Consequences of Punishing a Dog

There are still plenty of owners who, not knowing the consequences of punishing a dog, adopt this practice to point out inappropriate behaviour and stop it happening again. It's essential to bear in mind that this kind of "training" method can be dangerous when not applied properly, and can even encourage the development of stress symptoms and behavioural problems, such as aggression.

So, although we always encourage using positive reinforcement to train a dog, today we'll talk about the concept of "punishment" within canine training, what types of punishment exist, and how they should be applied properly and safely.

What Does Punishing a Dog Mean?

To know what the real consequences of punishing a dog are, we first need to understand what's meant by punishment in terms of canine training. Punishment is any kind of action applied with the goal of reducing the duration, intensity, or frequency with which a behaviour happens.

Specifically within canine training and education, punishments show up as traditional methods that fundamentally involve systematically reprimanding any behaviour considered inappropriate or unwanted so the dog stops repeating it. That is, the dog is systematically punished after carrying out certain inappropriate behaviours to inhibit them.

Even so — and this is a key point — there are different types of punishment, usually classed into two broad groups: negative punishment and positive punishment. Contrary to what's usually thought, the terms "positive" and "negative" can't be equated — at least within canine training — with the concepts of "good" and "bad". To make this easy to understand, below we explain the differences between positive and negative punishment.

Differences Between Negative Punishment and Positive Punishment

Applying negative punishment involves removing or interrupting a pleasant or satisfying stimulus for the dog every time a behaviour considered inappropriate happens. For example, if the dog pulls on the lead while walking, the walk is stopped immediately to discourage this behaviour; or if the dog tries to bite while playing, or won't let go of an object during the game, play stops immediately and the toy is taken away.

On the other hand, applying positive punishment involves triggering or adding an unpleasant or aversive stimulus for the dog after they carry out an inappropriate or unwanted behaviour. For example, hitting or threatening the dog for having done something "wrong", using a collar that gives electric shocks to stop them barking or when they don't obey a command, and so on.

Generally, the most dangerous consequences of punishing a dog stem from applying positive punishment, especially when it's done incorrectly. This is because systematically exposing a dog to unpleasant, uncomfortable or even painful stimuli generates a high level of stress in them and can encourage the appearance of behavioural problems, as we'll see in the next section.

5 Consequences of Punishment in Dogs

Generates Very Little Engagement With Training

Using punishment in dog training tends to encourage a feeling of frustration, since a reward is never offered for their good behaviour — only behaviours they shouldn't do get pointed out, whether positively or negatively.

This doesn't help the dog take training on board as something rewarding and want to keep learning. That's why we give preference to positive reinforcement, which, besides being infinitely safer, is a method for recognising and rewarding the dog's good behaviour, this way encouraging their willingness and ability to learn.

Can Make the Dog Feel Confused

Often, owners end up punishing their dogs for behaviours that are entirely natural in canine behaviour and communication, such as digging, sniffing other dogs' genitals, feeling curious about smelling practically everything and so on. In this sense, we need to understand dogs have their own codes of behaviour and don't have to act the same way we do.

What's more, if a dog is scolded or punished a long time after carrying out the behaviour considered inappropriate, the dog most likely won't even understand why they're being punished or scolded. In both cases, the result will be a feeling of confusion, where the dog doesn't identify either the cause of the punishment (the "bad" behaviour they shouldn't repeat) or the alternative they should follow (that is, the behaviour they should carry out instead).

Encourages the Development of Stress Symptoms and Behavioural Problems

Mainly when positive punishment is applied, the dog is systematically exposed to uncomfortable stimuli that generate negative feelings and emotions in them (and here "negative" can indeed be read as "bad"), such as fear and stress. Prolonged or frequent exposure to this kind of emotion is one of the common causes of behavioural problems in dogs, and can even lead to the appearance of aggressive behaviours.

Reduces Confidence and Can Encourage the Development of Phobias or Trauma

A dog who's frequently scolded or punished for carrying out different actions or behaviours (especially if we're talking about natural behaviours tied to their "canine condition") usually doesn't get the chance to develop their self-confidence and express their curiosity.

As a result, this dog will most likely fail to properly develop their emotional, cognitive and social skills, besides showing very fearful behaviour around different stimuli, since they have no resources for coping with difficult situations or unfamiliar stimuli. And in more complex cases, when punishments involve isolation or the use of violence, the dog can develop a phobia or trauma from constant, prolonged exposure to these adverse stimuli.

Can Put the Dog's Physical Safety and Health at Risk

Here too, the consequences of punishing a dog often stem from poorly applying positive punishment. This is because using certain tools to trigger adverse stimuli can cause physical injuries in the dog. And though we may sound repetitive, the stress generated by constant or prolonged exposure to punishments and scolding is hugely harmful to any animal's cognitive, emotional and social development, dogs included.

Now that you know the main consequences of punishing a dog, you should already be entirely clear on the importance of choosing safe methods and applying them properly when training your best friend. If you have the time and knowledge needed to devote to training your furry friend, on our site you'll find plenty of useful advice. Even so, if you feel you don't have the resources needed to take on this responsibility, remember you can turn to a professional specialising in dog training or canine education. What matters most is giving your best friend the chance to develop and express themselves in the most suitable ways.