What Is LIMA Dog Training?

Authored by Stephen Lindsay, the LIMA Principle focuses on the balance between dog-human relationships and canine quality of life. Lindsay defines the LIMA Principle in Applied Dog Behavior and Training as the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive training method. This method does not condemn the use of aversive techniques while training, but rather defines when and how they should be used when instructed by a canine professional.

What is the LIMA principle?

The LIMA Principle stands for Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive, and should be used as a competency criterion for dog trainers. This is to ensure that the least intrusive and aversive techniques are used in the effective and humane training of dogs. The dog’s preference for pleasure and avoidance of pain is significant in the ethical basis for favoring attractive incentives and rewards. As a rule, attractive incentives should be preferred in a situation where attractive and aversive incentives are equally likely to obtain the desired training result.

Corrections should not be used lightly or haphazardly. The general rule is to select the least aversive procedure that is expected to result in successful learning for the dog. Aversives are ranked in order of their relative severity and intrusiveness, guiding the trainer to apply a less aversive technique before a more aversive one. “Relatively aversive”, however, varies independently from dog-to-dog, not strictly based on the tool being used. The dog decides what is aversive, and it is imperative that the trainer takes into consideration the dog’s welfare and then the comfort of the handler before applying an aversive procedure. Sticking with this model allows the least necessary and sufficient aversive is used to produce the intended behavioral objective.

Core concepts of LIMA

“Training is not about making dogs feel good or bad, rather it is about enabling them to adapt well,” (Applied Dog Behavior and Training Volume 3, page 727).

The term Cynopraxis is composed to two Greek roots, cyno meaning “dog” and praxis “to do.” Praxis refers to the application of theoretical knowledge for a practical purpose. In relation to the LIMA Principle, cynopraxis refers to the application of ethology, learning theory and other supporting areas of scientific research of humane management and control of dog behavior. Cynopraxic trainers acknowledge and respect the dog’s preference for pleasure by advocating for use of methods that utilize reward and minimize punishment. To train a dog to be reliable, however, it is unavoidable to use both attractive and aversive incentives to motivate while training.

Training should intrude minimally on the human-dog bond and avoid adversely affecting the dog’s quality of life. Overly constrictive restraint and confinement techniques should be avoided in favor of techniques that most humanely achieve training objectives without undue stress or discomfort on the dog.

The ‘dead-dog rule’ is complementary to the LIMA principle. Training criteria and objectives should be defined in terms that a dead dog cannot satisfy. This allows trainers to give affirmative statements and objectives about training that can only be achieved by a living dog. For example, instead of teaching a dog not to jump (dead dogs cannot jump), the dog should be taught to sit calmly for petting and attention while greeting people, behaviors that are incompatible with jumping that a living dog can perform. When using aversive stimuli in this context, the objective is positive behavioral change and the establishment of a training space to encourage learning through expectations of future events.

Creating a training plan

“The training plan addresses both antecedents as well as consequences believed to control the expression of unwanted behavior. In addition to assessing and altering unwanted behavior, trainers are also concerned with using antecedents and consequences to shape and control more desirable alternative behaviors,” (Applied Dog Behavior and Training Volume 2, page 33)

Creating a training plan that follows the LIMA Principle and ensuring compliance from the client should be fully understood by the client and be within the ability of the family members to apply. If the client considers any portion of the plan to be cruel, then they are unlikely to continue the plan at home. In order to be effective, the training plan must be sensitive to the family’s needs as well as the dog’s. This means considering the daily schedules, skills and knowledge of everyone handling the dog. Training recommendations should not harm the human-dog relationship, the dog or the owner while they are being implemented.

While using the LIMA principle when working on behavior modification, the dead-dog rule helps to shape training plans to treat and change behaviors – emphasizing how we can change the dog’s inappropriate behaviors to desirable ones. This allows expectations to be set in clear approximations to change undesirable behaviors into positive outcomes. Reinforcement and punishment have the same approximate effect on the dog, they both influence the dog’s prediction-control and regulate behavior, leading to the dog’s decision to continue or change their behavior in the environment.

The trainer’s goals are to educate clients and establish realistic expectations. While assessing behavior problems and instructing clients on appropriate management and training techniques, the trainer should always consider these recommendations while regarding serious aggression problems. While the LIMA Principle may help reduce the likelihood of aggression in the future, it is not a cure-all to behavior problems and clients should be prepared to instill lifelong commitment to their training plan.

In conclusion

Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive training helps to forage the human-dog bond while taking into consideration the ethical use of positive and negative reinforcement or punishment. While focusing primarily on the use of attractive incentives for dogs, the LIMA Principle emphasizes the importance of aversive incentives when attractive incentives will not allow for the desired change in behavior.

Training plans should focus on the human-dog relationship, the dog’s welfare, and the owner’s comfort in implementing the training plan. The ideal training plan that complies with the LIMA Principle focuses on the use of positive reinforcement, but also knowing when and how to properly implement aversive control as needed.