Why Not to Use Physical Force to Train a Dog

It is a very well-known fact that no puppy is perfect. There will often be times when your puppy does something or behaves in a way that you do not approve of. Puppies get into things they aren't supposed to, have a tendency to chew on items around the house and in the early stages of housebreaking, eliminate in undesirable locations. As a puppy owner, this can lead to a lot of frustration and in some extreme circumstances, even anger. At the point where your puppy is misbehaving, an owner is left with a very important decision. A puppy owner will understandably want to correct their puppy's bad behavior, but if this is done in the wrong way it can be very detrimental to your puppy and the future relationship that puppy and owner will share. When correcting poor behavior, or during any type of puppy training, it is imperative that you do not use physical force.

It is never the correct choice to use physical force while training a puppy. Puppies do not respond well to physical punishment. Their minds cannot make the association between their behavior and the punishment that they are receiving. The only thing that can come of using physical force is an increase in anxiety for your young puppy and a growing association between their owner and pain. Physical force is actually proven to make a puppy's behavior worse and not better.

The consequences of physically punishing you puppy greatly outweigh the benefit of physically displaying your frustration. The proper way to train your puppy and correct its behavior is less about saying no, and more about saying yes. Praise your puppy and reward them for doing actions that you want, as opposed to only focusing on their negative actions. When your puppy does misbehave, a simple and stern "no" will suffice. Remember that puppies are ready and willing to learn. They also are very eager to please you, so a little patience will go a lot farther than physical punishment.