“In observational studies, dogs trained with aversive methods or tools showed stress related behaviors during training including lower body posture, lip licking, tail lowering, lifting front leg, panting, yawning, and yelping. … After dogs learned a cue taught using aversive methods, they continued to show stress-related behaviors when the cue was presented, suggesting the cue itself had become aversive.” American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior; Position Statement on Humane Dog Training 2021(www.AVSAB.org)
For a punishment to be effective, it must be painful or frightening enough to discourage a behavior from occurring again. Pain and fear are both inevitabilities for all living things, but especially for a dog living in a human world. We must have a dog that feels safe before we have one that minds us.
Studies show that obedience levels in dogs trained with “balanced” training methods (both reward and punishment tools) are significantly lower than those trained with reward-based methods. Aversive methods have also been found to have an association with higher frequencies of long-term behavior concerns. In fact, trainers in zoos wouldn’t dream of using these methods on big, dangerous animals due to the risks. So, if it hurts our dogs, scares our dogs, isn’t as effective, and in many cases leads to welfare concerns… why is it still so popular? One reason is because it’s easier.
Many trainers will tell you that your dog’s stress related behaviors are a sign of “submission” to you and are a good indicator that the training is working. Dominance theory is a long debunked pseudo-science which has no place in modern dog training, no matter how many celebrity trainers use it to “train” dogs. In my opinion, once you remove the human ego from the situation, you are free to become the observational scientist your dog needs. Finding ethical solutions requires creativity and patience – both can be learned!
I combine technical training skills with a shift in perspective. Let’s stop demanding obedience from our dogs. Instead let’s facilitate mutual trust through an understanding of their needs, motivations, talents, and limitations. We should teach a dog our language: “Come! Good boy, sit down.” But it’s more important that we learn theirs. Once we understand a dog, it’s easier to solve the more difficult problems with kindness.
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