What are the Implications of Using Training Techniques Which Induce Fear or Pain in Dogs?
If a dog shows a behaviour which results in a perceived positive
outcome, he or she is more likely to show the behaviour again on
subsequent occasions – this is known as reinforcement. If a behaviour
results in a perceived negative outcome, the dog is less likely to show
the behaviour again – this is punishment. Simplistically, in order to
change a behaviour, one could either punish an undesired behaviour or
reinforce the desired one.
‘Punishment’ tends to be an emotive word, but scientifically this
just means a reduced chance of a behaviour occurring again. Hence,
depending on the characteristics and experience of the animal, and the
choices of the trainer, a ‘punisher’ could vary from a mild ‘no’ to a
very aversive stimulus such as a tightened prong collar around a dog’s
neck. Punishment has been used in animal training since animals have
lived in close proximity with people. However, just because training
techniques based on the induction of fear or pain have been used for a
long time, does not necessarily mean that they are the best option in
terms of efficacy or animal welfare. In fact, training a dog using such
techniques carries a number of risks. These are:
- Increasing the dogs fear or anxiety about the situation in which it is used
- Decrease the dog’s ability to learn
- Associate other, coincidental events with a fear provoking event
- Inhibit behaviour, but leave the underlying emotional response unchanged increasing the chance of future problems
- Induce an new avoidance, or aggressive response
- Cause confusion as to which behaviour is required
- Cause physical injury
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