How to punish a dog? 10 effective ways

When we acquire or adopt a pet, it becomes our responsibility to train it, provide it with a good education, as well as cover all its needs and guarantee an optimum quality of life, free from suffering, fear and stress.

That is why on this occasion Waggy's Gathered all the necessary information to help you carry out this process in the best way in order to obtain positive results, educated and happy pets.

In this blog you will find the most effective types of punishment, the consequences of abusing punishment, tips for training and some alternative methods for their education. We invite you to continue reading and that together, we continue to guarantee the well-being of our pets.

What is punishment in dogs?

In the field of canine education, punishment is considered to be any action with the potential to cause a reduction in the frequency, duration or intensity of a behavior.

Many times we forget and at a certain point we normalize violence; punishing your dog will never be synonymous with hitting or attacking. There are positive and negative punishments that it is important to differentiate because they share the same objective but the forms of application are different, as are the repercussions on your pet.

Why is it important to do it?

We have no other way to make our pet understand the actions that are allowed or not within its behavior. Punishment becomes the method to generate behavioral changes, however, we must be aware of what punishments we are putting into practice.

Believing that the correct way to punish our pet is with threats, we rarely think about the emotional problems that we can cause them and that are more common than they appear. Below we will explain in detail what they are and what they consist of.

Problems derived from excessive or inappropriate punishment

Permanent state of anxiety: In this problem, our pets inhibit their behavior for the simple reason that they are afraid of their guardians. This, in the long term, can cause the animal health problems and serious behavioral changes.

Appearance and aggravation of insecurities, fears and phobias

Many times the bad behavior of our pet can be the reflection of another situation that we have not identified. This behavior may be generated due to some external situation that causes insecurity, fear or phobia. If as a tutor you punish this reaction, you can worsen their fear and end up developing a significant phobia that will seriously affect their emotional health.

Increased frustration and feeling confused

It is important that the family agree on the situations that your pet will or will not be allowed to do so that the punishment is supported by everyone. By not having this communication or limits, they could generate confusion and stress in him. It's also important to differentiate natural behaviors like digging or chasing cats from those that actually signify bad behavior.

Appearance or increase in threatening or aggressive behavior

When a dog feels uncomfortable in a context or with the behavior of a specific individual, such as its owner, the owner will let it know through its body language and facial expressions. At first, it will emit calming signals such as looking away, yawning or smacking its lips to ask you to move away and, if these movements are ignored, it will increase in intensity, showing signs of threat, such as growling or wrinkling its muzzle.

Learn more about how a negative state affects puppy behavior by reading the article: Dog Aggression .

Deterioration of the bond between the dog and the guardian

When we are abusing punishment as a corrective method, we are making our pet not trust us and begin to adopt a cautious attitude towards us. This can be reflected when we call you and you do not answer or prefer to avoid us. You have to be careful with this because it can also generate anxiety.

Physical injuries caused by punishing tools

When the punishments are physical and are carried out through harmful tools, they can cause injuries that in many cases end up requiring urgent veterinary attention. Examples of these tools are electric shock collars or those with spikes that can cause suffocation or tracheal collapse.

How do I act against bad behaviors?

Next we will establish some situations and later we will break down the way to act:

My dog ​​urinates in places that are not allowed

Dogs usually urinate inside the house for various reasons such as separation anxiety, a syndrome or simply because of a phobia. In any of them the important thing is not to punish him. The ideal in this case is to keep track of the frequency with which the dog urinates and be aware of the context. Later, introduce more walks into their routine and reinforce their effort with a prize or toy. You should try Waggy's products, they are the best treats for puppies with CBD for dogs on the market, these are 100% natural and are an excellent source of Omega 3 for dogs , a necessary and essential component for the development of our pet.

My dog ​​bites everything

Do you remember that in the blog Why does my dog ​​bite everything we talked about how natural it is for them to bite things? This is because it is the only way they have to know their environment, so punishing them for it may not be the best option. The best option in these cases is to teach your dog from a young age to inhibit his bite by offering him an alternative so that he can chew like a toy.

My dog ​​is very aggressive

In cases where your dog has aggressive behavior towards other dogs or tries to bite a family member, punishing it will be a complete mistake. In these cases it is advisable to have the help of a professional who advises you and helps you to reform your behavior.

