How to discipline your dog, affection or punishing?

When disciplining your dog, should you use affection or punishment? This article answers such a vital question. A hint: the name doesn’t say it all. 

Why is your dog misbehaving?

Many so-called behavioral dog problems are normal and happen when it wants to express its instincts. These include:

• Digging
• Chasing things
• Playing
• Barking
• Not getting enough exercise that it has excess energy
• Scent marking
• Chewing

To solve the issue, understand the reasons for the misbehavior. You could have taken their normal behaviors wrongly, and they don’t need discipline.

Dogs as pack animals and dominance

Dogs are social animals and think of your household as their pack. That’s why they are friendly towards humans and easily adjust themselves to your activities. They are also eager to please you and observe how you behave. In fact, research has shown they are aware of your mood. 
Behavioral problems often arise when a dog tries to become dominant within its “pack” and becomes more aggressive and disobedient. It does not respond well to training or discipline. 
To avoid this situation, establish dominance over your new pet and maintain it. It may take some time before you can assert this, but your canine will become more submissive once you are successful.
 

Ways to discipline a dog: training principles

In certain situations, dogs need the discipline to reduce their aggressiveness, improve their obedience, and live harmoniously with you and other pets. But between negative and positive punishments, which is ideal?
First, let’s define positive and negative punishments. 
Positive punishment is the term used to describe the administration of an unpleasant stimulus in response to bad behavior, such as shaking its neck or pushing the dog down to apply a stronger physical correction. To work, it should be unpleasant enough to stop the behavior without invoking fear, pain, or aggression that can interfere with learning. 
In contrast, negative punishment involves removing something of value as an immediate consequence of bad behavior. These include walking away and ignoring a dog after a hard play bite. 
With a consistent approach, the dog will soon understand that whenever he bites, playtime stops. Dogs are excellent at making associations between what they are doing and any reaction to it whether positive or negative.
When choosing which to use, consider these three principles:
 

1. Kindness goes a long way

Many dog owners immediately punish their dogs for “misbehaviors” like vigorously shaking the scruff of their neck, and their preferred technique is negative punishment. These include physically disciplining (e.g., hitting) and depriving the pet of what it wants. 
 Discipline often works best if done kindly. Canines will be more responsive to your commands. 

2. Training by reward works better

When negative punishment doesn’t work, which does? Training by reward using food, attention, or play for good behavior. Research has shown that a dog learns faster this way. 

3. Train dogs by association

Dogs are smart animals, and you can use that to improve their behavioral training. Think of the Pavlov method, a technique developed many years ago when dogs associated the sound of the bell with mealtimes. 
 
Here’s how it works: Pair a command, such as sit and stay, to action, perhaps giving a reward for every successful execution. Once the pet learns to associate the action with the instructions, they’re more likely to respond to the verbal commands.

How to discipline a dog without hitting

For many, kinder negative punishment is better than an all-out positive punishment. But remember that punishment only works if it is an immediate response to a dog’s behavior. Otherwise, poor timing will confuse and sow fearfulness in your pet. Worse, it will lose the desire to learn. 
Let’s say your dog bit you while you’re both playing. As a discipline, you took away the ball. However, if you realize the dog was only trying to pick up the ball and not bite you, you should give the object at once.  
Meanwhile, you cannot take back the yell or swat once you realize you were wrong. With negative punishment, you can always make up and give back what you’ve taken away. 
In the end, praising good behavior is just as important and effective as using negative punishment. Our dogs will always crave attention, so interacting with you even when you are angry will always be better than being ignored. 
If your dog displays a specific behavioral problem you cannot resolve, seek advice from an expert or a veterinarian. They can suggest other dog training techniques for specific problems.