if now the mother is in search of the puppies and keeps finding them and roams in the street here and there. Though she does eats food and drinks milk as I feed her and wags her tail as well. I am not very sure if she searches for them and if she is sad by not seeing them.
If you could help me that did I make a right choice or should I bring back the puppies to the mother.. I would really be thankful to you and would further help me to know more about dogs

Is she getting enough exercise? You probably know that a Kelpie is built to work/run all day long. Displaced behaviors are often due to needs not being met. I am 68 years and don’t believe that I could provide the physical stimulation needed to satisfy a Kelpie. If she is already working it may be just a developed habit. Good luck to you.

Thank you

I helped my Shiba Inu with his dog-to-dog reactivity issues by-
1. Controlling my own energy.
2. Creating neutral experiences.
3. Doing desensitization and counter-conditioning exercises.
4. Setting my dog up for success by carefully managing his environment and routine.
5. Not exposing my dog to more than he can handle. Reactive experiences will create negative associations, undermine my dog’s trust, set back desensitization training, and worsen my dog’s behavior.

More on how I deal with dog-to-dog reactivity issues.

We did desensitization training in a controlled environment, with trainer chosen dogs, and under the direction of a good professional trainer.