My dog ​​breaks everything

For our furry dogs, breaking things can be fantastic entertainment, especially when they are puppies, but they can also do it for reasons of anxiety and stress. The important thing to do is avoid leaving valuables within his reach and stimulate him by diverting his attention to other objects such as toys. We remind you that our Waggys Crazy Ball will soon be on sale, which will be your perfect tool to entertain your pet.

More Effective Dog Punishments

In reality, the idea of ​​"punishing" a dog can be counterproductive and ineffective in terms of training and relationship with your pet. Instead, it's better to focus on positive reinforcement and positive reinforcement-based training to encourage desired behavior. Here are 10 positive and effective ways to work with your dog:

Food rewards

Use treats or food to reward and reinforce the desired behavior. This helps establish a positive association with training.

Praise and caresses

Dogs respond very well to displays of affection and verbal approval. Praise and pet your dog when he performs correct actions.

Interactive toys

Provide interactive and challenging toys to keep your dog engaged and mentally stimulated.

Active game

Play games like fetch, run, or exercise together. This fosters bonding and helps release the dog's energy.

Get to know the best games for dogs by clicking on the link.

Obedience training

Teaches basic commands like "sit," "stay," and "come." These commands are not only helpful but also stimulate the dog's brain.

Quality time

Spend quality time with your dog. Walk together, explore new places and establish a strong emotional connection.

Socialization

Introduce your dog to different people, other dogs, other animals, and situations to make him feel comfortable in various settings.

An interesting option to read is the article: How to socialize a dog with a cat?

Safe haven

Provide a safe and quiet space where your dog can retire at times when stress and anxiety affect dogs .

Ignore unwanted behavior

Instead of punishing, ignore unwanted behaviors to avoid accidentally reinforcing them.

Differential boost

Reinforce and reward positive behaviors while ignoring negative ones. This helps your dog clearly understand what behaviors are acceptable.

Alternatives to punishment to consider

Fortunately, now there is more information about the processes that we can use to train and/or educate our dog. There are canine education professionals who opt for a training and education methodology based on scientific evidence and respect for animals.

Likewise, there is already more information about the different approaches that can be used to educate them, such as cognitive-emotional training focused on studying, understanding and enhancing the physical, cognitive, social and emotional capacities of dogs in order to help them better manage their environment. .

Tips for effective training your dog

Communication and patience

Communication is key in any relationship, including the one you have with your dog. Use clear and consistent commands, and pay attention to the signals your dog is sending you. Patience is essential as each dog has their own pace of learning and it can take time for them to understand what is expected of them.

Set clear expectations

Define what you expect of your dog in a clear and realistic way. Set achievable goals and work in small steps so your dog can understand and succeed in his training.

Positive reinforcement

Acknowledge and reward desired behavior with praise, petting, treats, or other incentives your dog likes. Positive reinforcement creates positive associations with learning and motivates your dog to repeat the desired behavior.

Consistency and routine

Consistency is essential to successful training. Use the same commands and signals, and maintain a regular routine for training sessions, feedings, and walks. This helps your dog understand what to expect and reinforces learning.

Safety and well-being of the dog

Make sure the training environment is safe for your dog. Use appropriate leashes and harnesses, and avoid situations that may cause your pet stress or fear. The physical and emotional well-being of your dog should always be a priority.

Adaptability and flexibility

While consistency is important, being adaptable is also crucial. Some days your dog may be more receptive than others, and you may need to adjust your approach based on his mood and energy level.

Socialization and exposure

Expose your dog to different situations, people, and environments from an early age. This will help prevent behavior problems and make your dog more comfortable in various situations.

Conclusion

From this article we rescue that there are two types of punishment; positive and negative. As our pets are living beings that we love and they represent an importance in our lives, it is preferable to choose to stay in the line of positive punishments since these seek to protect them and rule out the possibility of generating future problems such as stress, anxiety or physical damage.

It is also important that we identify contexts and frequencies in which our furry performs these bad behaviors in order to establish a course of action and improve the problem. Also, we must learn to differentiate the natural behaviors of the animal from what we consider bad behavior.

Finally, remember that every process requires respect and patience, so violence will never be an acceptable way to educate anyone, not even our pets.