Bark collars that either spray citronella or use electric shocks are some of the most common harmful products that “work” by causing pain or discomfort. Some of the more secretive tools promise to keep dogs from barking by using ultrasound or high-pitched sounds that humans cannot hear. These products also “work” because the sound, while quiet for humans, is uncomfortable or even painful for dogs. Electronic or “invisible” fences “work” to keep a dog in their yard, as it relies on pain to keep the dog in check. Not only are these not ideal, they also come with additional dangers as many dogs will run through the fence to chase a squirrel, cat or other dog. At this point, dogs can get hurt, but then they will be afraid to return to their yard as they will be shocked or physically punished again when they return home.
What Science Says
Because we’ve learned more about animal behavior, we now know that non-pain-based training methods make our pets happier and help them learn better.
“Scientific research into dog training shows that there are risks associated with using training methods such as shocks on a leash (often called ‘corrections’), electronic shock collars, alpha rolls, or other aversive methods. Those risks include fear, fear, aggression and a worse relationship with the dog. And by punishing a dog for something you don’t like, you don’t teach them what to do, ”advises Todd. It’s also worth noting that punishing your dog will not only cause physical and emotional discomfort, but is also a great way to injure yourself. Using pain-inducing aids is like adding gasoline to a fire.
In fact, “59% of bites in the household come from owners trying to discipline their dogs,” explains Khara Schuetzner, president of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, in reference to a 2007 study of dog aggression.
Instead, develop a common language
Schuetzner encourages people to think of your dog as a toddler speaking another language. For example, if “the only time the 3 year old gets your attention, does something” naughty “and you punish the child, what will you learn? The child learns every time you come to him, you are going to do something that hurts and causing discomfort. If you do this with your pet, your pet will start associating you with pain and discomfort. ”
Rather than punishing our pets, she explained, we want to develop a common language. By using positive reinforcement, you can change your pet’s behavior and help them develop positive associations with people or things they feared. In the same way, you can teach your pet to do something for yourself want do them, instead, do something you don’t. For example, reward your cat with treats or toys for scratching on a cat tree instead of your couch. If your dog gets very excited seeing other dogs, use treats to teach your dog to watch you.
If someone promises you that buying a product will fix difficult behavior, it’s a good sign that you want to go the other way. As we said, just as human behavior cannot be changed at the touch of a button, the same is true for pets.
Positive reinforcement isn’t just for “easy” pets
I often hear pet owners, especially those with large, rambunctious dogs, defend themselves with pain-inducing aids because they say they’ve tried it everything already. The key to success, however, is that positive reinforcement training methods do not force your pet to go to the facility, but rather help your pet understand what you want them to do by guiding them in making the decisions you want them to do that they take.