WHY PUNISHMENT HAS NO PLACE IN TRAINING

Ben, a 6 months old Border Collie with few experiences of other dogs, was jumped on by a boisterous Labrador while he was on his lead. Although the other dog was 'only being freindly', the next time Ben saw a black dog he was understandably defensive and showed his teeth. He was punished with a tap on the nose from his owner.

Ben soon learnt that that an approaching dog not only made him fearful it also made his owner angry. His aggression became worse and the punishment got harder. By the time he was 9 months old he was attacking other dogs on sight.

Had his owner not punished him initially for showing his teeth but instead had made an effort to introduce him to a few calm dogs to counter balance the experience with the Labrador then Ben would at 9 months old been a normal well-adjusted dog.

Although it could be argued that it was the early experience with the other dog that caused Ben's aggression, it was undoubtedly the punishment meted out for showing aggression that ensured that it continued and became worse.

Ben was put to sleep on his first birthday.

Amber, a Golden Retriever, typically thought as a young puppy that anything she found on the floor was a chew toy. She particularly liked socks.

From an early age she was punished for picking up the children's dirty washing. She very quickly learnt that to pursue her favourite occupation and avoid punishment she should only pick up socks when her owners weren't looking and if they entered the room to quickly swallow them.

She had her first operation to remove a sock from her stomach at 11 months old, a second one at 14 months old. She did not survive the third, age 18 months.

The family's second Retriever has been taught to retrieve and is never scolded for picking up anything in her mouth. Consequently she now happily collects the dirty washing and brings it to the kitchen.

Brutus, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Monty, a small crossbreed terrier had lived together for two years and were firm freinds. They occasionally went to work with their owner but Brutus would bark when left in the van.

An electric shock collar was thought to be the answer. The first time that Brutus barked in the van he was 'zapped' from a remote control.

He immediately turned on Monty and had killed him before his owner could open the van door

Brutus obviously thought that Monty was the cause of the severe pain that he had felt and although his actions were impulsive, they were entirely natural.

Toby, Maddie, Barney and Sophie are just a few of the many dogs that as puppies were scolded for toileting in the house. All four were initially encouraged to 'go' in the house on newspaper. They were also rewarded when they went in the garden.

Because they were shouted at and smacked at such a young age they became confused about learning and distrustful of their owners. Despite this early experience all four eventually became house trained.

However - Toby the Jack Russell was so sure that he would be hit if he went to his owner that his recall was non-existant. 2 years later, he still cannot be let off the lead.

Maddie, the Dobermann started to show aggression towards her owners whenever they raised their voices, even though they never hit her again. They have now stopped shouting at her and she has thankfully not bitten them.

As a result of the punishment associated with the house, Barney, the Boxer refused to come in from the garden. He should have access to a one acre garden. Instead he has a small fenced dog run. He also has no recall when he's out and has to stay on lead.

Sophie, the Shih Tzu still has the occasional accident indoors behind the settee because she will not ask to go out. Her recall however is brilliant. Her housetraining didn't involve her being called to be punished, she was picked up and taken to the 'mistake'. Her owners cannot pick her up now without being snapped at.

Experience has shown that some dogs trained using punishment will turn our just fine whilst others will become aggressive towards dogs or people or both (mainly towards their owners and the children) and the rest will become withdrawn and nervous and incapable of learning through fear of getting it wrong. Trainers that still advise using harsh methods are encouraged to continue by the success of the few that survive!

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