As a certified professional dog trainer and behavior consultant, my stance on humane, force-free training is well known, and unequivocal, I might add.
Recently, I used the opportunity to put my philosophy into writing when an online journalist asked me, “Why hitting dogs or using pain in training doesn’t work?” I was happy to answer and want to share my input with you.
First, coercion is an inadequate choice for training. True, hitting dogs or using pain actually can work, but the risk of side effects far outweigh such methods, which are bullying and downright mean.
Positive, force-free training is the far better choice because with hitting dogs or using pain:
- The dog can be physically and mentally harmed by coercion and force-based methods!
- The dog learns to associate pain/being uncomfortable/”in trouble” with anything else in their environment – other people, animals, and situations. This type of conditioning can lead to fear-based reactions such as “I better do what they say otherwise I’ll get in trouble;” or “Uh oh, every time ____ is around I get in trouble or hurt. I don’t like ____! How do I make them go away?” The dog learns to anticipate, begins to panic (as displayed by their body language and behavior, etc.). They also can become fearful and “upset,” leading to an increase of undesired behaviors – barking, lunging, growling, even biting – to make the scary thing go away.
- The dog shuts down altogether – this is called “learned helplessness.” Essentially, the dog learns the best way to behave is to not do anything in order to not get in trouble.
- The dog ends up getting reinforced for the undesired behavior. This means, the behavior increases, which causes the owner to escalate their behavior, increasing the force of the punishment.
- The dog doesn’t learn what the right behavior is, as the owner is only focusing in on the wrong behavior. Therefore, the dog doesn’t know what to do.
- The dog has an increased risk of becoming aggressive and retaliating. Some dogs could care less, some freak out and back down (learned helplessness), others say, “I’m not putting up with that!” which leads the dog to snarling, growling, or biting the owner.
- The owner often can reinforce or punish the wrong behavior, unless the timing is precise.
- If the intensity of the punishment needs to be intense enough to actually stop the behavior – if it doesn’t the owner will continue to escalate the intensity – this leads to more harm to the dog, along with increased frustration of the owner. Thus, the vicious cycle begins. (No pun intended).
Need more convincing? Here are some references backing up my position: the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) Punishment Position Statement and American Veterinary Medical Association’s announcement of position on punishment.
It has been said that violence begets violence, but according to the Cure Violence organization, “… violence is transmitted in the same manner as a disease…just as flu begets flu.”
As humane pet parents we would go to great measures to stop disease, physical or behavioral. It is our duty to use methods that enhance the well-being of our inquisitive canines, and prevent and/or stop methods unnecessary for life, let alone for “teaching.”