Punishment vs. Correction In Dogs Which Is The Right Method To Change A Dog’s Behavior?
Punishment vs. correction in dogs, which is more effective to change the behavior of dogs? Many dog owners believe that harsh dog punishment, such as hitting, spanking and other similar methods, are totally acceptable and normal. Unfortunately, dogs are simple thinkers and punishing them harshly rather than clearly communicating that their particular behavior is not acceptable can damage the relationship of owners with their dogs. When it comes to communicating clearly with a dog that a certain behavior is undesirable, using extreme measures is never necessary.
The Problem With Dog Punishment Methods
Dog owners who hit their dog with their hand or an object risk their dog to become of their hand, or a certain object. Hitting dogs as a means of punishment tends to affect them psychologically. As a result, dogs become fearful every time their owners hand may come towards them even if the owner may be reaching out to pet the dog. To the dog, it will seem that the hand is coming towards them to cause them harm. Dogs should only feel a sense of joy and peace when their owner approaches and reaches out with their hand, to hold them, pet them or anything else.
Timing
The brain of a dog lives in the moment and they are only capable of associating things based on whatever they are presently involved in. Rather than being deep thinkers, dogs are quick thinkers. For instance, if dog owners try to correct their dogs, moments later for something unpleasant they have already done, their dogs will not be able to associate the correcting with whatever they did. To be effective, correcting a dog in the moment is necessary. When dog owners try to correct their dogs for something they did in the past, the dogs will have no clue what they are getting corrected for. In fact, dogs begin feeling that they are being corrected for nothing at any given moment and may become neurotic. Dogs may begin considering their owners unstable and may no longer trust them.
Proper Verbal Dog Correction
Punishing a dog or using punishing type methods to correct a dog and even using dog punishment signs is not acceptable. Dog owners will never communicate effectively with their dogs if they punish them. This only makes dogs fearful and unstable creating an unreliable relationship for the dog owners and their dogs. As a result, the dogs become aggressive because of the fear and nervousness. Dog owners should correct their dogs in an assertive yet calm manner. They should never correct their dogs out of anger or rage. Dog owners must learn to be patient. A voice correction should be controlled yet firm.
Proper Leash Dog Correction
Like other types of corrections, it is important that dog owners always do leash correction in the moment their dog does something undesired. Hauling the dog up off the ground when correcting should be avoided. The correction should give a snappy effective by being quick and sharp. Rather than a cowering effect, a startle effect needs to be created in that moment. Leash correction should never be used with the mindset of causing pain, but rather to get the attention of the dog.
It is said that even dog owners who mean no harm to their dogs are ruining their relationship with their dogs because of using wrong methods of dog correction. When it comes to the debate of punishment vs. correction in dogs, proper correction always wins since it does not damage the relationship of owners with their dogs.
