Setting boundaries is not the same as punishing

Setting Boundaries Is Not the Same as Punishing

Recently I read a study showing that punishment in dogs can cause up to three times more aggression compared to situations where no punishment is used. That matches exactly what I see in practice. When a dog is punished, it can react aggressively as a result, sometimes even biting its own handler.

I often talk to people who experience problems with their dog and ask me for advice. Especially with dogs that growl at their owner in certain situations, dangerous moments can occur when punishment is used. The dog may show its teeth as a next warning. And if that still does not stop the owner, it can end in a bite incident. From the dog’s point of view this is not strange, especially when earlier growling has worked before, for example when the owner backed away or stopped doing something the dog found unpleasant.

That is why I always warn people to think carefully before correcting their dog in a way that makes the situation worse. It is important to understand why the dog growls first, so you can respond the right way afterwards.

Punishment Works Differently for Dogs Than for People

A person can be punished for something they did the day before. With dogs it works differently. A dog does not understand why he is punished if it does not happen directly during or right after the behaviour. This often leads to insecurity, distrust or even aggression. This is an important reason why things often go wrong when dogs are punished.

An example of this: the owner comes home and the dog is happy to see him. The owner becomes angry because the dog chewed something earlier that day. For the dog this is impossible to understand, because it happened hours ago. The result is confusion and tension instead of learning.

Punishment afterwards often causes confusion in dogs. They no longer understand the reason.

Not Every Form of Punishment Is Wrong

Not all forms of punishment lead to aggression. There is also negative punishment: removing something pleasant. For example, pulling your hand with food away when the dog comes up too early during the indication of an item.

It is almost impossible to raise a strong dog without any form of correction. I also sometimes use a punishment when a dog does something or does not do something while he clearly knows what the intention is. Negative punishment is often very effective here. For example during bitework, when a dog becomes too impatient and wants to go to the decoy before the command. By turning around and walking away, the dog learns that this behaviour brings him nothing. He learns from his own behaviour what he must do to earn the bite.

What Is the Difference Between Setting Boundaries and Punishing?

Setting boundaries is not punishment. With punishment, the dog already knows what is expected. With boundaries, we teach our puppies from the start which behaviour is not allowed. We do that with a clear “No” and a calmly built up negative stimulus, light or a bit firmer depending on the dog, but always carefully controlled. Just long enough until the unwanted behaviour stops.

Especially when the puppy is new in the home and everything is new, we hardly need any corrections. This clarity early in life prevents unwanted behaviour from becoming a problem later.

An Example From Practice

Our puppy Jacky showed this very clearly. When she was 8 weeks old, she often bit in my trousers and socks. That was unwanted behaviour, which I made clear with a short “No” and a light negative stimulus by pushing her away. After that I always offered her something she was allowed to bite, like a toy or bite roll. Very quickly she understood what she could and could not bite.

Setting boundaries at a young age is important. Clear rules in the early phase prevent the need for punishment later.

Jacky learned at a young age what she was and was not allowed to bite.

Conclusion

A dog that understands what is expected does not need punishment to learn. By being clear from the beginning, you create trust and prevent problems in the future.