Stop using Punishment in Dog Training
Although punishment in dog training is quite controversial, it is still a common method used by a wide variety of dog trainers. Positive punishment is more common than negative punishment. Positive punishment can be described as associating an unpleasant act with an undesirable behavior. For instance, if a dog is barking, a trainer might use a leash tug to stop the behavior.
Negative punishment involves taking away something pleasurable to the dog in response to a negative behavior. For instance, a dog that barks at a visitor might have a treat or toy taken away in response to the action.
Other forms of positive punishment that trainers use are shock collars, loud “no” sounds, water squirting on the face, etc.
There are several disadvantages to using punishment to train dogs. In general, punishment is a short term solution to undesirable behavior. This is because dogs will only stop performing the behavior due to the undesirable effect of that behavior. In the long run, dogs will usually keep the behavior and repeat it at some point.
When training your dog for obedience, you should not focus upon punishment as the main motivational tool. For centuries people have been obsessed with punishment as a method to control animals and people. It has often proven ineffective and detrimental to any intended progress. Inflicting pain on another being, no matter if it’s animal or human is not very effective in increasing its ability to work or its intelligence.
By punishing your dog, it will ultimately create anxiety and fear in the dog. It is not the way you want your dog to view you as the owner. Fear and anxiety can create serious problems between you and your dog. Dogs may even act more aggressively due to fear.
If you do decide to use punishment as a training technique, use negative punishment. Negative punishment is much more preferable to positive punishment, as it will not create the same sense of fear and anxiety in the dog.
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