When training a dog, there are many ways to set limits and to make clear what behaviors are not acceptable. But some sanctions, like locking them alone, must be avoided. We then justify this position and offer more efficient and safer alternatives from a psychological point of view.
Dogs they are extremely social, that's why they don't like to be left alone. Until then, all good. If they like it, leaving them alone as punishment would not even be punishment and the problem is that the dog associates being alone with what he does wrong and every time you have to stay alone you will feel worse. We always recommend doing the opposite, that is, associating the fact of staying only with good things, in this way, our absences will be faced with more tranquility by the dog and will cause less suffering for him, which will result in less possibilities of develop separation anxiety or compulsions, like licking the paw nonstop.
Punishment or reward?
Imagine this scene, the owner talks animated with visitors and the dog barks to get attention. Determined to punish the dog, the owner goes to him, grabs him or gives orders and accompanies him to the place of punishment.
El center of attention, for a few moments, it is the dog and the result is that, after doing what it should not, the dog feels rewarded. The punishment that will come later will be ineffective, no matter how unpleasant it may be. When the dog manages to escape before reaching punishment, he gains even more attention and feels more rewarded for the wrong behavior.
It often becomes apparent when the dog is having fun, loving to see the owner try to catch him. If it were possible to punish the dogs as a magic art, without having to bring them to the place of punishment, the punishment would be much more effective, but still, it would persist the association of doing wrong with being alone.
Remember that you reward your dog every time you pay attention to him, even if this attention is an attempt at punishment.
For train the dog To live with humans, there is nothing better than prolonged contact between the two and is that the repetition of rewards and reprimands, depending on whether the dog acts correctly or improperly, makes clear the limits and decrease inappropriate behaviors.
Scold him only when necessary
Due to the importance of repetition, the technique of induce the dog to err so that he can be reprimanded more times. For example, by teaching him not to cross the street, we try to encourage him to go to the other side by playing with a ball or something.
If a dog jumps and barks to be seen, the best thing is to scold him at the exact moment of the jump and the bark and is that every time he barks or jumps again, it will lead to another scolding. If there is no effect, we correct. With all this, the wrong behavior It becomes clear to the dog and is associated with unpleasant things.
Instead of just worrying about punish dog mistakes, we must always try to teach the appropriate behaviors and reward them.
For example, if the dog jumps to get attentionInstead of punishing it, it is better to teach it to sit down to gain affection and that is that punishment, when it is necessary and useful to give the dog a more pleasant life and closer to people, can be applied without the need to leave the animal alone and unsafe.
Firstly, if he is scolded, it must be at the moment. Give preference, at the very moment the wrong behavior occurs. Better still if it is early in the behavior, such as when the dog begins to open its mouth to bark.
The most indicated fight is the one that causes fright or discomfort to the dog, without hurting or traumatizing him. The method of reprimand as well as the correct way to apply it are essential and efficacy varies by dog. So when in doubt, it is important to seek the help of a trainer or behavior specialist.
