The Negative Effects of Yelling at Your Dog 

There is new research which encourages dog owners to not raise their voices at their furry friends. This is because the conclusion of a recent study revealed that dogs just don’t get momentarily afraid when you scream at them, but you are also creating a long-term trauma and fear of being yelled at. This is not healthy at all. What we are referencing is aversion training. Let’s take a deeper dive into what this is all about.

Aversion training, also known as discipline-based training or positive punishment involves the use of negative reinforcement to correct wrong behavior. In other words, it uses unpleasant situations to remind the dog that they shouldn’t continue in a certain way. Most of the time, if you yell at your dog or show a form of aggression, the dog will run off and hide. Let’s not forget about things like choke collars, hitting, dominance, and other physically or emotionally unpleasant situations.

You should not mistake positive punishment for positive reinforcement. Aversion techniques work by adding a positive punishment to reduce the unwanted behavior. In addition, it utilizes negative reinforcement where benefits are withheld to teach the dog manners. Unfortunately, aversion training has been used by many people to raise dogs. It may not be the best way or the most effective either.

Raising your voice at a dog may put them in a fearful state for a while. Not only that, but they may lose trust in you which can lead to even more behavioral issues. Another downside to aversion training is the propensity it has to build aggression in dogs. If you are subjecting your dog to punishment, they may respond with aggression. This is never a good situation.

We hope that you have a better understanding as to why yelling at your dog can yield negative effects. Therefore, we recommend a reward-based approach as it does not cause a negative impact. Dogs learn best through positive reinforcement. It is a way for them to remain happy and build confidence through training. As always, patience and consistency go a long way. Do your part as a pet owner!