POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT VS. AVERSIVE PUNISHMENT
WHAT IS POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?
Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dogs for behavior you’d like them to repeat. Rewards can come in many forms, including play, petting, food, and treats. The most important thing is that your dog enjoys it!
Aversive punishment involves something that is painful, scary, or otherwise unpleasant. Aversive techniques include startle (using noise makers or compressed air), painful corrections (like leash jerking, e-collars, or pinch collars), and physical manipulation (like pushing a dog's butt down until they sit, or forcing them onto their side or back).
WHY NOT CORRECT UNWANTED BEHAVIOR?
Correcting an unwanted behavior only interrupts your dog at the moment. It does not, however, teach your dog what to do instead of the thing you punished them for. Corrections and punishments also fail to improve your dog’s motivation or desire to perform the behaviors you prefer. In fact, it is very common for dogs to resume the behavior they were previously punished for, and to learn to avoid or fear you instead.
Using a treat or toy, lure your dog from one place to another or into a desired position.
Give your dog plenty of daily mental and physical exercise. A tired dog is a good dog!
Prevent unwanted behaviors using environmental management such as gates, leashes, or visual barriers so that your dog can’t practice the unwanted behaviors.
Teach your dog new behaviors to replace the unwanted ones.
Ignore unwanted behaviors when they occur, and calmly direct your dog toward a more desirable behavior.