One Reason to Not Punish a Dog: The Need to Build Trust

One of the first things that you learn about dogs and do behavior is that dogs do not respond well to punishment. Not in a “they don’t enjoy it” sense. No one likes to be punished, not even humans.

But the issue with dogs is that their brains do not work that way. They do not understand punishment the way people do. They do not learn or make connections the way that humans do, and so if you punish them for something, they are likely to still do the behavior again.

We know that it can be hard to resist the urge to punish, especially if we’re upset about a dog’s behavior. But we have to resist that urge not only because it doesn’t necessarily work on dogs, but also because it can hurt a critical component of dog training: trust.

Trust and Dog Training

Trust plays a very important role in dog training. Dogs that trust their owners are significantly more likely to learn – and enthusiastically so. Your dog needs to trust that you have their best interests in mind, that you’re there to protect them, that you’re teaching them things that are good for them to learn.

Your dog needs to have a lot of trust in you.

Punishment breaks that trust. Since dogs do not understand punishment that well anyway, all they know is that you’re making them sad. They hear you yell at them or feel discomfort when you grab their leash and they now feel like they can trust you slightly less than they could before.

Dog’s connections to humans are very strong, and so is their trust. Your dog should still love you even if you punish them. Dogs are loyal like that. But the more a dog trusts you overall, the more likely they are to learn, and the easier it will be to teach them, and those that are struggling with dog training should consider whether or not their actions might be harming their ability for their dog to learn.

Professional Training is Trust Building

It’s important to note that dog training itself – when done properly, with less punishment and more positive reinforcement – builds trust all on its own. It’s an activity filled with joy. Dogs don’t find learning to be a chore. They adore learning, they love the treats and positive reinforcement, and they love spending time with their owners.

That means that professional dog training is a great way to build trust, making it possible for your dog to be an even better learner. Don’t punish. Consider professional dog training instead. Reach out today to get started.

Calvin and Colleen Sheehan (Assoc. Producer - The Oprha Winfrey Show)

Marc Goldberg with Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer"

Our Philosophy & Goals

Our philosophy is simple. Improve the life of both dog and family. All too often, unruly dogs do not fully enjoy life because their families constantly become upset and frustrated with them. This is difficult for both family and dog.

Our mission is simple. Make both dog and family happy.

What does is take to make your dog happy? He will thrive when you give him leadership and attention.

Making the family happy is a bit more complex.

Families typically want their dog to:

Come when called, every time, on or off leash
Walk nicely on a loose leash without pulling
Sit until released
Down until released

Families also want their dogs:

Not to jump on people
Not to charge through doors
Not to dig in the garden
Not to bark and chew inappropriately
Not to climb on furniture you prefer they avoid
Not to sniff and eat off the table and counters.
Not to be wild and uncontrollable
Not to ignore you when you want their attention