Dog expert explains when and how you should punish your puppy for bad behavior

According to dog expert Will Atherton, the term "punishment" often evokes "very negative connotations." However, in fact, this word can refer to any action that leads to a decrease in undesirable behavior.

On his page on the social network TikTok, the expert regularly shares training tips with his subscribers. This time, in his video, Atherton explained when and how to punish your puppy for bad behavior.

According to him, dog training should have a system of reward and reinforcement for situations where we approve of a dog's behavior, and then also help them understand what we don't want by challenging that behavior in as fair and consistent a way as possible.

"And I believer that as canine leaders and owners of dogs, bringing dogs into our home, that we have a responsibility and a duty of care to teach them what we do want from them. But just as importantly, help them understand what it is that we don't from them, in a language they understand, in a way that as kind as possible," he says.

The expert says that he has seen thousands of dogs with behavioral problems and emphasizes that many of them know what is expected of them and are very obedient. But it often happens that they have never been taught what not to do, and they begin to feel frustrated, anxious, and afraid when they are punished. They are sad that their relationship with the owner has broken down, and they have no one to guide them except the person who is constantly disappointed in them.

Thus, it's important for every owner to understand that a dog needs an explanation for all the requirements that the owner wants from it.

"People see the insanely fast transformations I have with dogs, and it can come across as a special gift or a magic trick I know or a special lead or collar I use, but I promise it isn’t! It’s just simply the ability to quickly communicate to the dog that I’m steering the ship now and they don’t have to worry anymore," says Will.

He is confident that when the owner learns to control their dog and can easily communicate to it what they want and what not, they will both feel much happier.

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