Punishments
"Positive punishment" is probably the consequence that is least used by
modern dog trainers, as it must be used very carefully. A dog is generally only
given this type of punishment if it is willfully disobeying the owner. Punishing
a dog who does not understand what is being asked of him is not only unfair to
the dog, but can make the dog a fearful or unwilling worker.
Punishments are administered only as appropriate for the dog's personality, age,
and experience. A sharp No works for many dogs, but some dogs even show signs of
fear or anxiety with harsh verbal corrections. On the other hand, certain dogs
with 'harder' temperaments may ignore a verbal reprimand, and may work best if
the reprimand is coupled with a physical punishment such as a quick tug on a
training collar. Trainers generally advise keeping hand contact with the dog to
positive interactions; if hands are used to threaten or hurt, some dogs may
begin to behave defensively when stroked or handled.
