Why Positive Reinforcement Is the Best Way to Train Your Dog

Aversive dog training methods use punishment and intimidation, often leading to physical harm, fear and aggression. Positive reinforcement training, which comes from a gentle, reward-based approach, is much more effective as well as humane.

Over the past few decades, we have seen a shift from aversive dog training methods to force-free, positive reinforcement training. Instead of punishing a dog for unwanted behaviors, positive reinforcement training rewards the dog for behaviors we do want. Not only is this a much kinder and safer way to train, but research has proven that positive reinforcement is the most effective method. Let’s find out why.

PUNISHMENT-BASED TRAINING HAS MANY DISADVANTAGES

Punishment-based training is rooted in dominance theory, which suggests unwanted behaviors are a dog’s attempt to show dominance. Consequently, behavior problems are solved by establishing dominance over the dog — that is, “showing him who’s the boss.”

Did you know? This theory stems from a 1930s study conducted with captive wolves. The wolves displayed significantly different behaviors from their wild counterparts, yet the findings from the study were erroneously applied to wild wolves, and later domestic dogs.

Although those concepts have long since been debunked, many still believe punishment is a useful training method. Aversive training techniques range from intimidation such as yelling, staring the dog down, startling her with unpleasant sounds, and spraying her with water, to physical punishment such as hitting, kicking, pinning the dog to the ground, jerking the leash, and using aversive collars. Not only are these methods outdated and unnecessary, they are also harmful, unsafe, and often ineffective.

“Effective” punishment comes at a high price

In order for punishment to work, aversive methods have to be timed correctly, and applied consistently and with the correct intensity. This means the person applying the corrections has to learn these methods, which takes time and practice. Meanwhile, the dog suffers while that learning takes place.

Punishment loses efficacy over time

When a dog is repeatedly and routinely exposed to a punishment, she may get used to it. At first, yelling when she engages in an unwanted behavior may stop her, but after a while she may not respond to it anymore. The next step may be spraying her with a water bottle, until she gets used to that one. Punishment methods will often escalate over time. After all, if a little discomfort won’t change a behavior, maybe pain will.

Punishment may cause or increase fear and anxiety

In most cases, aggression is rooted in fear. Therefore, punishing a dog for displaying aggressive behavior is counterproductive and does not solve the underlying problem. Punishing a fearful dog will usually increase his fear and anxiety.

Did you know? Dogs punished on a regular basis will often shut down. They stop displaying any behaviors to avoid punishment.

Advocates of aversive methods describe this as a desirable “calm submissive” state. However, this is an incorrect description because submission is rooted in fear, and no one can be fearful and calm at the same time.

Punishment can lead to aggression

Punishment-based training methods can lead to an aggressive reaction. A dog punished for growling in the hopes of curbing aggressive behavior will learn her communication efforts are fruitless. Next time, she may skip the warning and immediately resort to biting, which now makes her a dangerous dog.

Any dog may react aggressively when inflicted with pain or feeling cornered. Over time, aggression may increase and also be directed towards other people and dogs. This is why aversive training is unsafe for everyone involved.

The dog may associate aversive methods with his human

A dog experiences punishment only when his person is present, so he will learn to suppress unwanted behaviors but may still display them when that person is not around. Punishing a dog after the fact for going through the trash is ineffective, because he is not able to make an association between the correction and what he did hours earlier. The dog will learn his person cannot be trusted and that it is better to avoid them. Training should always strengthen the bond between you and your dog, not weaken it.

Harsh punishment is cruel and inhumane

Harsh training methods, such as hitting, kicking, pinning a dog to the ground (“alpha roll”), and aversive tools such as shock, choke, and prong collars, can result in physical injuries to the dog, and impact her mental health. Aversive collars can easily injure her neck and lead to long-term damage to the thyroid, trachea, and esophagus. Obviously, these training tools are painful to dogs, or they wouldn’t respond to them.

Did you know? Some European countries prohibit the use of aversive tools because they are considered inhumane.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING – THE BETTER AND KINDER CHOICE

Positive reinforcement training is based on behavior science rooted in kindness and empathy, and has proven to be very effective. Knowing that treating a dog with kindness works should render any aversive training irrelevant.

Positive reinforcement training is all about prevention and management; that is, setting up the environment so the dog cannot engage in any unwanted or unsafe behaviors, then teaching him what we would like him to do. By using these methods, we prevent chewing, digging, jumping, stealing, and running out the door, and teach the dog to sit, lie down, stay, and leave it.

Did you know? We use rewards in the form of food, praise, play, and affection to reinforce a desired behavior, which increases the reoccurrence of that behavior.

For example, if your dog gets a treat every time he sits, he will sit more often. Contrary to the common belief held by aversive training advocates, rewarding a behavior is not the same as bribing. Over time, the new behavior will become a habit and the dog can be weaned off treats. While the correct use and timing of rewards are necessary for the training to be successful, any mistake you make will not lead to harmful effects as it would in aversive training.

3 PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING

1. Prevention and management

The number one priority is keeping your dog and everyone else safe. You set up the environment so the dog cannot engage in any unwanted or unsafe behaviors. It is much easier and more effective to prevent than correct unwanted behaviors.

For example: Keep your dog on a leash to prevent him from running into the street, or put up baby gates so he can’t run out the door or access the trashcan.

2. Substitution

In positive reinforcement training, we focus on the behaviors we want our dogs to do. We substitute any unwanted behavior with one we like.

For example: If you don’t want your dog to jump on people, teach him to sit for greetings. If you won’t want her to chew the remote control, provide chew toys and teach her to use those instead.

3. Systematic desensitization

By nature, dogs are sensitive to motion, sound, and touch. We need to systematically desensitize them to scary triggers by associating good things with them. This is how many behavior problems rooted in fear can be addressed. Over time, dogs can be weaned off treats to the point where they are no longer necessary.

For example: If your dog lunges at skateboarders, reward and praise her at whatever distance from the skateboarders she remains calm, rather than yell at her and jerk on the leash. Eventually, she will associate skateboarders with good things, thereby changing the way she feels about them.

NOT ALL DOGS RESPOND THE SAME TO AVERSIVE TRAINING METHODS

While yelling may make one dog stop in his tracks, another dog may not even blink. A strong, confident dog may bounce back from intimidation and physical force, while an already timid dog may be traumatized for the rest of his life. The experience of emotional and physical discomfort is subjective, and we cannot predict how any given dog will respond.

PUNISHMENT DOESN’T TEACH YOUR DOG WHAT YOU WANT HER TO DO

Training a dog through punishment means setting her up for failure. For instance, people wait for their dogs to steal food from the kitchen counter, then punish them for it. They haven’t taught their dogs what they would like them to do instead. This leads to a great deal of confusion, and confusion often leads to fear. The dog may shut down because she is afraid of doing anything that might trigger pain or discomfort.

A much more effective method would be to teach the dog the “leave it” cue, and refrain from leaving food out until she has mastered this skill.

Force-free, positive reinforcement training is based on communication and trust instead of intimidation and physical force. This safe and effective training approach is fun for both you and your dog and strengthens your mutual bond. It’s the only kind of training your best friend deserves.

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