But the Advert Says Humane & Effective
People who seek support and assistance from me may use a range of tools because they are struggling to deal with a problem behavior, whether it’s a dog who barks non-stop when the human is gone, who goes ballistic on leash at the sight of another dog or human, or runs off the property. The people who I work with generally want to have the best relationship they can with their pet – that’s why they got their pooch. I also understand that they use some of these tools because they don’t know other strategies that will bring relief and or address the problem. So let’s talk about ones that use the principle of punishment and aversion in order to stop a behavior. These tools include e.g. prong collar, shock/beep/vibrate collar, anti-barking collar, anti-barking sound device, citronella spray, shaker cans, and even our voice used in a particular manner.
Companies marketing these tools and other trainers who support the use of these tools say:
Finally, a humane, silent, and effective way to address excessive dog barking (or sub other doggie problem behavior). E.g. system emits gentle ultrasonic sound when button is pressed that tells your furry friend you want him to stop whatever he is doing.
I use it on the lowest setting so it’s not hurting/harming them.
There are some fundamental ways that humans and animals learn. Something is a punisher if it is applied and the behavior decreases. The advertisement itself points out that you press the button then the behavior stops.
Here’s the issue. In order for a punisher to be effective, it must be applied immediately and at a magnitude sufficient for the learner to find it aversive. Hence even if the sound or buzz is “gentle”, in order to be effective, your dog is finding it aversive.
So let’s go back to why you decided to have Fido join your household. I think humans have been evolving from having Fido be a strictly outdoor dog whose sole purpose is to help hunt or guard the sheep to being a member of the family. I loved hearing a comment that biologist Tim Lewis shared about the first dog he got was supposed to live outside, but then pretty quickly was inside and then on sleeping on their bed; then the 2nd one converted him from being a dog owner to a dog partner and then dog lover. I know for myself that our pets are family to us and we do what we can to consider their welfare.
Eileen Anderson summarizes peer reviewed studies which clearly document the fallout from using aversion in training. She also highlights the 9 effects of punishment here.
Escape/Avoidance
Operant Aggression
Elicited Aggression
Generalization (related to #1 and #2 above)
Apathy
Conditioned Suppression/Learned Helplessness
Injury
Reinforcement of the Punisher
Copying
I can attest to gaining new clients because their situation got worse after working with individuals who promote aversive tools. Because of these risks to using punishment and aversive training, veterinarians, credentialed behavior consultants, and professional organizations agree on these risks and recommend training with positive reinforcement.
I believe we are all evolving and learning to behave in ways that promote better welfare for all including animals in our care. If you or someone you know needs help with their pet’s behavior, encourage them to seek support from an individual who is transparent about their methods, uses science to inform their practice and is force free.
Cheers, Tracy
