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Punishment vs. Correction While both punishment and correction are forms of negative reaction to a dog's behavior, they are not interchangeable training methods. Unfortunately, many dog owners rely on punishment rather than correction. And again, unfortunately, most dogs never understand what the punishment is for. Example 1Behavior: Dog gets into the garbage. Desired Behavior: Dog stays out of the garbage at all times. Punishment: Human comes home, sees garbage all over the kitchen, drags the dog into the kitchen, severely scolds the dog and hits him while explaining that the dog should not get into the garbage. Result: Dog is afraid to see the human come home, still gets into the garbage as it is a fun, rewarding activity and dog does not associate the garbage with the scolding. Correction: Human sees dog in garbage and scolds dog immediately. After the short correction, the human gives the dog a command he can do well (sit, down, etc.) and then praises the dog for obedience. Result: The dog will associate the scolding with the action of getting into the garbage if timed properly. Dog will continue to enjoy the human's return. Example 2 Behavior: Dog gets on the couch. Desired Behavior: Dog is to get on the couch only when invited. Punishment: Human yells at the dog and spanks him when the dog is discovered on the couch without permission. Result: When the dog is lying on the couch and sees the human approaching, he runs. When the human is not home, the dog continues to take long naps on the couch. Correction: When the dog attempts to get on the couch without permission, the human says in a firm voice, "Off" and gently pulls the dog off the couch by the collar. The dog is then asked to sit. When he complies, he is praised by the human. The human also teaches the dog to get on the couch when invited, using a command such as "come on". Result: The dog learns he is not to get on the couch without an invitation, but is given a task (sitting) that is constructive and that brings forth praise from the human. This serves to maintain a positive relationship between the two. By also learning to get on the couch in response to a command the dog begins looking to the human for an invitation rather than inviting himself. Example 3 Behavior: Dog gets on the couch. Desired Behavior: Dog is never to get on the couch. Correction: When the human leaves the house, he covers the couch so that the dog is unable to get on the couch--chairs upside down work well --or the dog may be placed in an area without access to the couch. When home, place balloons under the seat cushions of the couch. If the dog attempts to get on the couch, these pop and startle him, causing him to get off the couch. Another way is to place duct tape, sticky side up, on the tops of the cushions. This sticky surface is disagreeable to the dog and he jumps down. These methods should be used only when you are home, to eliminate any chance of injury to the dog. Result: The dog learns to avoid the couch because of the scary noise that it emits or the uncomfortable surface it presents when he sits on it. Since this behavior is not dependent on interaction with the human, the dog will learn to avoid the couch even when the human is not home. Hopefully, the human has provided some place just as cozy as the couch for him to sleep in and call his own. Using correction The purpose of each of these reactions is to teach the dog something. It's important to remember that you will never teach your dog nothing. In other words, he will always learn from you whether you realize it or not. This is why it's important to realize what you are teaching the dog by your actions. You may be teaching him the wrong lesson without knowing it. Anger has no part in any teaching process. If you remember that this is an educational process for the dog it may make it easier not to "fly off the handle". (Yes, we do know what it's like to come home after a long day at work only to be greeted with the house full of garbage!) However, correction alone is not enough to create a well trained dog. It does not teach a dog what to do--just what not to do. Remember that you need to teach the dog what you want as well as what you don't want. Show him the desired response. Once the response makes sense to the dog (he starts to react to the command about 50% of the time) it is time to use a correction when he fails to respond. Needless to say, every time the dog starts to respond, he should be praised. Return to Dog Fact Sheets. |
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