More Treats, Please. No Tugging the Leash in Dog Training

Getting a new dog is an exciting time. Whether you’ve had a dog before or not, it’s a good idea to learn what’s new in dogs, because canine science means that what you knew before might not be accurate any more. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the methods you use to train your dog. Although increasing numbers of people use positive reinforcement in dog training, unfortunately some dog guardians continue to use outdated, aversive methods like prong collars, shock collars, and leash “corrections.” And that’s a problem because science shows that aversive methods are less effective than positive reinforcement and that they pose risks for your dog’s welfare.

Source: Ryniu1234/Pixabay

The reasons people use aversive methods range from a lack of knowledge about dogs and dog behaviour to an old-fashioned belief that dogs should just do as they’re told. But another reason is that there are still some dog trainers who stick to (and publicize) an aversive approach. You have to read dog trainers’ websites carefully because the use of unclear language, euphemisms, and proprietary terminology can make it hard to tell which methods are used (Johnson and Wynne, 2022). But now that we know dogs are sentient beings, we have to take a modern approach to how we live with them and train them (see why dogs’ happiness, not obedience, is what counts for more on that).

The risks of aversive dog training methods

Let’s be clear on this. The scientific literature on dog training shows that there are many risks to using aversive methods. These include the risk of the dog having a worse relationship with you; the risk of the dog showing increased fear, anxiety, and stress; the risk of the dog being aggressive; the risk of the training not working as well; and the risk of the dog being more pessimistic (see e.g. China et al 2020; de Castro et al 2019; Ziv, 2017). In particular, for a dog who is already fearful, these methods can simply make things worse (Todd, 2024). Meanwhile, reward-based training works and it doesn’t have those risks. It’s a no brainer.

The scientific literature demonstrates the potential harms of aversive methods so clearly that many organizations have position statements warning about this. For example, the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists says,

“The ACVB stands against training methods that cause short or long lasting pain, discomfort or fear. Aversive training methods can be dangerous to people as well as animals and pose a threat to animal welfare by inhibiting learning, increasing behaviors related to fear and distress, and causing direct injury.”

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position statement (which is well worth reading in full) says,

“The application of aversive methods—which, by definition, rely on application of force, pain, or emotional or physical discomfort—should not be used in canine training or for the treatment of behavioral disorders.”

But dog training is not regulated, and some dog trainers continue to push these outdated methods. That’s why we have to keep reminding people to choose trainers and training methods with care.

Which dog training methods do most people use?

These days, we know that almost everybody uses positive reinforcement at least some of the time, which is a big improvement on the past. While it’s hard to track exactly how many people sometimes use aversives because of sampling issues etc., the research shows that some people are more at risk than others. For example, one study found that men who have depression are more likely to use aversive training methods (Dodman et al 2018). And a recent study in the UK found that people who got puppies during the pandemic have a high use of aversives (Brand et al 2024). One explanation could be that they weren’t able to attend puppy class, and so didn't get to learn about dog training with positive reinforcement in a class setting. Dog training is a skill, and puppy class is a great place for people to pick up some tips. The concern is that these dogs missed out on socialization opportunities because of the pandemic, and now on top of that, their guardians are using aversive methods that have risks for their welfare.

How should I train my dog?

Use reward-based methods to train your dog. Reward-based methods mean giving your dog a reward for behaviors you’d like to see more of in order that they happen again (and again) and removing rewards for behaviors you don’t want to see. In training, the reward is typically a piece of food (like a dog treat or a piece of chicken or beef) but sometimes it might be play or a life reward like the chance to go outside. Note that praise is pretty meaningless and doesn’t count as a reward (unless it predicts the fact that a treat is coming!), and that dogs are sensitive to the quality of reward (for example, they run faster to get a reward they like (Riemer et al 2018)). Management to change the environment is important too (such as not leaving food on the kitchen counter to tempt them—thus removing the rewards for counter-surfing). And for a fearful dog, there are some helpful techniques called desensitization and counter-conditioning.

So ditch dominance. Park the prong. Stop the shock. Use treats to train your dog. If you stick to reward-based methods only, you’ll have a dog who is happier, has better manners, and has a better relationship with you.

If you get stuck or have issues, hire a dog trainer who will only use reward-based methods to help you get back on track. And any time there is a sudden change in your dog’s behavior, make an appointment to see your vet in case something medical is involved.