for pets

DITCH THE SHOCK

Here’s why this correction approach doesn’t work

By Rebecca Mason CPDT-KA, CTDI, M.Ed.

Adding aggression to aggression is a recipe for disaster. If you choose to correct your dog using aversives — like shock collars, prong collars, and even leash correction — this simply inhibits the outward expression of an emotion (the thing you hear, like a growl, or the thing you see, like a warning snap).

However, even with corrections, the dog still feels the same way on the inside that he felt before the correction. You’ve just taught him he isn’t allowed to communicate that. You have removed the dog’s ability to warn others that he is uncomfortable, creating a dog who will bite without warning. This is one of the most dangerous and most unfair situations to place a dog in.

If aversives aren’t the answer, what DO you do? As a dog trainer, my job is to educate and advocate. That means education for the pet parent — teaching them dog body language and signs of fear or stress (lip licking, yawning, turning the head away, tucking the tail, wide eyes) — and advocating for the dog, since dogs need different things in different situations.

The most important thing a dog needs to know, without a doubt, is that his owner will never harm him and will never put him in a situation where he feels that others might harm him. Use aversives, and you violate that trust, which teaches your dog that you won’t keep him safe and that he will have to take matters into his own paws. Advocating means not only being aware of your dog’s needs, but communicating them to others: He doesn’t like petting, but you can toss him a treat. He doesn’t like having his tail touched, but he would love it if you rubbed his ears. He’s a little overwhelmed. We’ll try this another time.

Most of all, if you are seeing signs of fear or stress in your dog, consult a certified trainer who can help you maximize both your own learning and your dog’s joy.