You love your dog. You truly do. Which is probably why you’ve tried so hard to teach them the basics like sit, stay, or not to lunge at every squirrel that crosses your path.
Maybe you’ve even watched a few training videos online or followed advice from a neighbor. Yet something feels off. Your dog seems anxious, more withdrawn, or even more reactive than before. Here’s the uncomfortable truth. Some of the most common training techniques people use every day are silently wrecking your dog’s emotional wellbeing.
Veterinary behaviorists and canine researchers are sounding the alarm. The methods you thought were helping could actually be hurting. So let’s dive in.
Punishment-Based Techniques Create Chronic Stress
Let’s be real. It’s easy to believe that a quick correction will stop bad behavior. A firm yank on the leash, a spray bottle to the face, or even a sharp “no” might seem harmless.
Research shows that using aversive training methods can jeopardize both the physical and mental health of dogs. These approaches rely on making your dog uncomfortable or scared enough to stop doing something. The problem is they don’t teach your dog what to do instead.
Dogs trained with aversive methods displayed more stress-related behaviors during training and exhibited higher post-training increases in cortisol levels. Think about that. Their stress hormones stay elevated long after the training session ends. Your dog isn’t just stressed during the moment of correction. They’re carrying that anxiety with them throughout the day.
These training techniques increase physiological stress markers and contribute to behavioral issues, such as increased aggression and fearfulness. Honestly, if your dog is more fearful after training than before, something has gone seriously wrong.
Shock Collars and Prong Collars Do Lasting Harm
I know some trainers swear by electronic collars or prong collars. They say it’s just a little nudge to get the dog’s attention. The research tells a very different story.
Studies found a significant increase in cortisol levels following the use of shock collars, indicative of stress and potential welfare implications. Dogs don’t just feel a slight discomfort. They experience genuine distress.
In dogs that received poorly timed shocks, cortisol levels increased over 300 percent just by entering the room where they had been shocked one month after training. That’s not training. That’s trauma.
Prong collars work by causing pain when the dog pulls. The idea is to make pulling so uncomfortable that the dog stops. Yet dogs subjected to punishment-based techniques associate fear and pain with the person administering the punishment, leading to a breakdown in the human-animal relationship. Your dog may obey, but they’re doing it out of fear, not trust.
Dominance Theory Has Been Debunked
You’ve probably heard someone say you need to be the alpha. Maybe you’ve been told to pin your dog down, eat before them, or never let them walk through a door first.
This so-called dominance theory came from old research on captive wolves. The science has moved on, but the myth persists. This approach could exacerbate a dog’s underlying stress, anxiety, or fear, and potentially switch behavior to increased aggression.
Dogs aren’t wolves. They’re domesticated animals who’ve lived alongside humans for thousands of years. Treating them like they’re trying to dominate you misses the point entirely. When your dog doesn’t listen, it’s usually because they’re confused, scared, or just haven’t learned what you want yet.
The whole alpha mentality creates a relationship based on intimidation rather than cooperation. When a dog no longer displays undesired behavior in response to positive punishment, owners often believe the problem is solved, but they haven’t alleviated the dog’s underlying stress or anxiety. The fear is still there. It’s just hidden.
Even Mixed Methods Compromise Welfare
Maybe you’ve thought using a little bit of punishment alongside rewards strikes a good balance. The data suggests otherwise.
The higher the proportion of aversive stimuli used in training, the greater the impact on the welfare of dogs both within and outside the training context. Even small doses of punishment add up.
Welfare differences were found even when comparing reward-based groups with those that used a lower proportion of aversive-based techniques. Dogs can tell the difference. They know when you’re being unpredictable.
Dogs from groups using mixed methods displayed more stress-related behaviors and were more frequently in tense states during training. You might think you’re being fair, but your dog is still anxious. The inconsistency makes it worse because they never know what’s coming.
Positive Reinforcement Actually Works Better
Here’s the thing. Reward-based training isn’t just kinder. It’s more effective.
There is no evidence that positive punishment is more effective than positive reinforcement-based training, and some evidence suggests the opposite is true. Let that sink in. You don’t need to hurt or scare your dog to teach them.
Aversive training methods have a damaging effect on both animal welfare and the human-animal bond, and there is no evidence they are more effective than reward-based methods in any context. The veterinary and behavioral science communities are united on this.
Dogs attending classes advocating mainly aversive training methods were found to be more pessimistic in a cognitive bias task than dogs from training classes using a reward-based approach. Your dog’s outlook on life changes depending on how you train them. Dogs trained with kindness are more optimistic. They’re willing to try new things.
Positive reinforcement methods consistently produced happier, more confident animals with fewer behavior problems. These dogs trust their owners. They want to learn. Training becomes something enjoyable rather than something to dread.
Conclusion
Your dog deserves better than fear-based training. The science is clear. Those working with dogs should rely on positive reinforcement methods and avoid using positive punishment and negative reinforcement as much as possible.
Training doesn’t have to involve pain, intimidation, or dominance. It can be built on trust, patience, and understanding. When you choose positive methods, you’re not just teaching your dog to behave. You’re building a relationship where they feel safe with you.
If you’ve been using aversive methods, it’s okay. You didn’t know. Now you do. It’s never too late to change your approach. Your dog will thank you for it.
What’s your experience with dog training? Have you noticed changes in your dog’s behavior with different methods? Share your thoughts in the comments below.