When it comes to dog training, there’s a lot of debate about which methods are the most effective. Some trainers insist that if you don’t include at least some punishment-style tactics in your training, your dog won’t behave. At ADU, we have a different perspective. Read on to learn why a fear-based dog training strategy hurts more than it helps.
Punishment Centers “Bad” Behavior
When we talk about fear-based training, we’re talking about using unpleasant stimuli to teach your dog which behaviors are unacceptable. For example, fear-based trainers may encourage you to yell or use physical force when your dog barks at the neighbors or steals your shoes.
This kind of negative reinforcement may get your dog to stop the unwanted behavior simply as a means to end the unpleasant stimuli. What it won’t do is teach them what kind of behavior you do want from them or how they can express themselves in an appropriate way.
Fear-Based Training Positions You as a Threat
Your dog may not associate all fear-based tools directly with you. For example, they may not understand that you’re the one hitting the button on that shock collar. However, a lot of punishment will come straight from you, and your dog will start to associate you with their discomfort.
This positions you as less of a companion and more of a threat, which can make your dog extremely avoidant. It’s challenging to teach an avoidant dog important skills like recall because they won’t possess that inherent desire to be by your side.
Anxiety Doesn’t Help Your Dog Learn
How does fear-based training impact your dog in the long run? Research shows that dogs who undergo aversive training show more signs of anxiety, like high cortisol levels and low behavioral states, than dogs who undergo reward-based training.
At ADU, we try to give our dogs time to regulate and calm down before we start training. We find that a calm dog is not only easier to work with, but also more receptive to learning new behaviors and commands. A dog that’s in fight or flight mode is primarily concerned with creating safety, which doesn’t always involve listening to a trainer or owner.
Obedience and Dominance Aren’t the Same Thing
Most fear-based trainers abide by the belief system that owners should exert full control over their dogs and may encourage you to become the “alpha” of your household. Yet, dog behavioral experts point out that in the dog-owner dynamic, there’s no need to establish dominance when you already control so much of your dog’s resources and schedule.
Instead, we encourage owners to foster obedience in their dogs. An obedient dog may make mistakes sometimes, but they want to make you happy, and they’re easily corrected. You don’t need to create a submissive, fearful dog to see positive results.
At All Dogs Unleashed, we prefer methods like clicker training and positive reinforcement to help our dogs become the best they can be. Learn more about our training programs today!