With respect to dog training, often the word ‘Punishment’ incites images of physical and verbal reprimands and is often misused because it’s viewed as retribution for some perceived crime.When asked ‘what is the opposite of reward?’Many people will answer “punishment” and “discipline” which highlights the confusion, of course the correct answer is simply “no reward.”
Despite its misuse, when used correctly, punishment does play a role in modern dog training.
The two primary forms of training used at Waggy Tails Training are:
Positive Reinforcement and Negative Punishment.
Before we go any further it’s important you understand the context we are using when referring to positive and negative.
Positive and negative do not mean ‘good’ or ‘bad’ as is often thought but should be considered in a mathematical sense.
‘Positive’ means to add or give and ‘negative’ means to ‘take away’ or ‘stop.’
Reinforcement means to increase the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated and punishment means to decrease the likelihood.
Examples of Positive reinforcement
Something good happens to the dog to increase the likelihood of a behaviour.He receives a food tidbit for complying with a command or gets rewarded with attention for appropriate behaviour.
Examples of Negative Punishment
Something good stops to decrease the likelihood of behaviour.Your dog jumps up and you withdraw your attention and ignore him or a puppy bites too hard and your game with him stops.There is no pain or unpleasantness involved other than the disappointment of loosing attention or reward.
Positive Punishment and Negative Reinforcement
Examples of positive punishment
Something bad occurs directly to the dog or the immediate environment to decrease the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring.A dog barks and is smacked.The forms of punishment used are broad, some cause pain such as shock collars and choke chains, others a fear response or an unpleasant sensation such as water pistols or stones in a can.
At Waggy Tails we do not endorse any kind of painful punishment.Should the need arise there are many more ways to use positive punishment which do not cause pain or raise such strong questions of morality.
Examples of Negative Reinforcement
Something bad stops or is taken away to increase the likelihood of a desirable behaviour.The dog is exposed to something he finds painful or unpleasant for as long as he is performing an undesirable behaviour e/g. a choke chain is released when a dog stops pulling or verbal reprimanding ends when the unwanted behaviour stops.The reinforcement or reward is the discontinuance of the unpleasantness.
Negative Reinforcement is often confused, with negative punishment.
If applied incorrectly, positive punishment and negative reinforcement can have serious consequences encouraging the dog to develop certain fears towards, places, objects, situations and people, even their owners.
Studies and experience show that positive reinforcementand negative punishment, are by far the most effective forms of training with the dog being able to learn much faster, more effectively and allowing a stronger bond to develop between the dog and owner.The most that can go wrong is an owner will reward the wrong behaviour.
In order for any kind of reward or Punishment to be effective it must be immediate, consistent and where appropriate an alternative behaviour must be made available to the dog in order for him to learn a new desirable replacement behaviour.
Other misconceptions about punishment
The guilty concept.One of the most common mistakes humans make is to believe that dogs are capable of understanding right from wrong.Dogs do not have consciences the way humans do and are incapable of feeling ‘guilty.’What makes us convinced they do know guilt is the physical reaction they give us when having done something wrong.We come home to find our best slippers shredded beyond recognition.We stand there huffing and puffing and the dog slinks to the back of the room on his belly appearing guilty.Ask your self this question, is this because he really understands exactly what he has done and really is that cleaver or could it be because the dog has been in this situation before and was punished for it and is scared because of the change in your body language which he can’t understand so he tries to appease you to switch off your anger?
Many people believe that dogs need to be punished so they can learn not to do something unwanted because this is exactly how us humans were raised by our parents and this idea is transferred on our siblings and to our pets.Many owners automatically resort to punishment when their dog is misbehaving which results in a dog receiving far more punishment than reward.Isn’t this a very sad way for a dog to exist, a relationship built on fear and pain.
It doesn’t have to be this way if we just think with a little creativity and patience.There is no real need for punishment in the human world its all about creating new habits and providing opportunities for our dogs to ‘get it right’ and succeed.